Challenging Waves in Watu Karung Beach, in Pacitan

SURYA.co.id | PACITAN - “The waves are so challenging. Even though they are not long enough but it is so huge and fit for professional surfers. If you still a beginner, do not ever try to surf on this beach. It is too dangerous and you could be dragged to the sea,” Frank, a Spanish surfer in Watu Karung Beach, Kabupaten Pacitan, said.

Frank has been in Watu Karung, Dusun Ketro, Desa Watu Karung, Kecamatan Pringkuku for two weeks.  He with his two friends had tried to surf for several times in this beach. This beach is around 30 kilometers from Kota Pacitan, East Java. The access to go there which pretty smooth with the beautiful forest as the scenery make many professional surfers stay in this beach for months.

“We always miss this place because the waves are fluctuating, sometimes short, sometimes high. They are very challenging. Professional surfers usually after visiting Watu Karung, they will go to Plengkung Beach, in Banyuwangi and Mentawai Beach, in West Sumatra, ” Frank said. He usually stays 2 until 3 weeks in each place.

According to Frank, the waves in Plengkung are so long and huge. “They are awesome,”

Plengkung is around 20 kilometers from Desa Grajagan, and it is inside Alas Purwo National Park Banyuwangi. It is also well-known as G-Land. This beach has 6-8 meters waves.

The waves could have 2 kilometers length. Frank also told that Plengkung has 7 waves’ roll with interval 5 minutes.

“The second best waves in the world is in Plengkung after in Hawaii, United States. Moreover, the wave in Watu Karung is perfect for agility test in surfing even though the waves are not long. Each wave has its character, not only just high but also its obstacle.”

Frank also has tried the agile waves in Sorake Beach, in Nias Island, North Sumatra.

According to Asari, the owner of Asih Homestay and Food Vendors, Watu Karung is famous as the ‘home’ for international surfers from 12 countries. Most of them are from Australia, United States, Spain, Russia, and Singapore. They come and stay with the local residents.

Not less than 100 surfers stay here. Most of them leave after a month in this place. Furthermore, they like to spend months in this place.

Their activity is only surfing in Watu Karung in specific hours with challenging waves. They stay in local residents’ house with fee around Rp 150.000 until Rp 2 million per day in each house.

Watu Karung’s location is quite remoted so not many tourists come. This beach is one of the dozens of beaches in Pacitan. This kabupaten is located in the south-western part of East Java. Its north border is Kabupaten Ponorogo, the east border is Kabupaten Trenggalek, and Kabupaten Wonogiri is as the west border.

Watu Karung faces straightly on the Indian Ocean. It is also one of the reasons why Watu Karung has huge waves until 5 meters. The most attractive points of this beach are reef-break and huge waves that make many surfers fall in love with this beach.

Moreover, in 2009, Rizal Tanjung, top Indonesian surfer, together with Bruce Irons, Rip Curl Pro Search 2008 Champion, surfed in this beach. It is a proof that this beach has world class waves.

According to Ali, the local resident that also a guide for international and domestic tourists, this beach made a Pacitan surfers, Salini Rengganis. She is a professional surfer until now.

This beach is around 45 minutes from downtown Kota Pacitan. The roads to go to this beach are winding. There are also many climb roads. The visitors are also could see karst area of Mount Sewu.

The local residents are going to develop and complete the facilities in each of their houses because there are many international tourists stop by and stay in this place,

Unfortunately, the government’s attention in this place is still minimum. There are still no signs and facilities on the shore. It made some surfers gone into the waves because there are no emergency equipment in this area.

In high season especially, they become very important. Watu Karung should be fixed so there will be more international and domestic tourists come to this place.

Translated by Vicensa Naomi