Iceland is a powerful, moody reef break in Indonesia that breaks over live coral and ramps up swell size thanks to an abrupt transition from deep water onto the reef. When a medium to large swell hits, it turns into a cavernous barrel, which makes it a solid training ground for big-wave surfers on longer boards.
When It Works
The reef draws swell from south to west (S-W), with southwest (SW) the best match, and works from 0.6 m / 2 ft to 6.1 m / 20 ft. Medium to large southwest through west swells bring the heavy, barreling waves, breaking both left and right. When everywhere else is flat, small, rippable left walls and the occasional right turn up on south to southwest swells, though there is no clear channel and getting cleaned up going right is a given.
Wind and Tide
Look for east (E) offshore wind; northeast through east or no wind at all keeps it clean, since hanging up in the lip here is ill-advised. It can work across low, mid, and high tide, with a rising tide generally the better call.
Local Tips
This is an expert-only wave, powerful and unforgiving, with no clear channel to ease your way back out. If you want something more approachable, a left called Hookers wraps around the reef on the northern curve of Pototogat Island and turns offshore in southeast winds.
