Rarely Surfed Lineups around the Planet

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$Algeria. Winter rainbow over the Mediterranean Sea. We had been sitting on this location for a week or so, when we saw a forecast that looked great for the coast of North Africa. The Med is a small sea so it\'s difficult to avoid weather during a major swell event. We were brushed by morning rain showers embedded in the front, producing a beautiful rainbow over this left point which until this day had never been surfed. Image: <a href=\"www.tropicalpix.com\" target=\"_blank\">Callahan</a>/<a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/pages/SurfEXPLORE/153813754645965\" target=\"_blank\">surfEXPLORE</a>$

Algeria. Winter rainbow over the Mediterranean Sea. We had been sitting on this location for a week or so, when we saw a forecast that looked great for the coast of North Africa. The Med is a small sea so it's difficult to avoid weather during a major swell event. We were brushed by morning rain showers embedded in the front, producing a beautiful rainbow over this left point which until this day had never been surfed. Image: Callahan/surfEXPLORE

$Indonesia. Phil Goodrich strokes into a thick one in Pacific Indonesia. This spot was a fun right at three feet, long and fast. The outside section transformed into a beast at six feet, throwing heavy Pacific-power barrels onto a shallow reef far out at sea. Image: <a href=\"www.tropicalpix.com\" target=\"_blank\">Callahan</a>/<a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/pages/SurfEXPLORE/153813754645965\" target=\"_blank\">surfEXPLORE</a>$

Indonesia. Phil Goodrich strokes into a thick one in Pacific Indonesia. This spot was a fun right at three feet, long and fast. The outside section transformed into a beast at six feet, throwing heavy Pacific-power barrels onto a shallow reef far out at sea. Image: Callahan/surfEXPLORE

$Oman. Walking in the Wahiba Dunes, towards the Arabian Sea. After some time in the desert, it\'s easy to understand why desert people think of the dunes as a kind of sea - without trees, rocks or landmarks of any kind, it\'s similar to traveling over water, but a sea of sand. Bring a compass, people have gotten very disoriented and vanished forever a short distance away from camp, wandering among the dunes. Image: <a href=\"www.tropicalpix.com\" target=\"_blank\">Callahan</a>/<a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/pages/SurfEXPLORE/153813754645965\" target=\"_blank\">surfEXPLORE</a>$

Oman. Walking in the Wahiba Dunes, towards the Arabian Sea. After some time in the desert, it's easy to understand why desert people think of the dunes as a kind of sea - without trees, rocks or landmarks of any kind, it's similar to traveling over water, but a sea of sand. Bring a compass, people have gotten very disoriented and vanished forever a short distance away from camp, wandering among the dunes. Image: Callahan/surfEXPLORE

$Indonesia. Emiliano Cataldi on a screamer in the Gili Islands of Lombok. We could easily do this entire feature on waves in Indonesia alone, such is the quantity and quality of waves available throughout the 17 000 islands of the archipelago. This reef is both tide and swell sensitive, only breaking like this two or three times a season on the biggest of Indian Ocean swells and a strong incoming tide. Image: <a href=\"www.tropicalpix.com\" target=\"_blank\">Callahan</a>/<a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/pages/SurfEXPLORE/153813754645965\" target=\"_blank\">surfEXPLORE</a>$

Indonesia. Emiliano Cataldi on a screamer in the Gili Islands of Lombok. We could easily do this entire feature on waves in Indonesia alone, such is the quantity and quality of waves available throughout the 17 000 islands of the archipelago. This reef is both tide and swell sensitive, only breaking like this two or three times a season on the biggest of Indian Ocean swells and a strong incoming tide. Image: Callahan/surfEXPLORE

$Mauritania. Sam Bleakley on the nose in the middle section of Meteorites. Groups of French and Moroccan surfers make regular trips on the biggest North Atlantic winter swells to surf the Nouadhibou Peninsula, camping in the ruins of colonial La Guerra to ride empty big wave points. Bringing a supply of gifts to ensure the goodwill of the Commandante, of course. Image: <a href=\"www.tropicalpix.com\" target=\"_blank\">Callahan</a>/<a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/pages/SurfEXPLORE/153813754645965\" target=\"_blank\">surfEXPLORE</a>$

