I have been out for a number of surf sessions since we have been here in the Galapagos. The South swell surf on San Cristobal Island tends to be pretty heavy, with some pretty serious consequences involving some very sharp rocks. The problem is, the surf breaks too close to the rocks when the waves are small, so it’s a choice between bigger waves or surfing over seriously shallow reef. Sadly, as I have found out, the bigger waves will also punish any mistakes by washing you over the jagged toothy lava bed that makes up the reef.
I am about one-to-one for surf sessions to repair sessions to fix the rock dings and holes in my board.
It is not the place to wipe out and get trapped inside.
There is another side to it, though. There is one spot you can ride on those smaller days, with no (well, not too much) fear of needing too much board repair after the session.
The third peak at Tongo Reef.
Tam and I have been out a few times now, when it was too small to surf the first point at Tongo Reef or Playa Loberia, and it is just relaxing, fun, waist to shoulder-high waves into a little bay. The shoulder-high (and occasionally head-high ones) are actually pretty fun.
The best part, though, is watching all the sea lions surfing waves around us, and constantly coming up to visit. I had a particularly mischievous one the other day that decided to grab onto and pull me around by my surfboard leash. He is the one that features in this short video.
Sadly, there is no great footage of them actually surfing, but, maybe next time.
Anyway, sometimes the waves are small and you just need to make a silly video.
Wind, Water, Waves, Wander 