Surfing is what Siargao is all about.

The water sport is a year-round activity at the island, with locals and expats trooping to Siargao to experience the water’s swells and waves.

Surfing spots are easily accessible in Siargao, with Cloud 9 as its best. The famous surfing break, located in the municipality of General Luna, was dubbed by CNNGo (the travel site of CNN International) as one of the World’s Best Surfing Spots. Its prime waves happen from September to November.

In 2019, Siargao is named by Conde Nast Traveler as the Best Island in the World. It was also included in the top five of CNT’s 2020 Best Islands in the World: Reader’s Choice Awards. Come 2021, TIME declared Siargao as one of the World’s Greatest Places.

“Surfing, I believe, really attracted people to stay here. Part of the surfing lifestyle is mindfulness with nature. They have a spiritual connection with the waves. People are one with nature,” Filipino-French businessman Christophe Bariou told Daily Tribune.

Andi Eigenmann, now Siargao-based with her fiancé champion surfer Philmar Alipayo, was recently seen participating in Mayor Sol’s 1st Local Surfing Competition for Women.

In 1996, Knight Rider and Baywatch actor David Hasselhoff visited Siargao to surf. Soon, international surfing competitions were held in the island.

“You’re humbled by the sea. You rely totally on the natural elements when surfing. People connect and contribute. Surfers have a mindful attitude,” Bariou said.