Mauritania. Sam Bleakley on the nose in the middle section of Meteorites. Groups of French and Moroccan surfers make regular trips on the biggest North Atlantic winter swells to surf the Nouadhibou Peninsula, camping in the ruins of colonial La Guerra to ride empty big wave points. Bringing a supply of gifts to ensure the goodwill of the Commandante, of course. Image: Callahan/surfEXPLORE

$Taiwan. West Coast rivermouth. One of the major problems surfers in Taiwan face is police harassment when a typhoon is approaching. Civil defense officials and the police descend on major spots, ordering everyone out of the water with bullhorns and videotaping those that refuse, for later identification and a stiff fine. The solution, at least until the laws change, is to have a knowledgable local friend like longboard legend Toumei, who knows how to avoid the police and catch spots like this secret rivermouth in the best conditions. Image: <a href=\"www.tropicalpix.com\" target=\"_blank\">Callahan</a>/<a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/pages/SurfEXPLORE/153813754645965\" target=\"_blank\">surfEXPLORE</a>$

Taiwan. West Coast rivermouth. One of the major problems surfers in Taiwan face is police harassment when a typhoon is approaching. Civil defense officials and the police descend on major spots, ordering everyone out of the water with bullhorns and videotaping those that refuse, for later identification and a stiff fine. The solution, at least until the laws change, is to have a knowledgable local friend like longboard legend Toumei, who knows how to avoid the police and catch spots like this secret rivermouth in the best conditions. Image: Callahan/surfEXPLORE

$Gabon. Left point at Mayumba, with Randy Rarick laying into a bottom turn. Since the airport closed a few years ago, the three-day bush taxi journey from Libreville through the great tropical forest of Central Africa has put off many surfers from southern Gabon, but the waves are definitely there. Surf yourself silly every day at the empty left points, drink local Regab beer every night at Stephanie\'s Le Week-End Bar and try not to think about how long it\'s going to take to get back to Libreville! Image: <a href=\"www.tropicalpix.com\" target=\"_blank\">Callahan</a>/<a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/pages/SurfEXPLORE/153813754645965\" target=\"_blank\">surfEXPLORE</a>$

Gabon. Left point at Mayumba, with Randy Rarick laying into a bottom turn. Since the airport closed a few years ago, the three-day bush taxi journey from Libreville through the great tropical forest of Central Africa has put off many surfers from southern Gabon, but the waves are definitely there. Surf yourself silly every day at the empty left points, drink local Regab beer every night at Stephanie's Le Week-End Bar and try not to think about how long it's going to take to get back to Libreville! Image: Callahan/surfEXPLORE

$China. Hainan Island, left point on the South China Sea. While seemingly out of the path of major swell sources, Hainan gets a surprising amount of surf. The winter northeast monsoon funnels down the Taiwan Strait, pushing groundswell south and west towards Hainan where a number of good setups are ready, like this left point on the grounds of an exclusive golf course. Image: <a href=\"www.tropicalpix.com\" target=\"_blank\">Callahan</a>/<a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/pages/SurfEXPLORE/153813754645965\" target=\"_blank\">surfEXPLORE</a>$

China. Hainan Island, left point on the South China Sea. While seemingly out of the path of major swell sources, Hainan gets a surprising amount of surf. The winter northeast monsoon funnels down the Taiwan Strait, pushing groundswell south and west towards Hainan where a number of good setups are ready, like this left point on the grounds of an exclusive golf course. Image: Callahan/surfEXPLORE

$Madagascar. Local surfer on a wooden plank. A group of local boys had wooden planks from local pirouges as boards, were very accomplished surfers and great fun to share the waves with at this point break in northeastern Madagascar. Image: <a href=\"www.tropicalpix.com\" target=\"_blank\">Callahan</a>/<a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/pages/SurfEXPLORE/153813754645965\" target=\"_blank\">surfEXPLORE</a>$

