Activity: Surf Guiding

Balangan is a beautiful but also tricky wave. Knowing the right tide, swell size, and swell direction is crucial to getting good waves. Even then you need to pick your waves wisely because often they break very fast and it can be difficult to catch up.

Our local surf guides help you understand how the surf spot works and explain what you should be looking for when choosing a wave. It takes time to get to know this spot, but once you do you will have some of the best sessions of your life here. Besides that, it is also a great beach to just hang out and enjoy an ice-cold coconut with your friends.

Sunny weather, blue water, and great waves are what we need and what we got this morning at Uluwatu! Plenty of sets came through and everyone was catching waves. Due to the lower tide, the crowd wasn’t too bad either. A fun start to the day and ready for more this afternoon.

The swell was dropping overnight but is expected to get bigger again tomorrow. Most of the time Uluwatu is big enough due to its southern location. The waves there are generally speaking a little bigger than anywhere else on the west side of the Bukit. If the swell is small, Uluwatu is the place to go. The forecast of 5-8 feet tomorrow is looking solid and we are looking forward to getting amazing waves!

The waves were very playful at Uluwatu today. Head-high sets came in every couple of minutes and the tide was just right. The strong offshore wind made it difficult to paddle into the waves, but once on them, racing down the line was pure excitement.

Due to the trade winds from the east this time of year, it is offshore all day long on the west side of the Bukit. This makes it easier to choose the right surf spot, you just need to make sure the swell and tide are right and don’t need to think about the wind too much. At the end of September and the beginning of October, the season and wind direction start to change slowly. Then the east side of Bali will be great again and we can explore the many right-handers the Island has to offer.

Uluwatu was pumping this morning! The section at race tracks was super fun and long, clean waves offered fast rides and hollow barrels. Perfect for the ones who dare to walk over the sharp reef to get to the line-up.

This is what keeps the crowd away, once the tide fills up it is easier to get out and more people will come. Everyone is looking to get the perfect wave. Patience and knowledge of this particular wave help a lot. Our local surf guides know this spot in and out and they are happy to share the best waves with you!

Dreamland definitely lived up to its name this morning! Clean, offshore wind conditions shaped the peak into a perfect A-Frame. On a low tide, this wave is super fun. The left is faster and a bit more hollow while the right invites you to do big button and top turns.

Splitting the peak with someone else in the line-up is the case almost every time a wave comes. This means the line-up spreads out and not everyone is sitting in the same spot. Great for everyone to catch more waves and have fun. It takes some commitment to catch the wave right at the peak. But when you do, the steep drop and big wall in front of you give you the best feeling. It is scary, sometimes, but more rewarding when you make the wave.

Despite the small swell, Uluwatu was great today! This break is one of the most consistent surf spots on the planet and it never disappoints. Small, medium, or big swells, you will always find a surfable wave here.

Most people think Uluwatu is only suitable for really good surfers, but actually, if the swell and tide are right, it is also perfect for intermediate surfers who would like to improve their surfing skills. When surfing it for the first time, professional guidance is highly recommended. Strong currents can occur and sometimes, bigger sets roll through. With our local knowledge, you can be sure to be safe and catch some of the best waves you ever had!

Surprisingly the swell turned out to be smaller than expected. This is not a bad thing because we got to surf Balangan again today where everyone was catching great waves. Due to the full moon, we decided to do an early bird session before the tide got too high.

On high tides like this and smaller swells, some of the spots can go almost flat for a while. Knowing when the tide is high or low is very important as this affects the wave’s quality and surfing experience. Luckily with our local knowledge of the surf spots, we are always at the right spot at the right time!

The new swell has not fully arrived yet early this morning and we decided to go to Balangan where on a high tide, you can get some pretty long rides. Shoulder-high waves were peeling over the reef at this beautiful surf spot.

It is one of our favorite beaches to go to, not only because of the great waves but also because of the white sand and clear, blue water. We are expecting the swell to build up throughout the day. Tomorrow, if the swell fully arrives, Balangan will be too big and other spots like Honeymoon and Toro Toro will be more suitable again. It is not the size of the waves that is important, but the shape and consistency that matters most.