Martin Daly on Indies Trader chanced on surf on his way to salvage a timber barge and for a few years the area was one of the best kept surf secrets on earth. In 1992 Katika and Sirius visited the area and Indies Trader returned with surf industry top brass. A single photo of a huge left hander appeared in Tracks magazine. In 1993, Electric Lamb cruised the chain and located Thunders, Screamers, Maccas, Hts, Lances, Telescopes and Nyang Nyang. The next year 3 STC boats arrived and the surf charter industry was firmly established.
Conditions are ideal for surfing.
The light off-shore winds and generally glassy smooth sea conditions polish long Indian Ocean swell that has traveled from the Southern Ocean's roaring forties. The variety of islands, bays and headlands produce quality surf in almost any wind direction. The area s incredible surf potential is now well known to the worldwide surf community. In a few short years the Mentawais have come from obscurity to being the venue of choice for surf video and promo photo production. Facilitated by some of the early pioneers , the big names in the surf industry visit the area regularly to film the top 40 pushing their personal envelopes in uncrowded consistent surf conditions that are difficult to match anywhere else in the world.