Salt on skin. Coconut in hand. South coast mornings hit different.
If you’re chasing surf around Ahangama, you’re spoilt. Lefts and rights everywhere. 2-minutes or less drive between each spot, and you can see from the road if you want to get in.
The swell direction usually decides which side turns on, but most spots offer both options on most days. Mornings and late afternoons are prime because of wind. Cloudy days can stretch the window. Peak season runs October to the end of May. My favourite months are October to November and March to May. Fewer bodies. More waves. Better moods.
Below is the no-nonsense guide I give friends who rock up with a board and big eyes.
Marshmellow
Soft name. Forgiving face. A friendly take-off that lets you find your feet, then growl when the Indian Ocean shows its teeth. When the swell is big it holds surprisingly well. Great place to dial things in, then go hunting.
Animals
Clue is in the name. Punchy. Honest. You earn it with a hard paddle. Needs a decent pulse to wake up, then keeps working even when the swell eases and drops to small. Great conditioning. Better stories.
Talpe
Left. Right. Empty-ish because it needs a little drive to reach. Works best on a medium swell. The sort of session where you catch yourself smiling, realise no one’s around to see it, and smile harder.
South Beach
Marshmellow’s quieter cousin. Similar style of wave with fewer humans in your way. Holds a big swell without throwing a tantrum. Choose your line and enjoy the space.
The Rock, Kabalana
Can be the best wave on the coast. Paddling out feels like half of Sri Lanka had the same idea. Worth it when it turns on. Get your positioning right, stay patient, and you’ll be fine.
Dream Sea
Fickle. Seasonal. When it clicks, it’s a barrelling left that makes time slow down. If you know, you know. If you don’t, you learn quickly.
Gas Station
Beautiful left with multiple take-off points, which spreads the pack. You can find your own peak and do your thing. Efficient queues. Very civilised.
Sion
Busy. A proper yo-yo between lefts and rights. Good for decision-making and agility. Also good for practising your resting face while someone burns you.
Lazy Right
Beginner heaven on small days, yet a different animal with plenty of swell. Can be far better than the name suggests. Don’t sleep on it.
Lazy Left
Sand dependent. When the banks are right it’s a lovely left. It does draw a crowd, so bring your manners and your A-game.
Rams
Punchy rights that can barrel. Lefts that run long, a little too long if you forget where the rocks are. One of the most popular spots and for good reason. Earn your turn and you’ll be grinning.
Coconuts and Plantations
Sisters you can paddle between. Loads of take-off points, so everyone gets a look. Great place to iron out kinks in your timing.
Jungle Beach
Left plus a right-hand point. Works when it’s small, yet it can hold a serious pulse. Options for everyone. Calm head wins.
Fishermans
Mostly a right-hand point. Reliable all season and a gem in the green season too. Consistency is a beautiful thing.
There are more. Not secret, just nameless. A beachy that throws barrels on the right day. A big-wave corner that wakes up when the period hits sixteen seconds or more. Bring curiosity. Bring reef booties if that’s your vibe. Bring respect.
When the session’s done, do the only sensible thing. Coconut first. Then retreat to your cabana at The Purple Jungle. Cool off in your AC room. Or sway in the hammock while your shoulders hum and your hair dries salty. The lineup can get crowded. Your recovery shouldn’t.
If you want local pointers, tide checks, or a plan for the week, ask me and I’m happy to share. We’ll point at the charts, circle the sweet spots, and set you up for the kind of south coast run that lives rent free in your head until you come back.
