Overview
Desert Point is a lefthand reef break over live coral, and when it turns on it is one of the longest makeable left barrels anywhere, with more than 20 seconds of tube time possible on a single wave. The take-off can shift around a little but generally rewards a deep, committed attack. From there it peels fast and mercilessly across a shallow reef, cutting a trench in the coral. The caverns get bigger and faster through the inside section, locking the rider in for a finish that often ends on dry reef.
When It Works
It draws swell from south through southwest, with southwest the best direction, and is usable from 1.5 m / 5 ft to 4.6 m / 15 ft. It is moderately consistent, but it really takes the biggest groundswells to light it up, so those rare classic days are worth waiting for.
Wind and Tide
Look for southeast offshore wind. The reef works on low and mid tide, with a rising tide generally the better call. Big high tides can make the wave disappear as fast as it arrived.
Local Tips
This is an expert-only wave. Between the shallow live-coral reef, the tricky exit, and strong out-going currents, only surfers ready for all of it should paddle out. Expect a busy, barrel-hungry lineup when it fires, with plenty of dedicated surfers competing for waves on the good days.
Access
Boats reach the sheltered bay of islands behind Bangko Bangko, and surf charters run in regularly from Bali. On big swells and high tide, there are more forgiving options for intermediates around the nearby Gili islands, such as Ringgit.
