Santa Catarina surf guide
Surf: The Azore's version of Pipeline explodes on a shallow reef, close to shore, just south of the harbour jetty. Jacking air drop take-offs into a cavernous pit that peels both ways for a short but intense barrel ride. Perfect for bodyboarders and pro's, this wave is not for everyone. No room for error as dry reef is barely meters from the peak. If caught inside forget your board and swim as fast as you can with the direction of the current. Needs a medium to big NW swell to wrap in and any W in the wind.
Access: There´s a slaughter house, a chicken and cow food factory, a fish factory and the primary sewage plant (in fact it is a African style sewage).
Environment: Ultra polluted by 3 outfalls coming from an abattoir, fish factory, chicken and cow food factory and a small third world primary treatment sewage plant. Overpowering stench, flocks of seagulls and fisherman are the clues, however locals report no-one has been getting sick, amazingly! Fairly consistent and sometimes crowded on weekends when localism is more likely. Respect required.