The Surf Window

Gas Chambers

Rincon, Puerto Rico

Reef breakExpert

Named for the suffocating hold-downs it inflicts, Gas Chambers is a short, thick, terrifying barrel detonating over a very shallow reef off Rincon, not for the faint-hearted but some of the heaviest tubes in the Caribbean.

Typical Conditions

The Surf Window

Swell Window

N
OptimalN (0°)
WindowNNW–ENE (330°–60°)

Wind

E

Offshore

Tide

Mid tide only

LowMidHigh

Season

December–February

JFMAMJJASOND

The Wave

Type

Right

Bottom

Reef (very shallow)

Shape

Short, thick, pitching barrel, the definition of a consequence wave

Length

20–50m

Skill Level

  • •Who it's for: Expert
  • •Why: The reef is inches below the surface and the barrel is thick, a wipeout here is extremely dangerous

Hazards

  • •Extremely shallow reef, serious injury risk
  • •Long hold-downs on big sets
  • •Remote from immediate medical care

Local Tips

  • •Watch from the cliff above before paddling out, if it looks scary from up there, it is
  • •This is strictly a spectator wave for the vast majority of surfers

Location

Map showing the location of Gas Chambers in Rincon, Puerto Rico

18.3353, -67.2536