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Subic
Bay is known for its calm protected
waters, while great for most water sports
it is exactly what surfers do not want. A
short trip north from Subic Bay along the
National Highway brings you to another coastline.
Zambales Province is located on the western
coast of Luzon and like many other activities
in the area, has yet to attract the attention
that many of the other surfing locations in
the Philippines have. The coastline north
of Subic Bay is open to the South China Sea,
here you will find conditions much more to
the liking of surfers. The waves are from
soft to powerful, but as with many locations
in the Philippines, inconsistent in size and
quality. |
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Best waves are from May to November. The town San
Narciso and it's neighbor San Antonio are the center
of attention for this areas surfing. Pundaquit is
one of the best surf spots in the whole of Zambales.
Pundaquit is based in San Antonio and it is the
fourth town from the Subic Bay Freeport. |
It's
Subic town, Castillejos, San Marcelino then San Antonio.
Pundaquit is the nearest surf destination from manila
compared to San Juan of La Union in the North (7 hours),
Baler of Aurora in the West (10 hrs) and Siargao in Surigao
in the South (board on 2 planes to get to siargao). At
least a dozen good breaks are located around San Narciso
and its neighboring towns. The waves vary for short boarders
to long boarders. One break, which is right in front of
Crystal Beach Resort, is good for beginners because of
its fun waves. When waves are bigger, it can produce good
tubes and power for more experienced surfers. San Narciso
also features the High 5 Lahar Break, considered the most
consistent break in Zambales.
It has a unique lahar bottom created from the mud flow
of Mount Pinatubo. Another break influenced by the volcano
is the La Paz River Mouth Break. The mouth of the Macolcol
River had massive lahar flows that affected the surf.
Just south of San Narciso is the town of San Antonio with
it own collection of small villages and nice breaks. San
Miguel, a village noted for its small fishing fleet and
a performing arts center, has an interesting break that
is good when the swell is small. Here one finds a right
hander that breaks over sand. Locals say this is a good
place to be when there is no chance of good waves anywhere
else. Just to the south is Pundaquit with a good break
when the swell is bigger.
Offshore are the Capones Islands. There are at least three
reef breaks located at Capones Island. Surfers should
be careful because some of the breaks have very sharp
coral while others have been smoothed.
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