NoKandui (Kandui Left)
Mentawai surf guide › NoKandui
NoKandui, also known as Kandui or Kandui Left, is nicknamed the "Black Belt" of the Mentawais. Barrel after barrel breaks non-stop along the reef to the channel. It is a wave for very advanced surfers only, about 15 minutes by boat from Hidden Bay.
How NoKandui breaks
NoKandui is a long, hollow left that keeps throwing all the way down the reef. You will rarely link every section, but the rides you make are among the best barrels in Indonesia, and it is a lot of fun trying.
NoKandui only really starts to work from about 6 feet (1.5 to 2 metres) and holds up to 15 feet. It works with southwest swells and southeast to east winds, which blow offshore. It is best on a rising or high tide, and the dropping tide can be very good too.
When to surf NoKandui
NoKandui needs real swell, so it comes alive in the April to September season, when the biggest and most consistent swells reach the Mentawais. Our guides watch the forecast and the tide to catch it at the right moment.
Read our month-by-month guide: best time to surf Mentawai.
Who NoKandui is for
Expert surfers who are comfortable in heavy, hollow waves over shallow reef. If you are not there yet, our zone has plenty of alternatives at the same time, such as Hideaways, so the rest of the group can surf while the chargers take on Kandui. Baby Kandui, just next door, is always smaller but can be even faster.
Local tips for NoKandui
NoKandui only really turns on from about 6 feet (around 1.5 to 2 metres), and it is a temperamental wave with a crowd to match. When it is on, this is how to make the most of it.
- Don’t stop. Keep accelerating the whole way. It is barrel after barrel until you can’t make any more, or, if you are lucky, until you make it all the way to the channel.
- Be patient. Sets can take 20 to 30 minutes to arrive, so wave selection is everything.
- Position for the right shape. Good positioning lets you pick the more triangular, peaky waves. Never take the long, stretched-out ones.
- Kick out in time. The last section is extremely shallow.
Watch NoKandui
NoKandui wave guide
Kelly Slater at XXL NoKandui, July 2022
More sessions on our YouTube channel.
Surfing NoKandui from Hidden Bay
We don’t run the boat by the clock. Our guides follow the forecast, the wind and more than 12 years of local knowledge to put you on NoKandui when it’s at its best, and on another wave when it isn’t. Featured Trips average 6 surfers per boat, never more than 8, and with so many breaks close by we can split groups by level.
Every session ends back in our private bay: a chef’s kitchen, ocean-facing rooms with AC and hot water, and a gym with a physical trainer. With the surf video package, we film your sessions, so you can watch your waves at NoKandui the same evening.
Other waves near Hidden Bay
★★★★★ 4.9 on Google, from 213 reviews
NoKandui FAQ
Where is NoKandui?
In the northern Mentawai Islands, in the Playgrounds area, about 15 minutes by boat from Hidden Bay Resort.
Is Kandui the same wave as NoKandui?
Yes. NoKandui is also called Kandui or Kandui Left. Baby Kandui is a separate, smaller wave nearby.
What are the best conditions for NoKandui?
Southwest swell with southeast to east winds, best on a rising or high tide. The dropping tide can be very good too.
Can intermediate surfers surf NoKandui?
No. NoKandui is a wave for very advanced surfers only. Intermediates can surf other waves nearby at the same time, with their own guide and boat.
Why is NoKandui called the Black Belt?
Because it is one of the most demanding waves in the region: fast, hollow barrels breaking non-stop over shallow reef.
Surf NoKandui with us
See the next Featured Trip dates, or message us on WhatsApp and we’ll tell you honestly when NoKandui is at its best for your level.
See trip datesChat on WhatsApp