Madagascar. Local surfer on a wooden plank. A group of local boys had wooden planks from local pirouges as boards, were very accomplished surfers and great fun to share the waves with at this point break in northeastern Madagascar. Image: Callahan/surfEXPLORE

$Ghana. Right point at a fishing village. Travel in West Africa is the full sensory experience, with a plethora of sights, sounds and smells. The coastline has many unridden points and beachbreaks, usually with no one surfing. Despite being introduced to surfing when Bruce Brown stopped in Accra to film with Mike Hynson and Robert August for \"Endless Summer\" in 1963, it\'s only recently that locals have been surfing in any numbers. Image: <a href=\"www.tropicalpix.com\" target=\"_blank\">Callahan</a>/<a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/pages/SurfEXPLORE/153813754645965\" target=\"_blank\">surfEXPLORE</a>$

Ghana. Right point at a fishing village. Travel in West Africa is the full sensory experience, with a plethora of sights, sounds and smells. The coastline has many unridden points and beachbreaks, usually with no one surfing. Despite being introduced to surfing when Bruce Brown stopped in Accra to film with Mike Hynson and Robert August for "Endless Summer" in 1963, it's only recently that locals have been surfing in any numbers. Image: Callahan/surfEXPLORE

$Indonesia. Sam Bleakley gets on the nose in the Batu Islands, north of the Mentawai. This bay holds several right reef waves and a fantastic all-coconut backdrop for a lovely tropical ambience and always has fewer boats and surfers than the Mentawai islands. Image: <a href=\"www.tropicalpix.com\" target=\"_blank\">Callahan</a>/<a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/pages/SurfEXPLORE/153813754645965\" target=\"_blank\">surfEXPLORE</a>$

Indonesia. Sam Bleakley gets on the nose in the Batu Islands, north of the Mentawai. This bay holds several right reef waves and a fantastic all-coconut backdrop for a lovely tropical ambience and always has fewer boats and surfers than the Mentawai islands. Image: Callahan/surfEXPLORE

$Panamá. Bocas del Toro, Caribbean Sea. Consistent high pressure and deep water offshore means the western side of the Caribbean Sea gets some of the biggest windswell-generated surf of anywhere in the world. The Bocas del Toro region is no exception. This beachbreak has a reputation for crunching power at any size and breaks more standard foam and fiberglass boards than anyone but top pros with 12 - board travel quivers can afford. The first question asked to new arrivals in Bocas is \"Got any boards to sell?\" Image: <a href=\"www.tropicalpix.com\" target=\"_blank\">Callahan</a>/<a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/pages/SurfEXPLORE/153813754645965\" target=\"_blank\">surfEXPLORE</a>$

Panamá. Bocas del Toro, Caribbean Sea. Consistent high pressure and deep water offshore means the western side of the Caribbean Sea gets some of the biggest windswell-generated surf of anywhere in the world. The Bocas del Toro region is no exception. This beachbreak has a reputation for crunching power at any size and breaks more standard foam and fiberglass boards than anyone but top pros with 12 - board travel quivers can afford. The first question asked to new arrivals in Bocas is "Got any boards to sell?" Image: Callahan/surfEXPLORE

$Oman. Al-Ashkara, fish in wave. Fish and sea turtles are so prolific off the desert coast of Oman in the Arabian Sea they are regularly seen in the lineup. Image: <a href=\"www.tropicalpix.com\" target=\"_blank\">Callahan</a>/<a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/pages/SurfEXPLORE/153813754645965\" target=\"_blank\">surfEXPLORE</a>$

Oman. Al-Ashkara, fish in wave. Fish and sea turtles are so prolific off the desert coast of Oman in the Arabian Sea they are regularly seen in the lineup. Image: Callahan/surfEXPLORE

