Bank Vaults is a fear-inducing right-hander that bends and warps over the exposed, swell-sucking tip of Pulau Masokut. It breaks over live coral, and its deceptively fast, shifting sections look makeable from the channel but only reward surfers who can commit to a complex, demanding line-up.
When It Works
The wave draws swell from south through west, with southwest (SW) the best match, and it's usable from 0.9 m / 3 ft to 5.5 m / 18 ft. It genuinely comes alive once the surf reaches double overhead or bigger. On the larger sets, expect the wave to refract from wide and pin you on the inside reef, cutting off the escape back to the channel. South swells make things sketchier. The break is consistent, so there are plenty of days it's on.
Wind and Tide
Look for north (N) offshore wind; south winds tend to be sketchier here. Tide doesn't faze it, so it works across low, mid, and high, with a rising tide generally the better call.
Local Tips
This is an expert-only wave. Only the strongest, most committed surfers will handle the fast, complex sections, and intermediates are better off heading straight to Nipussi. There's also a left around the other side of the tip that has been surfed, but it's dangerous and lacks the right's rewards. Expect a busy lineup when it's working.
