Surf: A moderate to big SW swell has to wrap heavily to break along the famous reef at Tamarin Bay. Hypnotic, cultured barrels tour the NW-facing reef when a moderate to large SW swell tacks in and long tube time is logged by the mix of locals and lucky holidaymakers. This long, perfectly formed, barrelling left becomes ultra-shallow at low tide, so higher tides are safer. Tuck-ins and speed slashes are the order of the day so lesser surfers should stick to the inside reform or beachbreak. Humourless crowds, urchins, sharp reef, currents and sharks. Environment: Tamarin Bay's reputation was built by a ‘70s movie, The Forgotten Island of Santosha, then destroyed by rampant localism shortly thereafter. It has been forgotten to an extent, since Indonesian consistency and price have deflected the hordes, but it is still a beauty to behold. The blind aggression has gone, but behave and avoid the coral crusted limestone that shows at low.