Dungeons Big Wave Surfing – Sunday Session Report

Yesterday was a slow percolation of energy with sparks of magic at a dark-watered Dungeons. A long-anticipated swell finally aligned with a Sunday, drawing a big crowd—surfers, photographers, spectators, families, and the wider ocean-loving community. We fielded a wave of enquiries and ran multiple trips to get people out to witness the action firsthand. I managed to grab a few images between all the boat wrangling and dockside chats.

The swell arrived slightly under forecast, but for those who paddled out, it offered up flashes of power. Long-period sets brought drawn-out pauses, but when waves did come, they hit with a punch. Some of the sets broke deeper on the reef than usual—hollow, heavy barrels detonating across the slab. Pieter de Wit dropped into a few ridiculous bombs, and when those lips landed, the BOOM followed seconds later—delayed, thunderous violence.

A new generation of big wave surfers was out in force, throwing themselves at the lineup with the kind of raw commitment Dungeons demands. Among them, James Taylor and Jacques Theron added something special—charging from way outside on foils, linking sections all the way through to the inside forest. Watching them slice across the chop was surreal. As James put it, they were riding a “twitchy F1 blade of a foil.”

Later in the day, Darcy Lowe and Pieter de Wit lit things up again—this time on tow—pushing into the slab with wild confidence. Pieter found himself deep inside one of the most committed barrels of his life. The lineup kept rotating as chargers refuelled and returned to tackle the shifting peaks—Jomo, Tim Cole, Sam Warren, Mark Taylor, Caitlin Moore, and many others. The channel was alive with action: jet skis, surfskis, spectator boats—even Nauticat and Calypso made appearances. Onshore, every cliff and car park was packed with people straining to catch a glimpse of the chaos unfolding beneath the Sentinel.

This session was a strong reminder that Dungeons still holds its title as South Africa’s premier big wave arena—and that it hasn’t yet shown its full teeth this season. There were hints of its true power—brief glimpses of what it can become when it really turns on. After a few quieter seasons—or maybe just me missing them while chasing sardines—this felt like a reset. There’s fresh energy in the water. Surfers are dialling in their gear, sharpening instincts, and syncing comms. Everyone’s hoping this is just the first of many proper, heavy swells to come.

Photographers were everywhere, capturing the beauty and mayhem from all angles. What feels like slow time at sea often explodes into gold when the memory cards are downloaded—barrels, beatings, foil lines, dolphin passes, and the raw rhythm of a wild session. Even common dolphins and Cape fur seals joined the party, drawn by the same high-octane pulse.

We ran trips from 8am to 5pm—a long, satisfying day on the water shared with a passionate and diverse crew of ocean lovers. There’s nothing better than helping people experience this space—feeling the energy, seeing the commitment, and falling in love with this extreme corner of the surf world. Hopefully, this is just the beginning of an unforgettable Dungeons season.

Huge thanks to Jan from Dive Team - Cape Town for bringing in his boat and supporting the day, and to Danny Jegels for skippering masterfully in wild conditions.

If you spot yourself or someone you know in the photos, please tag them—it’s a big help. If you’d like high-res versions of any images, just reach out. I’m happy to share.

If you’re keen to join next time, we organise trips at short notice via a WhatsApp group. Drop me a message if you’d like to be added. These sessions don’t come often—but when they do, they’re unforgettable.