Tuason Point

Tuason Point sits a few minutes north of Cloud 9 along the coast road, and on most normal days it is the wave you ride past. Then the swell angle swings north, the sets start wedging up off the point, and it becomes the heaviest wave on this stretch of coast. Fast walls, a shallow inside that punishes hesitation, and a lineup that is mostly locals and people who know exactly why they are there. We love it. We also send very few visitors here.

The wave

Tuason is a reef wedge that breaks both ways off a point of coral. The left is the more consistent and generally the longer of the two; the right is shorter and steeper and can be excellent when the angle is exactly right. Both start with a quick, pitching takeoff, run into a fast wall with real push behind it, and finish over an inside section that gets very shallow very quickly.

The character is different from Cloud 9. Cloud 9 is a compact barrel and a short wall. Tuason is more about speed and power along the face, with the occasional hollow section thrown in when the swell is big enough. It handles more size than the main peak and it feels every bit of it.

When it works

Tide. Mid to high and pushing. Tuason needs water over the inside. On a low tide the reef is exposed, the wave shuts down early and the risk of hitting the bottom goes up sharply. We do not surf it at low tide and we would not send anyone else out then either.

Swell. This is the key. Tuason wants swell from the north to northeast with size and period, twelve seconds and up. A hard north angle lights up the point more than it does Cloud 9; a standard east swell leaves it smaller and less defined. It needs a bit of size to get going properly, and it keeps working when the main peak is becoming unmanageable.

Wind. The southwest to west winds of the habagat are offshore here. The catch is that the north swells arrive mostly during the northeast amihan, which blows onshore during the day, so in that season Tuason is an early-morning wave: get in at first light before the wind fills in.

Season. November to February is when the north swells show up most often. The biggest habagat-season swells from September to November also push enough north into the water for Tuason to wake up. Watch the swell direction on the surf forecast rather than the height, and check it from the road before you commit.

Who it suits

Tuason is an advanced wave, and we would rather be blunt about it now than apologetic later. You should already be comfortable at Cloud 9 on a solid day, confident on a late, steep takeoff, and calm about a shallow inside and a current that runs along the reef. Hesitation on the takeoff is how people get hurt here: the wave pitches, you get pulled over with it, and the bottom is close.

If you are intermediate and curious, watch it from the point for a session. It is a good education. Then go and surf Cemetery or Jacking Horse with the lesson in mind. Our spot overview explains where Tuason fits in an honest grading of the coast.

Getting there and getting in

Follow the coast road north from the Cloud 9 boardwalk in General Luna for a few minutes; the point is on your right. Park near the road and walk down to the water. Entry is from the point itself, timing your paddle between sets, and the paddle out is short but the current can be strong. Take a good look from the shore first and pick a landmark to hold your position against. Reef booties are useful for the walk in and out over coral.

Our shop is a short scooter ride away, and a bike with a surf rack from our motorbike rental makes it easy to check Tuason, Cloud 9 and Cemetery in one loop before you decide.

Board choice

A step-up when Tuason is doing what it does best, or a shortboard with a little extra volume and length to get in early on a pitching takeoff. Rocker matters for the drop; paddle power matters for the current and the sets. Our rental fleet includes performance shortboards and step-ups up to 6'7", and we will tell you straight if the board you want is wrong for the day. Bring spare fins and a repair kit.

Etiquette and hazards

The Tuason lineup is tighter and more local than Cloud 9. The people out there have surfed this reef for years and they will give waves to visitors who wait their turn and sit wide. Do not paddle straight to the peak. Do not take off in front of someone who is deeper. And do not drop your leash and go if you are not sure; sit and watch a set instead.

The hazards are real: shallow coral on the inside, a strong current along the reef, and sets that arrive with more power than the surface suggests. Fall flat and shallow, protect your head, keep your hands off the reef, and clean any cut properly the same day. Never surf it alone at first light without telling someone where you are.

For a guided session at Tuason on the right swell, or an honest opinion about whether you are ready for it, our surf school works with advanced surfers as well as beginners. Message us on WhatsApp with your level and your dates and we will watch the forecast with you.