Hi all

Firstly yes used the search function but I am looking for advice on surfing in Bali

It looks pretty amazing on the tourist & surf info sites but when I searched on here a lot of the results (vast majority were from 2011) basically said you are paddling through turds and filth. Is it really that bad or have things improved at all in the last 3 years?

Also if it has improved does anyone have recommended breaks for someone of early intermediate ability?

Cheers
Craig

If I lived in NSW I'd be more inclined on doing a road trip up the coast than Bali. The sort of waves that will be suited to a learner in Bali, beachies and rivermouths can get pretty damn festy. Especially in the Wet.
With the Points and beachies you have on tap over there I know where I'd be looking.

Try the neighbouring islands? They are not as commercialised as Bali is and still retain the culture and good surf - even for beginners. Tbh I'd avoid the Kuta area. I remember heading down to the beach after a big night out and a dead chicken just floating in the shoreline.

Despite the good advice, re east coast breaks, if you decide to go, get yourself a guide,,
and that way you'll waste less time fighting the Brazilians, Japanese and Russians at Kuta reef and Legian beach.

Being an 'early intermediate',, you'll hardly get a wave,,, been there.

They'll also have a better idea of conditions, your condition and where to take you...irrespective of floating dead chickens.

Depending on the swell lots of places for you to go. If you need a contact for a guide, be prepared to pay,, and pm me..

Otherwise have fun at Legian and Kuta Reef.

Select to expand quote

quirkus said..
Despite the good advice, re east coast breaks, if you decide to go, get yourself a guide,,
and that way you'll waste less time fighting the Brazilians, Japanese and Russians at Kuta reef and Legian beach.

Being an 'early intermediate',, you'll hardly get a wave,,, been there.

They'll also have a better idea of conditions, your condition and where to take you...irrespective of floating dead chickens.

Depending on the swell lots of places for you to go. If you need a contact for a guide, be prepared to pay,, and pm me..

Otherwise have fun at Legian and Kuta Reef.

Good solid advice there Quirky. Looking at going over next July and that is what I reckon I will do!

Check out Nusa Lembongan Craig, it has a great intermediate wave and really cruisy feel to the place, limited traffic and some amazing accomm options. It has a couple of challenging options wavewise that you might be able to hit but they can be seriously heavy and crowded. The key is timing, check the school holiday dates as it is basically a northern suburb of Perth which is both a blessing and a curse. Good advice from quirkus and I seem to remember he asked for advice on here before he went as did I, so use it!!

I read the title, Bali reality and thought of a quote from a Sumatran mate, "this is not reality this is Kuta". Any way turds and filth are the least of your worries, paddling through Russians and Brazilians is worse.

I think you really need to go over and find out out for yourself
Take on board any advice but keep in mind that if it's your first time there it will be a learning experience regardless of how many tips you receive

Just got back from my first trip over there and couldn't be happier as we got 2 good swells though in the time over there. we stopped and watched kuta reef one morning on the way in from airports...what a circus, stay away or take a board you don' t mind damaging and wear a helmet. Airports was awesome fun and quiet early. I spent 5 days in canggu and surfed some big swells at batu balong and loved it there and the right at canggu.

The water quality was good and didn't effect my bali belly at all.

What about Grupuk? Fun waves, good for learners, good vibe. Put the family at the novatel. Check the direct flights.

I can't stand Kuta/Legian. Even Seminyak is super busy these days. I either go to Canggu or Bukit, but neither are great for learning/intermediate.

kuta legion is always fun and you can find waves to your self even if the main peaks are plastered with semi pros, ,don't right it of till you've had it good.its definatley not ulus but can still turn on,glassy over head close out barrels so much fun.

bali is ruined.

I think you are about 30 years too late.

been going to bali for a long long time the last trip i think was one of the better ones

^ been going for years also. First surf trip there was '94 and my trip in April this year was one of my best/most enjoyable.. Find (as anywhere) as you become more in tune with the place, know where to go/when etc, the more you get from your trips and the more relaxed they become. I love feeling relaxed.

Actually love it when people "hate" Bali and never want to go back. Music to my ears

1st trip in 86 was awesome.
too crowded now.

Select to expand quote

saltiest1 said..
1st trip in 86 was awesome.
too crowded now.

awesome, 1 less in the lineup

Select to expand quote

default said..
^ been going for years also. First surf trip there was '94 and my trip in April this year was one of my best/most enjoyable.. Find (as anywhere) as you become more in tune with the place, know where to go/when etc, the more you get from your trips and the more relaxed they become. I love feeling relaxed.

