Cloudbreak.

About

Cloudbreak is a left-hand reef pass roughly two kilometres south of Tavarua, in Fiji’s Mamanuca Islands. It sits at the eastern edge of an open-ocean coral pass that takes the undiminished force of Southern Hemisphere swell and lines it up into three connectable sections — The Point, The Middle, and the inside known as Shish Kabobs. It has been a long-running WSL Championship Tour stop and is regularly named among the best left-handers on the planet.

Cloudbreak feeds on south-west to southerly swell — anything from south-southeast through west works, but the cleanest shape comes off long-period pulses of 16s and beyond, when waves run the full length of the reef. Trade winds from east through east-southeast are side-offshore and groom the face. It breaks on all tides, but low to mid is where the inside lights up cleanest. The wave holds from chest-high to well over four metres.

This is an advanced wave, not a beginner one. Outer-reef waves travel faster than their continental counterparts and the take-off shears late; if you don’t get to your feet immediately the inside section, Shish Kabobs, files you across living coral. The line-up is boat-access only and resort guests — along with any visiting pros that swing through May to September — sit on every set. Bring a board you trust.