surfEXPLORE: Discovering New Surfing Locations Worldwide

This text chronicles a surfing expedition to the disputed territory of Western Sahara, currently administered by Morocco, highlighting the region's unexpected potential for quality waves despite its arid location on the edge of the Sahara Desert. The authors detail their quest for uncrowded spots, notably finding excellent right point breaks near Dakhla, with January being the optimal time for North Atlantic groundswell and minimal wind. The narrative also touches on the complex geopolitical situation, including the recent diplomatic recognition of Morocco’s claim on the territory, and the tension between surfing interests and the far more lucrative local octopus fishing industry

This narrative chronicles the socio-political evolution of Eastern Samar, detailing its transition from a dangerous, insurgent-controlled "Wild East" to a thriving surf destination. By comparing a perilous expedition in the late 1990s with a modern filming project, the authors highlight how infrastructure investment and improved governance have dismantled the influence of local guerillas. The text weaves together themes of technological progress and exploration, illustrating how tools like drones now facilitate the discovery of pristine waves in once-inaccessible regions. Ultimately, the account serves as a testament to the region's economic recovery and its newfound promise as a peaceful, world-class hub for international tourism.

This narrative recounts a pioneering 1992 expedition to Siargao Island, detailing how a small group of surfers stumbled upon and named the world-renowned wave known as Cloud 9. The text transitions from a logistical account of typhoon-season exploration and the discovery of perfect surfing conditions to a somber reflection on the island's mysterious past, specifically the legacy of Mike Boyum. By contrasting the untouched, remote wilderness of the early nineties with the island's current status as a global tourism hub, the author highlights the transformative power of surf discovery. Ultimately, the source serves as both a historical record of a landmark moment in surfing culture and a testament to the economic evolution of the region.

This text examines the unique intersection of geopolitical tension and surf culture on the island of Taiwan. It chronicles how decades of strict martial law and coastal surveillance initially prevented the development of board sports, leaving Taiwan’s world-class waves largely undiscovered until the late 20th century. The narrative highlights the seasonal contrast between consistent monsoon winds and powerful typhoon swells, the latter of which produce elite conditions despite lingering restrictive safety regulations enforced by local police. Ultimately, the author portrays Taiwan as a burgeoning destination where a passionate local scene and diverse coastal geography thrive beneath the shadow of a complex, ongoing territorial dispute with mainland China.

This narrative explores an adventurous surfing expedition to the volcanic nation of São Tomé and Príncipe, a former Portuguese colony historically defined by its lush plantation agriculture and cacao production. The authors navigate the challenges of the island's dilapidated infrastructure and colonial remnants to uncover pristine, previously unsurveyed waves, such as those found near a high-security Voice of America broadcast facility. A central theme of the text is the cultural exchange between the professional explorers and the local youth, culminating in the group discovering a powerful reef break at the equator. The journey concludes with a gesture of sustainable craftsmanship, as the team shapes a custom wooden surfboard for the village children

This narrative chronicles an exploratory expedition to South Korea’s Jeju Island, where a team of surfers sought to document unridden waves during the peak of the Pacific typhoon season. Facing initial hurdles such as language barriers and expensive accommodation, the group bypassed luxury hotels in favour of a traditional minbak, which allowed them to immerse themselves in the local culture and wait for the ideal swell. Their patience was rewarded when a powerful storm system generated significant surf, leading them to discover a previously unsurfed reef break near a small fishing harbour. By naming this new location "Squid Point," the explorers successfully fulfilled their mission of mapping the island’s potential

This travelogue follows an expedition through Sierra Leone to document the country’s emerging surf culture and discover unmapped waves in remote coastal regions. The journey begins on the Freetown Peninsula, where the team engages with the local Bureh Surf Club, a community-led initiative fostering tourism and sport through board rentals and lessons. The narrative then shifts to a more rugged exploration of the Turtle Islands, an isolated archipelago governed by traditional societal structures and accessible only by private boat. Through the guidance of a long-term French resident, the authors provide historical context regarding the nation’s civil war recovery while successfully identifying pristine sandbar waves that had never been previously surfed.

