Why Your Next Trip to Bali Should Be During the Wet Season

Did you know that Bali offers excellent surfing all year long?

Did you realise that many local surfers and ex-pats enjoy the off-season or shoulder season more than the dry season?

When most surfers think of Bali, they picture Bali during the dry season with visions of long, perfect lefts groomed by offshore winds. The dry season, which runs from April to October, is characterised by larger, long-period swells, trade winds that run consistently from mid-morning till sundown, and cooler temperatures. Many surfers are not aware that when the season changes, other areas of the island become accessible for improving surfers.

The wet season — which runs from November to March — enjoys lighter crowds, more relaxed waves, brief moments of torrential downpour, and a chill island vibe that rivals any found in a Corona beer commercial!

The island of Bali is a geographical anomaly. Some say it is a product of Devine creation. Whatever the cause, Bali is uniquely positioned to perfectly receive and distribute the year-round swells produced by the Indian Ocean.

Although the size of the swells drops during the wet season, the ocean does not go dormant like the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans do. There is always somewhere to surf in Bali.

Here are a few of the many reasons to come to Bali in the wet season!

MORE RELAXED, INVITING SURFING!

The average swell size drops to 1.5 meters or 5 feet from 2.1 meters or 7 feet. This generally makes surfing more accessible to beginner and intermediate surfers and allows them to progress faster.

The persistent trade winds — which are offshore for the west side of the island in the dry season — back off and become generally light and variable with many dreamy, glassy sessions.

Improving your surfing is generally easier with less wind as it allows the surfboard to move freely on the wave without the board being caught by the wind blowing up the face of the wave.

The water temperature also rises to an average of 29°C from around 26°C during the dry season. Given our ideal position on the Bukit Peninsula and our expert surf guides, we can get you into fun waves no matter what the wind, swell, and tide are doing.

MORE SPOTS BECOME AVAILABLE!

Once the trade winds stop blowing in the wet season, there is always somewhere where you can find glassy waves for most abilities. However, this requires both local knowledge and access.

Here at Padang Padang Surf Camp, we are strategically located for quick access to all parts of the island. Richie, our local Surfing Manager, has been surfing in Bali longer than most people and is one of the most knowledgeable guides on the island.

As the Indian Ocean swells back off, breaks on the south coast of the Bukit such as Nyang-Nyang, Green Bowls, and other lesser-known spots became accessible to surfers of all levels.

These spots are particularly beautiful and tropical as they are located at the bottom of immense limestone cliffs amongst white sand beaches. However, going to the right reef on the right day requires local knowledge as the breaks all have their peculiarities.

Our local guides and our 17 years of experience can ensure we bring you to the best waves available.

In January and February, the breaks around Nusa Dua are at their best as the seasonal winds turn westward blowing lightly offshore for breaks in the area, which is located on the eastern tip of the Bukit Peninsula. These waves are often blown out by the trade winds during the dry season.

The Nusa Dua area offers waves for all abilities during most swells as there are more exposed breaks such as Nico for advanced surfers, Geger Left for intermediate and advanced surfers, and Mushroom Rock for beginners. Alternatively, on a larger swell, Sri Lanka offers excellent, protected waves for surfers of most abilities. Paddling out around Nusa Dua at sunrise with a view of Nusa Lembongan and Gunung Agung in the distance is something that must be done at least once!

With its beautiful white sand beaches and views of Nusa Lembongan, the Sanur area offers a series of fast, right-breaking waves with several options for surfers of all levels. The wind blows offshore in this area during this time of the year and the waves are more inviting with a higher tide.

A beginner would go to Baby Reef off Nusa Sarangan, and more advanced surfers would go to Pantai Sindu or Sanur Reef. These breaks are often accessed from a boat or a long paddle depending on the location.

The east coast of Bali beyond Sanur, which is famous for its thumping, dark-coloured waves breaking close to shore, turns on in the wet season. The mornings here are often very glassy with no wind at all! The waves get their colour from the volcanic sand, which is black in colour and very hot to the touch! In this area, you will find the famous Keramas, which has held several WSL events, along with lesser-known and more tide-dependent right-breaking waves such as Ketewel and Klotok.

Further up the coast is a gem of a wave called Jasri, which is a long right point with crystal clear water and views of Mt. Agung. In general, the waves on the east coast require the correct tide and access is often hard to find. For these reasons, it is recommended that you use a guide to save you from missing sessions.

SMALLER CROWDS!

One of the major benefits of visiting us in the wet season is the reduced crowds!

The crowds are noticeably smaller in the off-season as you have less tourist arrivals at Ngurah Rai International Airport, and the surfers that do come are more spread out throughout the island. Additionally, you can find yourself surfing premier breaks in the Uluwatu area with only a handful of people as most surfers head to other parts of the island without considering that Uluwatu is often glassy and empty in the morning during the wet season.

Since we are so near the famous bridge at Padang Padang where you can check the conditions, and with our surf guides’ local knowledge, we will make sure you will not miss an empty, glassy session at Uluwatu, Balangan, or anywhere else!

AND MUCH MORE

The sun is very strong in the tropics and without proper protection, it doesn’t take long for you to get very sunburnt. There is an average of 6 hours sunshine a day in the rainy season. Normally the showers are short and sharp, with most of the rainfall overnight.

The wet season benefits from less UV exposure through increased cloud cover in the mornings when you are surfing. This makes spending hours catching waves that much easier. Also, fewer tourists visiting the island means that there is less traffic which makes it easier to get around or go on an adventure to another part of the island.

Also, the pace of life seems to slow during the offseason. The locals all seem to have more free time to spend at the beach. You will see many locals hanging out taking selfies, and you will probably be asked at least once to take a photo with someone!

So what are you waiting for? Check out our availability and treat yourself to a wet-season surfing adventure here with us at Padang Padang Surf Camp.