Waves in Samoa can be very powerful, and often break over shallow coral reefs - it's a destination for experienced surfers only.

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Samoa has surf all year, generally divided into the two seasons of South and North swells.

The consistent South swells, generated by the winter storms deep in the Southern Pacific Basin, typically occur from April to early November (the southern hemisphere autumn, winter and spring), but can happen at any time of the year. South-East trade winds blow intermittently from around May to October, and are most frequent from June to September, but even in these months, conditions are typically calm and glassy in the morning and often in the late afternoon as well.

From November to early April, North swells arrive from the tropical storms and hurricanes of the North Pacific, often the same swells that have already hit Hawaii's North Shore. Quality Southern swells are also common during this period, generated by regional cyclones in the mid-Pacific. In these months, the winds are predominantly North to North-West, with occasional South-East sea breezes.

In the shoulder season months of February-April and October-November, the perfect combination of swell and weather conditions can occur.

Water temperatures are warm all year round, averaging 24-28°C (80-85°F). On Sundays surfing is only permitted at certain breaks.

Upolu Surfing