$Taiwan. If a typhoon takes a track below the island, moving nice and slow towards Hong Kong and mainland China, the West Coast of Taiwan can get very big indeed. Swells track well up the Taiwan Strait, throwing grinding tubes over rivermouth sandbars like this one and a northeast wind blows offshore. Image: <a href=\"www.tropicalpix.com\" target=\"_blank\">Callahan</a>/<a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/pages/SurfEXPLORE/153813754645965\" target=\"_blank\">surfEXPLORE</a>$

Taiwan. If a typhoon takes a track below the island, moving nice and slow towards Hong Kong and mainland China, the West Coast of Taiwan can get very big indeed. Swells track well up the Taiwan Strait, throwing grinding tubes over rivermouth sandbars like this one and a northeast wind blows offshore. Image: Callahan/surfEXPLORE

$Western Sahara. The surfEXPLORE team on the White Dune, one of the few places where the sands of the Sahara come right down to the Atlantic Ocean. Image: <a href=\"www.tropicalpix.com\" target=\"_blank\">Callahan</a>/<a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/pages/SurfEXPLORE/153813754645965\" target=\"_blank\">surfEXPLORE</a>$

Western Sahara. The surfEXPLORE team on the White Dune, one of the few places where the sands of the Sahara come right down to the Atlantic Ocean. Image: Callahan/surfEXPLORE

$Haiti. Caribbean Coast, with Icah Wilmot from Jamaica smacking the lip at left reef break. Since the January 2010 earthquake, aid workers have flooded into the country, many of them idealistic evangelical Christians from the States. Some of the aid workers are surfers, enjoying the last unsurfed area in the Caribbean region while helping Haitians recover from the devastation of the quake. Image: <a href=\"www.tropicalpix.com\" target=\"_blank\">Callahan</a>/<a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/pages/SurfEXPLORE/153813754645965\" target=\"_blank\">surfEXPLORE</a>$

Haiti. Caribbean Coast, with Icah Wilmot from Jamaica smacking the lip at left reef break. Since the January 2010 earthquake, aid workers have flooded into the country, many of them idealistic evangelical Christians from the States. Some of the aid workers are surfers, enjoying the last unsurfed area in the Caribbean region while helping Haitians recover from the devastation of the quake. Image: Callahan/surfEXPLORE

$Haiti. North Coast reef break on the Atlantic Ocean, with Icah Wilmot on the first wave ever ridden at this island spot. The local girls were collecting stones from the beach for concrete aggregate and were stoked to see surfers, as visitors of any kind are rare in this isolated part of Haiti. Image: <a href=\"www.tropicalpix.com\" target=\"_blank\">Callahan</a>/<a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/pages/SurfEXPLORE/153813754645965\" target=\"_blank\">surfEXPLORE</a>$

Haiti. North Coast reef break on the Atlantic Ocean, with Icah Wilmot on the first wave ever ridden at this island spot. The local girls were collecting stones from the beach for concrete aggregate and were stoked to see surfers, as visitors of any kind are rare in this isolated part of Haiti. Image: Callahan/surfEXPLORE

$Haiti. Emiliano Cataldi at a south coast rivermouth. Haiti\'s southern coast abounds with rivermouth spots, gravel bars that hold size and shape on the consistent windswell from the Caribbean Sea. Local village children came out in droves to watch when we surfed this spot, hanging out on the beach screaming their appreciation (or derision) in Kreyol Ayiti dialect and gathering coconuts for apres-surf food and drink. Image: <a href=\"www.tropicalpix.com\" target=\"_blank\">Callahan</a>/<a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/pages/SurfEXPLORE/153813754645965\" target=\"_blank\">surfEXPLORE</a>$

Haiti. Emiliano Cataldi at a south coast rivermouth. Haiti's southern coast abounds with rivermouth spots, gravel bars that hold size and shape on the consistent windswell from the Caribbean Sea. Local village children came out in droves to watch when we surfed this spot, hanging out on the beach screaming their appreciation (or derision) in Kreyol Ayiti dialect and gathering coconuts for apres-surf food and drink. Image: Callahan/surfEXPLORE

