Overview
Faga'alu is a right-hand reef break sitting inside the harbour entrance, and it also goes by the name Coral Heads, which tells you plenty about how shallow the live coral underneath gets. It is a smaller wave that rarely cleans up in the constant easterly onshores, and the shape is not the area's best. Being inside the harbour, it may also be affected by pollution.
When It Works
The reef takes swell from east to south (E-S), and southeast (SE) swell is the best match. It works from 0.9 m / 3 ft to 2.4 m / 8 ft, and it is moderately consistent, so there are worthwhile windows when the setup lines up.
Wind and Tide
Look for west (W) offshore wind, which is a rare break from the easterly onshores that usually sit on this wave. Tide-wise, mid and high tide both work, with a rising tide generally the better call.
Local Tips
This one suits intermediate surfers, largely because of the live coral underneath. Expect a moderately busy lineup when it works, since it is the closest wave to town.
Access
There is free roadside parking.
