Cemetery

Between the town of General Luna and the Cloud 9 boardwalk, the coast road passes the municipal cemetery. The reef straight out from it has a wave, and the wave has taken the obvious name. Cemetery is not on the posters and it is not in most people's plans, which is exactly its appeal: a proper reef break with a right and a left that is softer than the main peak, quieter than anything on the boardwalk, and a genuinely useful step for an intermediate surfer who wants to learn reef surfing without learning it at Cloud 9.

The wave

Cemetery breaks on a stretch of reef a few hundred metres offshore from the cemetery. On the right swell it sets up as a peak with a right and a left. The right is usually the longer and more defined of the two, with a fairly gentle takeoff and a wall that lets you link turns; the left is shorter and quicker and depends more on the exact swell angle. Neither wave is hollow on a normal day, though both can stand up and get punchy when the swell has size and period.

The bottom is coral reef. It is not as shallow or as sharp at the takeoff as Cloud 9, but it is reef, and the reef flat between you and the beach is very much alive. Treat it as a coral wave with a softer character, not as a beach break.

When it works

Tide. Mid tide, and better rising than dropping. Cemetery is fussier about tide than Jacking Horse. On a low tide the reef flat dries out, the walk in becomes long and the wave gets too shallow to be worth it. On a full high tide the peak tends to go fat and slow and loses its shape. The middle hours either side of half tide are the window.

Swell. East to northeast swell with a moderate period, eight to twelve seconds. Cemetery works on smaller swells than Cloud 9 and can be a good option on windswell days when the main peak is mushy. When the swell gets big and long period it starts to close out and the current becomes a real factor, so it is a small-to-medium day spot rather than a big day one. Two to four foot is the sweet spot.

Wind. The southwest habagat is offshore here as it is along the whole General Luna coast, and light mornings are best. It is a little more exposed to the northeast amihan than the spots tucked behind the Cloud 9 reef, so in that season surf it early.

Season. August to November for consistent swell. In the dry season, March to May, the smaller cleaner days are made for it and the lineup is thin. Check the surf forecast for size and period, then look at the tide table before anything else.

Who it suits

Cemetery is an intermediate wave. If you are comfortable at Jacking Horse on a bigger day, catching unbroken waves and turning on the face, this is the natural next step: a real reef peak, a real paddle out, and a wave that rewards good positioning without punishing every mistake the way Cloud 9 does. Advanced surfers will enjoy it on a clean mid-sized morning and will find it slow when it is small.

Beginners should not be here on their own. The walk across the reef, the current and the coral are too much for a first reef session. If you are progressing and want to try it, come with one of our instructors. Our spot overview shows where it fits in the coast.

Getting there and getting in

Follow the coast road from General Luna towards Cloud 9 and stop at the cemetery. Park by the road and walk down to the water. At mid tide you cross the reef flat on foot before you paddle; the coral is uneven and sharp, so wear booties, take your time, and follow the sandier channels where you can. Then paddle out to the peak, keeping an eye on the drift along the reef. On your way back in, aim for the same channel you came out through rather than the shortest line.

Free pick-up from any hotel in General Luna is included with lessons and guided sessions, and our motorbike rental has scooters with surf racks if you want to check Cemetery, Jacking Horse and Cloud 9 on your own.

Board choice

A funboard around 7'0" to 7'6" is the right call for most intermediates here: enough volume to paddle out through the current and get in early, enough manoeuvrability to turn on the wall. Confident surfers will be happy on a shortboard with a little extra volume, or a fish on the smaller days. Our rental fleet has funboards from 6'5" to 8'5" and shortboards from 5'7" to 6'7"; two hours costs 300 PHP and a full day 500 PHP.

Etiquette and hazards

Cemetery is quieter than the boardwalk spots and the lineup is usually a mix of locals, long-stay visitors and a few people escaping the crowd. Take turns, sit wide when you arrive, and give way to anyone deeper on the peak. If a school is out with students, keep clear of the inside.

The main hazard here is the reef flat, not the wave. Coral cuts on the walk in and out are the most common injury at this spot, which is why we keep repeating the word booties. In the water, fall flat, keep your hands off the bottom and watch the drift. Clean any cut properly the same day; infections in the tropics move fast.

If you want to make the step from Jacking Horse to your first reef break with someone watching your back, our surf school runs coached sessions at Cemetery for progressing surfers. Message us on WhatsApp with your level and dates and we will pick the right tide with you.