Actually love it when people "hate" Bali and never want to go back. Music to my ears

+ 1 exactly same thoughts the more I go the better it gets

Off to Balian for a couple of weeks in late September.
Seems like a good spot for the intermediate surfer & hopefully not too crowded, anyone had any recent experiences in the area.

Select to expand quote

grahamn said..
Off to Balian for a couple of weeks in late September.
Seems like a good spot for the intermediate surfer & hopefully not too crowded, anyone had any recent experiences in the area.

Lot more people these days as more accommodation is being built, watched a full on punch up over a pretty ordinary wave last trip and there was also a heap of Russians there (Russian girls looked great but hard as nails ).
Also saw a bull shark feeding in the shark zone when the river was flowing strongly which was impressive. Google for the shark attach pics on the net at Balian there has been a few over recent years.
If the swell gets small lots travel up from Kuta etc.

Not what it was but still a good vibe you will enjoy.

If the swell gets to big head to Medewi 1/2 hour-ish up the road

back to bali in the morning for me!!! 4th trip since last may... if your prepared to travel you will find uncrowded waves! otherwise bukit is always fun!

Select to expand quote

grahamn said..
Off to Balian for a couple of weeks in late September.
Seems like a good spot for the intermediate surfer & hopefully not too crowded, anyone had any recent experiences in the area.

Went last September. Impossible to surf due to massive chaotic swell for 3 days. When the swell became manageable the wind came in strong by mid-morning. Went in April, and again monster swell, followed by massive crowd in the line-up (40-50 people). Although the wave suits intermediate surfers, the majority of the people out are really good and/or local wave-hogs, and so there is limited opportunity for intermediates/average surfers to catch decent waves.

Anyone have recommendations for travel insurance companies for a bali trip? Was on the 'indo surf & lingo' website considering their insurance deal until I found it was actually with QBE of which I have heard many bad reviews... That being said, people are generally more likely to give bad reviews than good reviews (if nothing is wrong, why talk about it?).

If the main break at Balian gets crowded, I'm hopeful that there will be some decent spots nearby, not Medewi which will probably be just as crowded, that will be accessible by pushbike. I will have a couple of 15yo boys in tow who are pretty adventurous.
Any tips without giving too much away??

Select to expand quote

DeMari said..
Anyone have recommendations for travel insurance companies for a bali trip? Was on the 'indo surf & lingo' website considering their insurance deal until I found it was actually with QBE of which I have heard many bad reviews... That being said, people are generally more likely to give bad reviews than good reviews (if nothing is wrong, why talk about it?).

I've used AAMI insurance for most of my holidays (surfing/snowboarding) and they have been OK (cheapish).

I've only had to claim on a stolen camera from Indonesia, and with a bribe the cops gave me a letter (in Indonesian) saying id lost it...AAMI paid out on the camera with not much effort on my behalf.

Select to expand quote

default said..

saltiest1 said..
1st trip in 86 was awesome.
too crowded now.

awesome, 1 less in the lineup

even better then, I'm more likely to be solo in the line up.

Select to expand quote

grahamn said..
If the main break at Balian gets crowded, I'm hopeful that there will be some decent spots nearby, not Medewi which will probably be just as crowded, that will be accessible by pushbike. I will have a couple of 15yo boys in tow who are pretty adventurous.
Any tips without giving too much away??

Sorry, but it is Balian or bust. I have walked for many miles in both directions, but I have not seen anything that I would even half consider paddling out for. Having said that, Balian main, and Balian second/inner are often a really fun waves. Its just a shame about the crowd, the frequent wind and the tendency to be too big/sloppy.

Thanks Beelzebub.
looks like early starts will have to be the go, still the crowd wouldn't be as bad as say somewhere like the Pass @ Byron-surely.

my wife dragged me into one of the new shopping malls in kuta.
1599000 rhupias ($150) for a pair of hurley boardshorts. WTF ?

^^^^
Go to the markets. $5 there for the real deal. Honest.

Select to expand quote

Beelzebub said..

grahamn said..
If the main break at Balian gets crowded, I'm hopeful that there will be some decent spots nearby, not Medewi which will probably be just as crowded, that will be accessible by pushbike. I will have a couple of 15yo boys in tow who are pretty adventurous.
Any tips without giving too much away??

Sorry, but it is Balian or bust. I have walked for many miles in both directions, but I have not seen anything that I would even half consider paddling out for. Having said that, Balian main, and Balian second/inner are often a really fun waves. Its just a shame about the crowd, the frequent wind and the tendency to be too big/sloppy.

And lots of water moving around,, big take off, and then flattens out,,, and goes where,,,?
And if you're not a strong paddler maybe end up at G-Land ?