Part one of four
Operational culture and this year’s key gatherings.
The Surfing Doctors continue to refine their work across some of Indonesia’s main surf locations, such as G-Land, Nias, and, to a lesser extent, Kandui, where medical response depends on preparation, environmental awareness, and coordinated communication. The organisation functions in locations where surf, tides, distance and transport shape every decision. As a result, the group places emphasis on simple, repeatable processes that work under pressure.
Major Influence
A major influence on this operational culture is Dr Phillip Chapman, whose approach remains widely referenced throughout the organisation. Chapman kicks into a specific focus structure: Relax. Assess. React.
It is practical, straightforward and applied when conditions require deliberate action rather than instinct.
Daily behaviour reflects this operational mindset. Doctors check equipment before sunrise, run tide-focused briefings, confirm communication channels and verify access points for different tide stages. Most decisions are built around predictable constraints: daylight, reef exposure, swell size, paddling distances, boat availability and the condition of local transport routes.
Read more: Dr Josh Mol: First Trip to G-Land for the surfing doctors conference, Part 1.
Two significant gatherings shaped the Surfing Doctors’ internal development in 2025. The first was held at URBNSURF Sydney wave pool, allowing the group to review core skills without external variables. The purpose was not to simulate real conditions but to remove distractions so that communication, leadership and accuracy could be assessed clearly.
Jawa Jiwa
The second gathering, the Surfing Doctors Annual Conference, took place at Jawa Jiwa in G-land. The location immediately brought the discussion into real operational territory. Meetings were short and direct. Operators provided input on crowd behaviour, transport availability and previous-season problems. Time was also spent surfing the A-Grade waves that G-Land delivered during the conference and organising a major beach clean-up.
These gatherings complement each other. The wave-pool meeting offers a controlled environment where procedures and communication can be refined without environmental pressure. G-land provides the opposite: the operational reality, where tide, heat, and distance dictate decision-making. Together, they reinforce the organisation’s working model: prepare thoroughly, communicate clearly, adapt to the environment and act decisively once a plan is chosen.
This framework carries through every Surfing Doctors rotation. It remains the basis for maintaining safety and medical reliability in regions where conditions shift quickly and resources are limited.
