Surf: The swell sucking Hinako Islands sit a mere 8km (5mi) off Nias, but it’s a good 65kms (43mi) and 5hrs boat ride from Teluk Dalam in the south. Long, sweeping lefthand lines refract around the northern tip of tiny Asu island, stand up and pitch down the impressively long and shallow reef. Speed is essential to make some of the pinching sections and it gets heavy at size, which it handles with ease. Reef uplift has lowered wave quality, intensified the ridiculously shallow end “Nuclear Zone” reef and made getting in and out from the 5 land camps a real coral scramble requiring booties.