Surf: The north coast town of Isabela has some mellower protected beachbreak with a rolling right off the point, but the next bay is Middles, one of PR's best waves. A gnarled rock shelf studded with coral and urchins extends out to a large rock that helps reflect any incoming hint of N swell, plus deflect the pesky NE trades at the take-off peak. Sucky and rotund when the mood takes it, Middles likes a moderate NE swell and any hint of S in the wind, but more often it is onshore, which plays to it's other strength - a perfect punting profile. Occasional lefts streak across the reef, but its the rights that the crowds come for. Always powerful, even when small and handles plenty of juice beyond double overhead. Environment: No surprise that it's a zoo out here, with the top predators prowling the line-up. Nice surroundings and easy access as the coast road curves right past the sand. Location for the 2010 Rip Curl Search Pro and many other contests. Surf: General: Middles is a shallow, bowly, close-to-shore, brilliant, blue right tube. Take off behind the crease, stay high, keep your eyes open, and you're in for one of Puerto Rico's best and most coveted views. The reef itself is an irregular coral/rock shelf that juts out from the golden sand beach; any kind of N swell hits the thing straight on, and depending on direction, the wave can bend into a short intense bowl or a longer, slightly less-intense wall. The rock at the east end of the beach blocks the trades for a few moments -- and can build up a nice little sandbar in its lee. Even when it's under head-high it can be shifty, steep and fast. Tides: Not the biggest tidal changes but lower generally better. Size: Head high-double overhead+ Wind: South Swell: N, NNE, NE Bottom: Reef Paddling: Can be when it is big but getting caught by a set is probably your bigger worry. Spot Rating: A really good wave and home to the Rip Curl Search Event in 2010. Access: Park right there. Crowds: Crowd Factor: Definitely a crowd. Local Vibe: Can vary from very intense when perfect to slightly mellower when just average. Environment: Pretty good. Hazards: Car rip-offs are always a concern, just like the urchins. Season: Late summer and fall for tropical cyclone swells but late fall through early spring for consistency.