$Western Sahara. Right points don\'t come any better than this setup in Western Sahara, north of Dakhla. Sand bottom perfection, north Atlantic groundswell, no one surfing. There\'s a massive fishing camp on the bluff of Moroccan fishermen who come for octopus season - they have ten or so days to catch a year\'s worth of octopus for export to Europe; so when fishing season is on, forget about surfing - too many boats and serious people working to feed their families and make some money. There are plans to enclose the point with a long jetty - which would make fishing much easier but destroy the wave, one of the best in North Africa. Image: <a href=\"www.tropicalpix.com\" target=\"_blank\">Callahan</a>/<a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/pages/SurfEXPLORE/153813754645965\" target=\"_blank\">surfEXPLORE</a>$

Western Sahara. Right points don't come any better than this setup in Western Sahara, north of Dakhla. Sand bottom perfection, north Atlantic groundswell, no one surfing. There's a massive fishing camp on the bluff of Moroccan fishermen who come for octopus season - they have ten or so days to catch a year's worth of octopus for export to Europe; so when fishing season is on, forget about surfing - too many boats and serious people working to feed their families and make some money. There are plans to enclose the point with a long jetty - which would make fishing much easier but destroy the wave, one of the best in North Africa. Image: Callahan/surfEXPLORE

$Indonesia. Phil Goodrich paddles out at a Pacific reef break, on the far side of the world\'s greatest surfing country. Indonesia is famous for the quality and quantity of waves on the Indian Ocean side - what will become apparent in the next few years as more surfers venture off the beaten track from crowded Bali and Sumatra is the number of quality waves on the Pacific side of the country as well. Image: <a href=\"www.tropicalpix.com\" target=\"_blank\">Callahan</a>/<a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/pages/SurfEXPLORE/153813754645965\" target=\"_blank\">surfEXPLORE</a>$

Indonesia. Phil Goodrich paddles out at a Pacific reef break, on the far side of the world's greatest surfing country. Indonesia is famous for the quality and quantity of waves on the Indian Ocean side - what will become apparent in the next few years as more surfers venture off the beaten track from crowded Bali and Sumatra is the number of quality waves on the Pacific side of the country as well. Image: Callahan/surfEXPLORE

$Comoros. Anjouan Island, empty left reef. Prone to civil unrest and mercenary-led coups d\'etat, the Comoros are far off anyone\'s easy paradise travel list and it\'s easy to see why. Remote and expensive, with a high level of chaos and disorganization, any travelers so inclined to visit this area of the Indian Ocean would more easily choose Mayotte, which is an integral part of France with a European standard of living and easy formalities. If it\'s empty waves you seek rather than tres-chic shopping boutiques and cafe au lait with croissants on the terrace, go to Anjouan or Grande Comore. It\'s a lot harder, but worth it. Image: <a href=\"www.tropicalpix.com\" target=\"_blank\">Callahan</a>/<a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/pages/SurfEXPLORE/153813754645965\" target=\"_blank\">surfEXPLORE</a>$

Comoros. Anjouan Island, empty left reef. Prone to civil unrest and mercenary-led coups d'etat, the Comoros are far off anyone's easy paradise travel list and it's easy to see why. Remote and expensive, with a high level of chaos and disorganization, any travelers so inclined to visit this area of the Indian Ocean would more easily choose Mayotte, which is an integral part of France with a European standard of living and easy formalities. If it's empty waves you seek rather than tres-chic shopping boutiques and cafe au lait with croissants on the terrace, go to Anjouan or Grande Comore. It's a lot harder, but worth it. Image: Callahan/surfEXPLORE

$Liberia. Atlantic left points at Robertsport. The fantastic left points in Liberia were first brought to the attention of the surfing world by Kevin Naughton and Craig Peterson, who visited in the mid-1970\'s and published a great West Africa travel feature in SURFER Magazine. After 20 years of devastating civil war which brought the country to its knees, Liberia has recently achieved a degree of political stability and the Robertsport area is seeing a revival of both surfing and civil society. Local surfers like Alfred Lomax welcome visiting surfers to the points and are able to make a living from visitor accommodation, food and drink, board rentals and other services. Image: <a href=\"www.tropicalpix.com\" target=\"_blank\">Callahan</a>/<a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/pages/SurfEXPLORE/153813754645965\" target=\"_blank\">surfEXPLORE</a>$

