Banana Island

Banana Island

Pulau Pisang or “Banana Island” lies just 45 minutes off the coast of Krui with both a right and left hand reef break, and is also home to some of the best white sand beaches, snorkeling and fishing in the Krui area.

The island is home to less than 100 people, with the population continually declining as the teenagers leave for a higher education and any able-bodied workers head to the mainland in search of work. The local people are able to grow most of their vegetables and can catch fish easily, but everything else must be brought in by boat. With no significant industry Pulau Pisang is a hard place to earn a living, and it’s strikingly evident that the population decline has been fairly recent, with many houses locked up and abandoned, overgrown with plant life or slowly falling to the ground, piece by piece. Even so, the local people are incredibly friendly and hospitable.

To get to Pulau Pisang, we catch a lift with one of the local fishermen from the beach or the harbour in the early morning as the sun rises over the hills.

Every trip is different and can be tailored to suit your tastes. As Banana Island offers one of the only right-handers in the area, it can be an absolute highlight if you’re a natural footer. The surrounding reef offers excellent snorkeling and spear fishing, and there is also a paved track that circumnavigates the island if you like bush walking, with monkey sightings almost guaranteed.

On our last trip we were stoked to score the right-hander for a few hours before heading back to the beach for some freshly caught tuna sashimi with lemon juice and soy sauce, to finish off the day with some spear fishing and a walk through the village before heading home for dinner.

Until next time

The Sumatra Surf Resort Crew

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