St Leu
St Leu is one of the world's best left-hand barrels—a fast, hollow reef break on Réunion Island that produces some of the most intense tubes in the Indian Ocean. The wave is world-class, but the risk is extreme: a run of shark attacks led Réunion to ban surfing outside its lagoons in 2013, and surfing has been heavily restricted. When conditions align, St Leu delivers jaw-dropping perfection, but the shadow of danger looms over every session. Surfing's ultimate risk-reward equation.
St Leu surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
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Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- SW (220°)
- Direction range
- 200° - 240°
- Size range
- 1.2m - 4m
- Ideal size
- 2.5m - 3.3m
- Height multiplier
- 0.90×
- Ideal period
- 18s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- SE (135°)
- Offshore range
- 90° - 180°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- mid to high
- Optimal range
- 0.5m - 1.5m
- Danger below
- 0.3m
Water temp
24°C
Wetsuit
Boardshorts / Rashguard
Difficulty
9/10
Crowd level
7/10
Access: Walk out from the town of St Leu.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is St Leu?
St Leu is a reef break in Réunion Island, Réunion, that mostly breaks left. It's on our list of the world's 100 best waves.
What's the story behind St Leu?
St Leu hosted the 2005 Rip Curl Pro Search, won by Mick Fanning. After a run of shark attacks, Réunion banned surfing outside its lagoons in July 2013.
What swell works best at St Leu?
St Leu picks up swell from the SSW round to the WSW, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the SW. 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 4m, with the sweet spot around 2.5 to 3.3m. Period matters too: aim for 18s or longer, as anything under 12s tends to be weak. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
What wind is offshore at St Leu?
A SE wind is dead offshore at St Leu, and anything from the E round to the S keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 6am to 11am. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
What tide is best at St Leu?
St Leu is at its best around the mid to high tide, roughly 0.5m to 1.5m on the local chart. Below 0.3m it gets dangerously shallow.
When is the best time of year to surf St Leu?
The most reliable run of swell at St Leu comes May to Sep. There's a second window in Apr and Oct too. Winter SW swells are the most reliable.
How cold is the water at St Leu?
The water at St Leu averages around 24°C, so boardshorts or a rashguard will do. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
Is St Leu good for beginners?
No. At 9/10 for difficulty, it's strictly for experts. It gets busy (crowd 7/10), so mind the pecking order. High shark risk. Sharp coral reef. Heavy localism.
How do I get to St Leu?
The nearest airport on our list is RUN, then it's roughly a 40-minute drive. Walk out from the town of St Leu.
Best Season
Peak: May-Sep
Secondary: Apr, Oct
Winter SW swells are the most reliable.
Getting There
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