One Palm Point is an Indonesian legend—a long left-hand barrel on remote Panaitan Island off the western tip of Java. This wave is one of the longest and most perfect tubes in the world. Getting here requires a dedicated boat charter from Java's west coast and a multi-day commitment, but for those who make the journey, the reward is mechanical perfection in complete isolation. This is surfing's ultimate treasure hunt.
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
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Difficulty
6/10
Crowd level
3/10
Access: Boat charter
One Palm Point is a reef break in Panaitan Island, Java, Indonesia, that mostly breaks left. It's on our list of the world's 100 best waves.
Panaitan is the largest island in the Sunda Strait, near the westernmost tip of Java. It has been a nature reserve since 1921 and is part of Ujung Kulon National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that protects the Javan rhino. When Krakatoa erupted in 1883, Panaitan escaped the worst of it: only its north and east coasts were hit by the tsunamis.
One Palm Point picks up swell from the S round to the SW, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the SSW. That's a tight window, so it needs the swell direction to line up. It starts working at around 1.2m and handles up to about 3.7m, with the sweet spot around 2.3 to 3.1m. Period matters too: aim for 16s or longer, as anything under 14s tends to be weak. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
An E wind is dead offshore at One Palm Point, and anything from the NE round to the SE keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 6am to midday. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
One Palm Point is at its best around low tide.
The most reliable run of swell at One Palm Point comes Apr to Oct. There's a second window in Mar and Nov too. 38% May (6/10 consistency).
It's more of an intermediate wave, rated 6/10 for difficulty, so newer surfers are best off sticking to the smaller days. The lineup is usually quiet (crowd 3/10). Things to watch for: shallow water at low tide, being a long way from help and sharp, shallow reef (booties help).
The nearest airport on our list is CGK. From there you need a boat to reach the break (we estimate around $400 USD, but confirm with an operator). Boat charter.
The closest breaks we track are Panaitan (Apocalypse) (11 km) and Ombak Tujuh (42 km), handy when One Palm Point isn't working.
Peak: Apr-Oct
Secondary: Mar, Nov
38% May (6/10 consistency)
🌊 Remote Panaitan barrel • Boat access only • Pristine jungle setting
🌊 Seven Waves • Remote West Java • Ujung Kulon wilderness
🏄 West Java point • Jakarta's closest quality wave • Welcoming community
🏄 Krui's best wave • 200-400m rides • WSL event venue
🏖️ Indonesia's best beach break • Thick sand barrels • Morning offshores
🌊 Bingin of Sumatra • Mechanical barrels • Needs big swell
Compare this break with other destinations in these surf guides.