Surf spot

Tanjung Aru beach 3

Forecast conditions and map view for Tanjung Aru beach 3 in Malaysia, Borneo. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: Malaysia, Borneo
Coordinates: 5.9334, 116.0466

Metric
Metric	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00
Wave height (m)	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.4	0.4	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.4	0.3	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.4	0.5	0.4
Wave direction	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	NNW	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	N	WNW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW
Wave period (s)	5	5	4.9	4.8	4.7	6.8	7	7	7	7	6.9	6.8	6.7	6.5	6.3	6.3	5.9	5.9	6	6	5.9	5.8	5.8	5.5	5.5	5.3	4.9	4.5	4.3	4.3	4.2	4.3	4.3	4.3	4.3	4.5	4.2	4.5	5.3	4.8	5	5	5.5	5.2	5.2	3.5	3.8	4	4.1	4.2	4.2	4.2	4.2	3.9	3.9	4
Wave energy (kJ)	7	6	6	5	4	8	11	13	14	14	14	13	13	12	12	10	9	9	8	7	7	6	5	5	4	4	4	4	4	5	6	8	9	9	10	10	7	7	7	7	8	8	5	4	4	4	5	6	6	7	7	8	7	5	6	6
Wind speed (km/h)	6.8	6.9	3.1	10.4	8.9	7.7	3.5	7.5	7.4	6.6	1.1	9.8	8.9	5.6	3.3	5.4	6.3	5.5	1.6	9.7	11.5	8.6	4.8	5.3	4.9	5.8	1.6	7.9	7.3	4.7	3.1	5.1	5.9	4.8	3	8.8	11.5	6.8	3.6	6.2	5	6.9	4.4	9.5	10.5	5.2	3.1	3.9	6.9	6.1	1.5	10	12.4	7	4.1	7.1
Wind direction	ESECross	SECross	SEGlassy	NWCross	WNWCross	NWCross	ESEGlassy	SECross	SECross	ESECross-off	EGlassy	NWCross	WNWCross-on	NWCross	SEGlassy	SECross	ESECross-off	ESECross-off	SSEGlassy	NWCross	NWCross	NCross-off	ENEGlassy	ESECross-off	ESEGlassy	ESECross	ESEGlassy	NWCross	WNWCross	NNWGlassy	ESEGlassy	SECross	SECross	SEGlassy	SSWGlassy	WNWCross-on	WNWCross-on	WCross-on	SGlassy	SECross	SSECross-on	SECross	SGlassy	WCross-on	WNWCross-on	WNWCross-on	ESEGlassy	SEGlassy	SECross	ESECross-off	SEGlassy	WNWCross-on	WNWCross-on	WNWCross-on	SEGlassy	SECross

Tanjung Aru Beach 3 is a beachbreak surf spot near Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Borneo (Malaysia). It’s best known as a beginner-to-intermediate-friendly wave when conditions line up, with a relaxed tropical setting close to the city.

Spot description

Type: Beachbreak
Wave quality: Usually small and soft, but can get punchier on the right swell
Best winds: Typically offshore to cross-offshore winds help clean it up
Best swell: A moderate southwest or northwest swell can produce rideable waves depending on the sandbanks
Tide: Often works best around mid tide, though this can vary with sand movement
Crowd: Can be local and mellow, but the easiest-access sections may get busy
Vibe: Tropical, scenic, and urban-accessible — a nice surf spot if you’re staying around Kota Kinabalu

What to expect

Tanjung Aru Beach 3 is not usually a heavy or highly consistent reef break; it’s more of a fun, variable beachbreak. Because it depends on sandbars, conditions can change a lot from week to week. When it’s working, it can offer short, playful rides suitable for longboards, funboards, and learners.

Hazards / things to note

Strong current or shorebreak can happen when swell is larger
Sandbars shift, so the best peak moves around
Watch for people swimming since it’s a public beach
Local conditions can change quickly with tide and wind

Best for

Beginner surfers in small surf
Intermediate surfers looking for a casual session
Longboarders when the wave is soft