Anse Salabouelle, also known as a la Bouelle, is a quality reef where snappy, hollow lefts and walled-up, rolling rights peel on either side of a channel. The wave breaks over uneven reef, so it has real bite and a bit of edge to it.
When It Works
The reef pulls in easterly swells, taking anything from north through east-northeast to southeast, with northeast swell the best match. It works from 0.9 m / 3 ft to 3 m / 10 ft, and it stays consistent, so there are waves on offer more often than not. The lefts run snappy and hollow while the rights wall up and roll, giving you two very different waves to choose from.
Wind and Tide
Look for southwest offshore wind, which is when the hollow lefts really start to throw barrels. The reef breaks across low, mid, and high tide, with a rising tide generally the better call.
Local Tips
This is an intermediate reef, and it draws a busy lineup when it's on. There can be a bit of edge in the water, but the spread of waves and the shifting take-off zones tend to keep everyone happy. When it's small, beginners can handle the rights.
Access
The reef is rocky with sea urchins, and getting in and out is tricky unless you find the right spot, so watch how the locals do it before you paddle out. There's a car park with free parking.
