Stormrider Guide to surfing Majuro

Marshall Islands, PACIFIC OCEAN

Bridge, Michael Kew

Summary

+ Mellow atoll ambiance	- Expensive flights
+ User-friendly waves	- Lack of surf spots
+ Clean water	- Inconsistent, small waves
+ No surf crowds	- Pollution around D-U-D

Majuro has no honeymoon resorts, no extensive white sand beaches, and not much tourism infrastructure, yet it retains a peculiar charm in the smiles and ease of its people. Majuro atoll is the Marshalls nerve centre, home to the republicÕs primary government, most of its businesses, and about half of its entire population, making it one of the most densely populated atolls on Earth (31,000 people). The majority of MajuroÕs surfing is done around the DUD Municipality, which is comprised of Darrit, Uliga, and Delap, crowded villages connected by a paved road. It's a dirty place, with lots of litter, dust, ramshackle buildings, and cars. Visiting surfers are rare. The handful living on Majuro are generally expat American teachers and Seventh Day Adventist church volunteers.

When to Go

Most of MajuroÕs surf spots work on S swells, arriving from June-Sept. These swells have a long way to travel and can be shadowed and dissipated by the archipelagos to the south (Fiji, Kiribati, Tuvalu), resulting in often weak and inconsistent surf. The upside is that MajuroÕs surf is usually offshore on the atollÕs south coast, and places like the Bridge and Laura are normally quite clean. In wintertime (Dec-Mar) northerly groundswells originate from the North Pacific and provide decent sized waves but unfortunately these coincide with the strong prevailing NE trade winds. Tides do exceed 1.5m and affect most waves.

Surf Spots

Bridge, MajuroÕs marquee surf spot is very shallow, hollow, and somewhat dangerous. The Bridge can provide quick, snappy rides if youÕre fast on your feet. The 4m high bridge was built to span a narrow channel the Japanese blasted through the reef in 1983, to spare small boats the long trip up to Calalin Channel, to gain access to the lagoon anchorages. On MajuroÕs southeast corner is Delap, in front of the hospital, which offers a fun, sectiony righthander during S swells. This is MajuroÕs most popular wave because it handles the prevailing NE trade wind. Darrit holds an occasionally fun left and right on either side of Rita Pass, but itÕs very sensitive to both NE trade wind and lower tide. At Calalin Pass there is an equally fickle righthander that suffers from lots of strong currents as it is the main passage into the lagoon. ItÕs almost always onshore when it breaks in the N swell season, plus itÕs a 35km boat ride across the lagoon from the anchorage to access it. On the atollÕs western tip, a rare S swell lefthander at Laura is dead offshore with the trades. ItÕs possible to drive along the narrow road from D-U-D all the way west to Laura, which is considerably cleaner than DUD and more typical of natural Marshallese beauty. Just to the north is a quasi beachbreak (lots of coral heads) that can be fun and punchy during westerly windswells, but it is often blown-out or too small.

Statistics

dominant swell

N -NE

N -S

S -S

N -S

N -NE

swell size (ft)

6-8

4-6

3-5

2-3

2-4

4-6

consistency (%)

dominant wind

NE -NE

E -E

NE -NE

average force

F3-F4

F5-F6

consistency (%)

water temp (C)

wetsuit

boardshorts

Travel Information

Weather
MajuroÕs climate is pretty much the same all year: hot and humid, temps averaging 27¡C (81¡F). Rain is frequent. It can get very windy, especially during the winter. Ocean water temp is around 26¡C (80¡F). Boardshorts will do it plus a rashie for the wind and sun.

Lodging and Food
In DUD: Flame Tree, a cool hostel/restaurant with cheap rates ($25+/n). Hotel Robert Reimers, friendly and clean, with a good restaurant downstairs (Tide Table). Marshall Islands Resort ($80+/n), and its restaurant (Enra) offers great sea food. Long Island Hotel is $450/n. In Laura check out the Meyo Country Inn and Arno Beachcomber Lodge ($50dbl).

Nature and Culture
Beyond DUD, itÕs all coconut palms, coral rubble, turquoise lagoon, and blue Pacific. ItÕs all very flat, and the atoll is so narrow in some places that it is only a stoneÕs throw from the ocean to the lagoon. Culturally the Marshallese are some of the worldÕs friendliest people, quick to share a smile and a meal.