Liberia. Atlantic left points at Robertsport. The fantastic left points in Liberia were first brought to the attention of the surfing world by Kevin Naughton and Craig Peterson, who visited in the mid-1970's and published a great West Africa travel feature in SURFER Magazine. After 20 years of devastating civil war which brought the country to its knees, Liberia has recently achieved a degree of political stability and the Robertsport area is seeing a revival of both surfing and civil society. Local surfers like Alfred Lomax welcome visiting surfers to the points and are able to make a living from visitor accommodation, food and drink, board rentals and other services. Image: Callahan/surfEXPLORE

$Mauritania. Right point with shipwrecks in No Man\'s Land. The Nouadhibou Peninsula in North Africa does not officially belong to any country. Formerly part of the Spanish Sahara until 1975, since claimed by Morocco and currently occupied by Mauritania, it has several high-quality right points surrounded by land mines. If the Commandante of the Mauritanian Army detachment likes you, you can surf. There has not been any active fighting since the early 1990\'s and the soldiers are very bored. If he doesn\'t like you, no surfing. The Commandante can provide a guide to ride shotgun through the minefields to reach Metorites, this long right point with two shipwrecks. If he likes you. Image: <a href=\"www.tropicalpix.com\" target=\"_blank\">Callahan</a>/<a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/pages/SurfEXPLORE/153813754645965\" target=\"_blank\">surfEXPLORE</a>$

Mauritania. Right point with shipwrecks in No Man's Land. The Nouadhibou Peninsula in North Africa does not officially belong to any country. Formerly part of the Spanish Sahara until 1975, since claimed by Morocco and currently occupied by Mauritania, it has several high-quality right points surrounded by land mines. If the Commandante of the Mauritanian Army detachment likes you, you can surf. There has not been any active fighting since the early 1990's and the soldiers are very bored. If he doesn't like you, no surfing. The Commandante can provide a guide to ride shotgun through the minefields to reach Metorites, this long right point with two shipwrecks. If he likes you. Image: Callahan/surfEXPLORE

$Philippines. Mindanao, throwing the rope. Phil Goodrich hits a turn at a right with a clean reef and a miles - deep channel alongside. With a reputation for banditry and political violence, Mindanao is lightly touristed outside of major cities like Davao and Zamboanga. With a new road along the coast finally finished, the many inviting reefs and seasonal exposure to western Pacific typhoon swells will draw more surfers in coming seasons. Image: <a href=\"www.tropicalpix.com\" target=\"_blank\">Callahan</a>/<a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/pages/SurfEXPLORE/153813754645965\" target=\"_blank\">surfEXPLORE</a>$

Philippines. Mindanao, throwing the rope. Phil Goodrich hits a turn at a right with a clean reef and a miles - deep channel alongside. With a reputation for banditry and political violence, Mindanao is lightly touristed outside of major cities like Davao and Zamboanga. With a new road along the coast finally finished, the many inviting reefs and seasonal exposure to western Pacific typhoon swells will draw more surfers in coming seasons. Image: Callahan/surfEXPLORE

surfEXPLORE is a multi-lingual, multi-national collective of explorers, surfers, photographers, authors, researchers, cultural anthropologists and artists dedicated to surfing exploration. Since 2007, they have traveled to over 20 countries in search of new waves, new experiences and deep cultural immersion. Their materials are featured regularly in specialty surfing publications, adventure travel magazines, websites and newspapers worldwide.

For more about surfEXPLORE visit them on their Facebook page.

About John Seaton Callahan:
John has been a professional photographer since graduation from the college of Fine Arts at UCLA with a degree in Design in 1986. His work is published worldwide; with over 3,500 documented pages of editorial and more than 100 cover images. Originally from Hawaii, he has lived in the city-state of Singapore since 2000.

For more of John’s work visit his website.

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