This account details an exploratory expedition to Oman, highlighting the Sultanate as a peaceful and stable sanctuary for surfers amidst a historically volatile region. The narrative follows a team as they navigate extreme desert heat to reach Masirah Island, where they discover powerful waves and a unique local culture defined by vintage Land Rovers and a nearby military history. Moving to the mainland, the authors explore the Al-Ashkara coast, documenting high-quality point breaks and a prolific natural ecosystem where sea turtles and whales thrive undisturbed. Ultimately, the text serves as a testament to Oman’s superior infrastructure and welcoming atmosphere, framing it as a premier destination for adventurous surfers seeking untouched, world-class conditions.

In this travel narrative, a group of explorers ventures into the remote regions of Myanmar to discover unmapped surfing locations during the dry season. Despite the country’s lack of infrastructure and strict legal prohibitions against foreign visitors on certain islands, the team successfully reaches Cheduba Island by boat. Their expedition is made possible through the intervention of a local official, known as "The Major," who bypasses bureaucratic restrictions to act as their sponsor. By immersing themselves in the local culture and utilizing traditional fishing vessels, the surfers eventually find high-quality waves that highlight the untapped potential of the coastline.

Seeking out the powerful winter groundswells of the North Atlantic, a team of explorers traveled to Mauritania to document the country’s untapped surfing potential. Their journey progressed from the expanding capital of Nouakchott into the harsh Saharan terrain of the Nouadhibou Peninsula, a region defined by its history of shipwrecks and territorial conflict. Success for the expedition depended entirely on navigating complex geopolitical barriers, as the team had to secure permission from local military commanders to access "No Man’s Land" while avoiding active landmine fields. Ultimately, the narrative highlights the intersection of adventure and diplomacy, illustrating how the group successfully surfed remote point breaks amidst rusted shipwrecks by befriending the armed militia guarding the coastline.

This text traces the transformation of the Maldives from a historically Buddhist kingdom and British protectorate into a premier global surfing destination. It outlines how the government strategically shifted the economy from tuna fishing toward exclusive high-end tourism, deliberately isolating visitors from the local population to maintain social and religious boundaries. The narrative highlights the accidental birth of the surfing industry following a 1973 shipwreck, which led pioneer Tony Hinde to spend decades discovering and naming the country’s now-famous reef breaks. Ultimately, the source serves as a guide to the seasonal swell patterns and geographical expansion of the sport across the atolls, illustrating how surfing has become an integral, though initially unplanned, pillar of the modern Maldivian identity.

This narrative recounts a pioneering surf expedition to the remote Barren Islands off the west coast of Madagascar, a region historically uninhabited due to its harsh environment and lack of resources. The authors detail the logistical challenges of the journey, including navigating treacherous roads and collaborating with the indigenous Vezo people and environmental NGOs to establish a base. By meticulously monitoring weather patterns and swell forecasts, the team successfully located and documented previously unsurfed waves for a television production. Ultimately, the text highlights the intersections of adventure and cultural exchange, paying tribute to the resilience of local communities who thrive in such an isolated maritime wilderness.

This narrative chronicles a surf expedition to Robertsport, Liberia, a destination where the natural beauty of world-class waves intersects with a turbulent political history. The authors contrast the country's origins as a 19th-century refuge for freed American slaves with the subsequent decades of civil war and the brutal regimes of figures like Samuel Doe and Charles Taylor. By visiting during a period of UN-supported stability, the explorers highlight a transition from a era of "savagery" to a future of "bliss," fostered by emerging surf tourism and international sporting events. Ultimately, the text serves as a testament to the resilience of the local community and the power of surfing to reshape the identity of a nation recovering from trauma.

This narrative details a surfing expedition to Pulau Biak, a remote island in Indonesia’s Papua Province that is defined by its World War II military history and modern accessibility via its strategic airport. The text explores the logistical and social complexities of the region, noting that while the island offers consistent Pacific swells and diverse coral reef waves, visitors must navigate political sensitivities and mandatory police permits. Through a blend of travelogue and personal memoir, the author describes the daily rhythms of exploring the north coast, from the thrill of discovering hollow barrels at "Anjing Hitam" to the mundane challenges of vehicle repairs and theft. Ultimately, the account serves as a poignant reflection on mortality, contrasting the vibrant, adventurous spirit of the surfing community

While the popular Indian Ocean side of Indonesia dominates the global surf scene, this text explores the Pacific coastline of West Papua, a region defined by its reverse seasonal swell and distinct lack of crowds. Beyond the pursuit of waves, the author highlights how geographical isolation and religious differences have led to significant neglect from the central government, resulting in deteriorating infrastructure and complex social tensions. Visitors must navigate a volatile political landscape involving independence movements and migration policies, which necessitates obtaining specific travel permits from local authorities. Ultimately, the narrative serves as a guide for the intrepid traveler, balancing the promise of unspoiled surf spots near Manokwari against the logistical hardships of expensive fuel and rugged terrain.

