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Teiki Mathieu Baillan surfing a self-made Alaya surfboard in Macaroni, Mentawaï, Indonesia. Photo by C. Naslain, 2009.

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 Paparaa - Outer Reefs

French Polynesia, Tahiti

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Datum: WGS84 [ Help ]
Precision: Approximate

GPS History (1)

Latitude: 17° 46.545' S
Longitude: 149° 29.013' W

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 Access

Around Paparaa, check outer reefs

English (Translate this text in English): Around Paparaa, check outer reefs

English (Translate this text in English): Around Paparaa, check outer reefs

English (Translate this text in English): Around Paparaa, check outer reefs

DistanceDay trip

WalkInstant access (< 5min)

Easy to find?OK

Public access?Public access

Special accessPaddle > 20mn or Boat

 Surf Spot Characteristics

Alternative name chopes rights

Surf Spot Quality

Wave qualityWorld Class

ExperiencePros or kamikaze only...

FrequencyRarely break (5day/year)

Wave

TypeReef-coral

DirectionRight and left

BottomReef (coral, sharp rocks etc..)

PowerHollow, Fast, Powerful

Normal lengthNormal (50 to 150m)

Good day lengthLong (150 to 300 m)

Tide, Swell and Wind

Good swell directionWest

Good wind directionNorth, NorthEast

Swell sizeStarts working at 2m-2.5m / 6ft-8ft and holds up to 5m / 16 ft and over

Best tide positionAll tides

Best tide movementRising and falling tides

More details

Week crowdFew surfers

Week-end crowdFew surfers

Webcam url 

Dangers

- Rips / undertow
- Localism

 Additional Information

The Right:
Towin wave. Only breaks with a typhoon coming from Samoa (West swell) with a huge swell (20 ft). Discover and surf by Poto, Raimana Van Bastoler and Manoa Drollet. It's shallow. This break may not have a reputation like its big brother Teahupoo but it can get pretty dam knarly so only dare to surf it if you have experience on your side.

The Left:
Usually it's a left with S to SW swells accessible by paddle. You will be alone, all the kids stay at Paparaa beach-break. It's a big bowl with tube. Be careful at the end of the wave. The good point, if you are taken by the wave, you finish in deep water.

English (Translate this text in English): The Right:<br />Towin wave. Only breaks with a typhoon coming from Samoa (West swell) with a huge swell (20 ft). Discover and surf by Poto, Raimana Van Bastoler and Manoa Drollet. It's shallow. This break may not have a reputation like its big brother Teahupoo but it can get pretty dam knarly so only dare to surf it if you have experience on your side.<br /><br />The Left:<br />Usually it's a left with S to SW swells accessible by paddle. You will be alone, all the kids stay at Paparaa beach-break. It's a big bowl with tube. Be careful at the end of the wave. The good point, if you are taken by the wave, you finish in deep water.

English (Translate this text in English): The Right:&lt;br &#47;&gt;Towin wave. Only breaks with a typhoon coming from Samoa (West swell) with a huge swell (20 ft). Discover and surf by Poto, Raimana Van Bastoler and Manoa Drollet. It's shallow. This break may not have a reputation like its big brother Teahupoo but it can get pretty dam knarly so only dare to surf it if you have experience on your side.&lt;br &#47;&gt;&lt;br &#47;&gt;The Left:&lt;br &#47;&gt;Usually it's a left with S to SW swells accessible by paddle. You will be alone, all the kids stay at Paparaa beach-break. It's a big bowl with tube. Be careful at the end of the wave. The good point, if you are taken by the wave, you finish in deep water.

English (Translate this text in English): The Right:&amp;lt;br &amp;#47;&amp;gt;Towin wave. Only breaks with a typhoon coming from Samoa (West swell) with a huge swell (20 ft). Discover and surf by Poto, Raimana Van Bastoler and Manoa Drollet. It's shallow. This break may not have a reputation like its big brother Teahupoo but it can get pretty dam knarly so only dare to surf it if you have experience on your side.&amp;lt;br &amp;#47;&amp;gt;&amp;lt;br &amp;#47;&amp;gt;The Left:&amp;lt;br &amp;#47;&amp;gt;Usually it's a left with S to SW swells accessible by paddle. You will be alone, all the kids stay at Paparaa beach-break. It's a big bowl with tube. Be careful at the end of the wave. The good point, if you are taken by the wave, you finish in deep water.

Atmosphere

General

Give it a go lots of fun.

English (Translate this text in English): Give it a go lots of fun.

English (Translate this text in English): Give it a go lots of fun.

English (Translate this text in English): Give it a go lots of fun.

Author: CC Contributors (1)

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 Comments

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By angeliicaamaarianee , 23-12-2019

It's at par. - It was quite good. I have experienced this type of situation when I had a trip to Tahiti after reserving a stay in Tahiti Surf Beach Paradise.

By fozzy bear , 19-12-2008

- there's more than one outer reef at paparaa. think 2 or 3. not sure only seen the one directly outside the beach break working. wan't big enough only 2 meters, but had fun on the sets. Super safe deep water as long as you don't bungle the takeoff.

By Anonymous , 31-05-2007

Good break when on - Very small local crowd with a sick shallow right and down the line left. Saw one day in 18 during May 2007 when it was worth the paddle out the day after a dropping SW tow in swell hit, in the early morning.

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