Surfing East Bali

Right Reef · Best May-Oct · 3-10 ft · Crowd 4/5

S-SW swell, W wind (mornings)

Keramas is a fast, hollow right over black sand and boulders on Bali's east coast. It was on the world tour, and it suits high-performance surfing: often a barrel at the start, then a long wall for turns.

The best conditions are dry-season mornings (May to October), with SW swell and a light west land breeze that usually lasts until mid-morning, so get there early. The Komune resort has floodlights for night sessions, which you book in advance.

The lineup is competitive, with good locals and visiting pros. Bring your best shortboard, maybe slightly bigger, because the wave has real power. It gets shallow on the inside at low tide and there are rips along the beach.

Right Reef · Best Nov-Mar · 4-10 ft · Crowd 3/5

Big S swell, W wind (wet season), mid tide

Sanur Reef only breaks when a big south swell comes in during the wet season, from November to March. Then the west wind blows offshore on this coast and it becomes a long, hollow right over sharp coral about 300 metres out.

It needs around 4ft of raw swell before it starts, and at 6-8ft the crowd is small and experienced.

You can paddle from the beach, which is long, or take a jukung from near the jetty. Mid tide is best; low tide is dangerous. Take a step-up, 6'4" or longer for most people. The coral is very sharp and the current in the channel gets strong on big swells.

Left & Right Reef · Best Nov-Mar · 3-8 ft · Crowd 3/5

S swell, W wind (wet season)

From November to March the west wind blows out the Bukit and Canggu, and most of Bali's surfers end up at Serangan. It's a wide reef off Turtle Island with several peaks, lefts and rights, so there's room for the crowd.

It's easier than it looks, with open faces and clear channels. It works from 3ft to well overhead, and on bigger days the outside peaks have real power while the inside is still fine for intermediates.

You can drive almost to the paddle-out over the causeway, and there are warungs and board repair shacks by the car park. On a good wet-season day it's the busiest lineup in Bali by 9am. Mid tide is safest; there are sea urchins on the reef at low. Normal shortboard, step-up if the forecast is big.

Right Reef · Best Nov-Mar · 3-8 ft · Crowd 3/5

S swell, W wind (wet season), mid tide

Sri Lanka is a right on the Nusa Dua reef, shorter and punchier than the main Nusa Dua peak, with a wedging takeoff, a fast bowl and sometimes a barrel.

It works in the wet season, November to March, when W/NW winds are offshore and south swell comes through the deep channel. Mid tide and 4-6ft is the best combination. The peak moves around, so it helps to watch for a while before choosing where to sit.

The paddle from Geger beach is long, and most people take a jukung for a few dollars. The crowd is calmer than Serangan. There is sharp coral on the inside, and the afternoon glare makes it hard to see sets coming.

Right Reef · Best Nov-Mar · 4-12 ft · Crowd 3/5

Big S swell, W-NW wind, mid tide, falling

Nusa Dua's outer reef sits in deep water on Bali's southeast corner and picks up more swell than anywhere else on the island. When the rest of Bali is 4ft it's often 8ft, and on big wet-season swells it keeps breaking when other spots close out.

The main peak is a long, powerful right, with a left on the other side, and the takeoff area is wide, so much of the skill is working out where to sit. November to March, with W/NW winds, is the main season, though dry-season mornings can work before the trades swing.

Get a boat from Geger beach. Most people need a 6'6" or longer. The channel is safe, but in the impact zone you get long hold-downs and strong currents. It's about 20 minutes from the airport.

Left & Right Reef · Best Apr-Oct · 2-6 ft · Crowd 2/5

S swell, N wind, mid tide

Green Ball is at the bottom of about 300 concrete steps below the Ungasan cliffs. It faces south and gets direct S swell that the west-facing Bukit spots miss, with short A-frame peaks over reef and sand.

When the dry-season E/SE trades blow the west coast out in the afternoon, they're closer to offshore here. When the west side is flat, a south swell can still bring waves here.

It suits confident intermediates and better, at 2-6ft. Above that it gets rippy and there's no one around to help. Bring water and food. On good days there's a warung at the top, and nothing at the bottom.

Beach Break · Best Nov-Mar · 3-8 ft · Crowd 2/5

S swell, W wind (wet season)

Padang Galak is a black-sand beach break just north of Sanur, with shifting peaks and more power than you'd expect from a beach break: fast walls, some barrels and strong rips.

Its season is November to March, when the west wind is offshore on this coast and the tourist spots on the other side are blown out. On a good day the waves are very good and the crowd is mostly local and strong, so be patient and follow the lineup's rules.

Mount Agung is on the horizon, and you'll often see kite festivals or ceremonies on the beach. Mid tide is best; at high tide the shore break snaps boards. There are only a couple of warungs.