This text chronicles a surf exploration mission to the North Maluku region of Indonesia, a remote area historically famous for the spice trade but long forgotten by the modern world. The narrative contrasts the historical significance of the "Spice Islands" with their current status as a secluded frontier for surfers seeking uncrowded waves far from the commercial hubs of Bali and Java. By detailing the logistical hurdles of the journey—such as fuel shortages, tropical deluges, and poor infrastructure—the author highlights the extreme dedication required to access these pristine coral reef breaks. Ultimately, the account serves as a testament to the rewards of extensive research and local perseverance, culminating in the discovery of world-class waves in a territory where the absence of other surfers remains a rare and precious reality.

This text provides a comprehensive guide to Papua Province, specifically the capital city of Jayapura and its surrounding coastline, for intrepid travellers and surfers. It balances a detailed description of the seasonal surfing conditions and the logistical benefits of boat travel with a serious exploration of the region's complex socio-political climate. The author highlights the tension caused by the transmigration policy, which has led to cultural and religious friction between the indigenous Melanesian population and ethnic Malay arrivals. Ultimately, the source serves as both a practical manual for navigating administrative requirements like the Surat Jalan and a portrait of a remote, historically significant landscape that remains largely untouched by mainstream tourism.

This narrative chronicles a pioneering maritime expedition to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a remote archipelago that serves as one of the world's final frontiers for surf exploration. The author details the geographical and cultural tapestry of the region, noting the ancient indigenous lineages that have remained isolated for millennia, including the famously uncontacted residents of North Sentinel Island. By documenting the first professional surfing ventures into these restricted waters, the text highlights the discovery of world-class waves such as Kumari Point and the unique challenges of navigating Indian government regulations. Ultimately, the account serves as a tribute to the spirit of adventure, illustrating how these untouched breaks remain largely unridden due to their extreme isolation and the protective seclusion of the local tribes.

This text chronicles a unique surf exploration trip to Diu Island and the surrounding Gujarat state in India, a region with a deep history as a former Portuguese colony until its incorporation into India in 1961. A diverse group of surfers journeyed to this area, which was known to be historically un-surfed, to seek out rideable waves during the hot pre-monsoon season. The explorers successfully found consistent windswell waves on Diu and later discovered better conditions, including a promising right-hand point break at Diu Head on the mainland, validating their prediction that the area would be exposed to Arabian Sea swell. Notably, the group was explicitly prohibited from surfing near the historic Diu Fort, which serves as a working jail, but later capitalised on a forecasted long-period groundswell to find and surf the best waves of the trip near a remote Hindu temple.

This travelogue details an exploration of the surf potential near Jacmel, Haiti, a historic French colonial port and a vital destination known for its annual Carnival festival and distinctive art scene. The area, particularly the seaside district of Kabik, is identified as a consistent surfing location, benefiting from seasonal tradewinds that generate reliable swell on the coral reefs. Although the city of Jacmel suffered significant destruction from the 2010 earthquake, it maintains its appeal with restored architecture and a few operational hotels, though the poverty is evident in the prevalence of plastic rubbish at river mouths. Crucially, Kabik is noted as the sole area in Haiti with a small group of local surfers, relying on visiting surfers to provide them with necessary gear.

The surfEXPLORE team embarked on a journey to the least-visited area of Haiti, the far northwest Atlantic coast, during the winter north swell season to seek out unridden waves. Their expedition involved a challenging drive through a sparsely populated and dry region, ultimately leading to the discovery of promising rivermouth setups and a reef break wave that they were likely the first to surf. A significant subplot details the legal battle surrounding the proposed cruise ship port development on Ile de Tortue (Turtle Island), which has halted a major tourism project due to conflicting claims dating back to 1970. The explorers’ return journey was nearly disastrous as they navigated a dangerously deteriorated and muddy mountain track, highlighting the severe infrastructure challenges in this remote part of Haiti.

