Cultural currents
August 19, 2025 - Rising and falling in harmony with the waves brings your awareness to the here and now. Feel how Surfing with Six Senses connects you to a Fijian experience that is as cultural as it is spiritual.
All surfers know that the ocean demands respect. The moment when you don’t just understand its power but gracefully merge with its energy is defining, living with you long after your stay.
When reef surfing at Six Senses Fiji, you’ll be catching waves that have traveled up from Tasmania or New Zealand. There is something special about a swell that has come such a long way to greet you. It inspired a homegrown Surfing with Six Senses program that wasn’t created for accolades but is attracting rave reviews.
The brainchild of General Manager Mark Kitchen and pro surfer Dan Sinclair, like everything at Six Senses, the program is local and sustainable. It is run with a team of Fijian instructors, all knowledgeable ambassadors who connect surfers and non-surfers to the magic of the local surfing heritage, which is completely unique in the world. “Just as it has such a rich and unique culture. Fiji offers a very particular style of reef surfing,” says Dan. “Of course, the guides and boat captain have great attention to detail. They’re here to keep you safe. But they also bring such a fun vibe in the water and an ability to lift everybody’s energy levels. It’s infectious. I’ve been here three years, and I can’t believe how quickly the time has flown.”
Aussie born from the Byron Bay area, Dan spent time competing on the world tour before turning his attention to sharing the experience with guests at Six Senses Fiji, along with board research and construction. “We actually get our boards custom made, using red cedar and working with a company that has an incredible understanding of the conditions here. Our returning surf families leave their boards at home as they know we offer quality boards that are all waxed up and ready to go.”
Not only do Dan and the team have a profound ability to surf, but they have also honed their expertise and intuition to process data on local currents, wind, tide, and other ocean conditions for your daily surf forecast and to find you the best waves. This is also the cornerstone to a safe surf operation, matching the right waves to the right surfer.
New to 2025 is the Visiting Pro initiative, with Connor Brown on the island. The program is also helping to increase accessibility for young Fijians to experience a local surf culture that’s quickly expanding on the global stage. ‘Cloudbreak’, a popular feature on the World Surf League tour, is just 15 minutes from Six Senses Fiji.
Surfing with Six Senses highlights
Something for everyone: Offering both left and righthanders, experienced surfers will enjoy some of the top waves in the world. First-timers can head to the protected lagoons, where kids as young as four can try out a tandem surf. Beginners and intermediates can learn the basics before heading out to ‘Swimming Pools’, a short 15-minute ride renowned for its crystal clear waters and the added bonus of sharing the wave with a passing dolphin.
Beyond the breaks: Exhibition surfing enables your group’s non-surfers to join in the fun and fabled culture from the comfort of a resort boat, speeding between legendary surfing hotspots.
Year-round: Fiji’s peak swell season runs from April to October, where regular offshore southeasterly trade winds produce the best conditions. Between November and March, the shoulder season sees more manageable surf in the waist-to-chest-high zone with lighter winds ensuring an impressive wave count for your time on the water.
New flight connections: Getting to paradise is a lot easier from the US, with direct flights operating from Dallas Fort-Worth, making it the fifth North American city served by Fiji Airways, joining Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu, and Vancouver.
Special requests: Jet-ski surfing assistance? Not a problem. Professional photographer? We’ll snap your best barrels. Just let the team know in advance and they can organize it for you.
Meet the team: Guides Faz, Nemani, and Taniela; Captain Ila; and Surfing Manager Dan.