The water is warm and mellow. Normally a mix between flat water, chop and waves. The waves break on the reef outside and often reforms on the inside. Fun for riding and they also forms nice ramps for launching. Tides vary a lot here. The reef is only passable on the higher tides. On two hours on each side of low tide it's too shallow. There is a opening in the reef a bit higher up the beach, but it's really narrow so you should have access to a boat to get safely through it. About two hundred meters of the beach is a small sandy island. Provides flat water at all tides. Waves are closing out a lot on the outer reefs, but some are also really nice for riding. Normal size 2-3 feet, but might be higher in summer and when the low-pressures is passing. Wear your reef-boots as the coral can be sharp. Careful when jumping on the inside, as there are shallow rocks.
Nice white sand, but with a fair bit of corals and pebbles. The beach is pretty narrow, but with an ok grass-area just inside of it is helping a lot. The grass is good for helping launch and land kites, as well as for rigging. You still need to be careful when going in or out.
Winter is from May through October, summer November through April. Summer is very warm and humid. Air-temperature in winter approx. 25°C, in summer 30+°C. The water is warm and mellow. Temperature year-round approx. 24-25°C. Normally no wetsuit needed, but some days it's nice with a shorty.
Winter is the best season for kiting here as the trades are pretty steady. In summer you can get hurricanes and heaps of changing weather. As the wind here is generated by the trades, it's pretty stable and predictable. Dominating direction is Southeast. Starts building in the morning, and normally starts decreasing late afternoon. Normal strength 12-15 knots, but also days with more. Good directions for kiting are Southeast to East.
Fly in to Port Vila. From here you can get a taxi to Takamara Springs. Cost approx 4000 Vatu. Port Villa 50 km or 1.5 hours. Options is to rent a car, or if you stay at Beachcomber's the owner will arrange for you to be picked up for approx the same amount.
04-10-24 Michael Henley: We just spent 8 days at Beachcomber. 5 days of 9.5m weather 24/7, then a couple of 12m & 17m days then back to 9.5m weather to finish the stopover.
Great kiting, great spot.
)
)
)
)
)