The account details a surf expedition along the largely unexplored south coast of Haiti, an area receiving consistent swell but lacking any established surf culture or information. The surfEXPLORE Group navigated to remote locations like Grosse Caye and Ile á Vache, where they discovered excellent surfing conditions on a left point break but encountered logistical hurdles, notably an engine seizure on their boat due to the operator's negligence and a challenging rescue effort. Alongside the pursuit of waves, the narrative highlights the pervasive presence of local folklore and belief in zombies, dramatically illustrated by a harrowing roadside encounter, underscoring the deep-seated presence of Voodoo and its associated cultural fears in these isolated regions. Ultimately, the journey confirmed the existence of superb, uncrowded surfing spots while navigating the country's unique and sometimes intimidating local environment.

The source recounts the journey of the surfEXPLORE Group to Gabon, Central Africa, with the primary objective of surfing the rarely visited point breaks in the far south at Mayumba. Due to the challenging logistics—including a car crash sidelining their initial contact, the need for a long drive through the vast equatorial forest, and the necessity of navigating the French-speaking region known as “Françafrique”—the group hired a long-distance taxi, or taxi-brousse, driven by Auguste. After days of travel, enduring encounters like the smell of bushmeat being prepared, they reached Mayumba during the optimal winter swell season and successfully surfed pristine, remote waves, even overcoming bureaucratic hurdles and high fees to access Mayumba National Park. The trip concluded with a memorable return

This excerpt from "surfEXPLORE Discovering New Surfing Locations Worldwide" chronicles the challenging journey of John Seaton Callahan and The surfEXPLORE Group to find waves in the remote volcanic archipelago of Comoros, near Madagascar. The narrative highlights the extreme difficulty of travel and the near-total lack of general tourism, largely attributed to the islands' history of political instability and pervasive government corruption. Key themes include the chaos of inter-island ferry travel—where the uncomfortable, often cancelled journeys culminated in passengers violently vomiting into plastic bags—and the extortionate demands of local officials upon arrival. Despite these logistical nightmares, the explorers successfully surfed uncrowded breaks, such as the ominously named "Dead Fisherman’s Point"

The surfEXPLORE Podcast, Episode 3, CHINA Hainan Island, surfing in the south China Sea with The surfEXPLORE Group - point waves and beachbreaks, swell generated by the northeast monsoon, source materials from the new book surfEXPLORE: Discovering New Surfing Locations Worldwide from Schiffer Publishing.These excerpts recount various surf exploration projects undertaken by the "surfEXPLORE Group" across numerous developing and politically volatile global regions, highlighting the challenges and discoveries involved in finding unridden waves. The narratives consistently detail the seasonal nature of surfing conditions and the logistical complexities of travel, including dealing with poor infrastructure, high costs, bureaucratic hurdles like visas and permits (e.g., in Angola, Indonesia's Papua provinces, and Western Sahara), and even direct political unrest (e.g., in Liberia, Eastern Samar, and the Comoros). Across destinations like Angola, Taiwan, and the Philippines, the texts also show how political and economic history influences local development and interaction with visitors, often revealing waves previously unknown to the surfing community.

These texts offer an extensive overview of global surfing exploration undertaken by the surfEXPLORE Group, detailing trips to remote, often politically volatile locations across Africa, Asia, and the Indian Ocean. The excerpts consistently describe the seasonal nature of surfing conditions in each region, emphasising the importance of timing to catch the best swell and wind, from the typhoon season in the Philippines and Taiwan to the groundswell of the Indian Ocean in the Maldives and Madagascar. Episode 2 features the southwest African country of Angola with the surfEXPLORE Group in the Cabo Ledo area and further south in search of new waves, source materials from the new book surfEXPLORE: Discovering New Surfing Locations Worldwide from Schiffer Publishing.

The surfEXPLORE Group's mission to Algeria for unridden Mediterranean waves required clever border negotiation and meticulous scouting. They raced a powerful Mistral storm to a remote left point. Their preparation paid off: they surfed overhead waves in a spectacular scene with a winter rainbow, riding a spot never before touched by a surfer.#surfing#surf_travel