Surfing in Sabah, Borneo is seasonal and not always available, but when the monsoon kicks in, we do have decent waves rolling in.
Surfing in Sabah is gaining popularity among the younger generation, even with our fickle surf its becoming a popular destination for surfers who just want to escape the crowd.
One thing for sure most of the time if you surf around the beaches of Borneo, it will be just you, your buddies and maybe some friendly locals.
Surfing in Kudat
Most of the surf in Sabah is on the West Coast region from the furthest North off Kudat right down to the the south of Kuala Penyu. The best swells normally are at the Tip of Borneo, Kudat. Here there's a few points known to locals to provide good waves from beach breaks, point breaks with coral, rocks or sandy bottom.
Surfing in Kota Kinabalu
Other good potential spots would be Karambunai, Tuaran and Tanjung Aru Bay which is the home of the local boys, just 10 minutes from Kota Kinabalu City. Surfable waves can also be found off Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park which is only accessible by a 15min boat ride.
Note that the surf in Sabah cannot be compared to that of the Pacific or Indian ocean.
If you are a beginner or intermediate surfer Sabah is the perfect place for you to brush up your skills. The waves are very mellow compared to Bali or Australia so its much more forgiving. With very few surfers in the lineup you will have plenty of waves to practice. During certain season we do get bigger swells which can throw in a good punch for expert surfers.
What is the best time to surf in Sabah?
During the South West and North East monsoon.
Please contact us for more information about best surfing months and location around Sabah.