BALI SURF & WEATHER REPORT
4th February 2021
Hi folks and thanks again for dropping into the baliwaves (the original Bali surf report website since back in 1999. We really are saddened that we can’t keep the on location daily report happening through these extremely hard times here in Bali, but we are doing our best. Sure, there are waves out there just about everyday of the year, somewhere in Bali is always pumping out waves. But the problems are that firstly there is a pandemic happening and Bali has not been exempt from the sickness and deaths that goes with that kind of stuff. Then there’s been really bad weather and when you couple that up with having to buy petrol to find those good waves. Time is one thing we do have, but cash to burn on petrol we don’t I’m sorry. Keeping my family feed and the bills paid have been our No.1 priority, just like most average families here in Bali.
Well the rain and wind continue to hammer us here on this little island. Last night I was woken up to what I first though was an earthquake, thank God it wasn’t and only a howling wind that was causing to make all the windows rattle. There was also heavy rain joining the howling wind. It was a little unsettling, just thinking if it was an earthquake, fingers crossed.
Weather wise outside right now at 2.00pm the sky is partly sunny partly overcast with the temperature a warm 30 degree’s Celsius. But with that said it will more than likely rain later this arvo or tonight again. Humidity level is at 74% an the wind is fresh out of the West at 15km/h.
There is still plenty of swell here on the West Coast again today and I’m sure the East Coast is also doing ok swell wise. Here on the West Coast wave height is ranging between 2-4ft+ depending on location. But even from early this morning the wind was up, it was WNW early but didn’t take long to dedicate to the West. I’m super keen to bust out the 1000mm lens and shoot some fresh photos for you guys. At the moment the tide is pretty low and dry first thing in the morning while the wind is a little more forgiving. By the time the tide starts to fill in the wind has swung more West and not so ideal for locations like Keramas, where we know there will be good surfers in the water.
Our longer range Surf outlook is showing a new swell starting to show late tomorrow. So hopefully we should see some more swell on the 6th and then another bump rolling through again on the 8th. Further out the Indian Ocean is lighting up under South Africa so a few days later plus or minus Indo should also light up again. We will keep an eye on it and keep you in the loop next up date.
Today’s photos come from two of my favorite road trip locations of Balian and Medewi. I can’t tell you how many times I’m done the dawn patrol with surfer mates of mine up to these two locations on the West Coast of Bali. The main reason that gets us up to Balian, (the closer location of the two) is because when the there’s no waves down here on the Southern end of the island you can always count on Balian picking up some swell. It faces straight into the South and picks up the swell that misses Uluwatu. The contours of ocean floor are also perfect for attracting and refracting swell in. Balian is in my opinion best surfed through the dry season when the water is nice and clean. There is a large river right on the break that tends to turn the water chocolate brown after heavy rain.
A long time ago we always parked the car and set up our camp for the day’s surfing on the South side of the river, away from the main peak. Back then it was just a nice grassy area with no warung and we always got to surf the grinding little rights to ourselves. But we turned up one day to find the road to get down there washed out and have since been setting up at Dekkies Warung on the other side of the river. We never had any worry about sharks up at Balian in the early days, but it always did look a bit sus when the water was chocolate brown. We still surfed it and had a ball. Then some years later the first shark attack I had ever heard of in Bali happened on that little right we used to surf by ourselves. Then spooky enough there was one more attack on surfers each year over the following 4 years. There has never been an incident when the water is clean and clear. I did have one bad experience with sharks on the inside left as well. It hasn’t stopped me from returning and surfing Balian, but only if the water is clean.
Balian does pick up the most swell in Bali, hands down. Sometimes it’s just too big and washy at Balian so if you drive for another 40 mins up the coast you get to the long left hand wave of Medewi. Both Medewi and Balian were not that long ago very quite and laid back in regards to the number of surfers mostly due to the long drive on the extremely dangerous single lane highway. The main road that services Bali from Java, that is loaded full of crazy truck and buss drivers. Now there are lots of cool accommodation choices making it a good option to stay. It has also turned a little crazy in the water with mostly learner surfers on longboarders in the line up.
Balian is an easy paddle out off the beach, mostly through calm water while Medewi has a rocky shoreline to navigate. When the tide is high it’s pretty easy to get out through the key hole. But low tide leaves a tricky rock hop that is loaded full of sea urchins that can pierce reef boots. On the low tide the wave is still pretty good but better on the high for sure. The best thing is the low crowd on the bottom of the tide. I have had countless sea urchin spines in my feet over the years. I love surfing both these two waves and I hope we can check them out with you again soon.
Nb. the early morning pre dawn drive up to Balian from Kuta takes 1.5 hours and up to 3 hrs through the busy afternoon. If you strike a car accident or ceremony along the way it can take much longer. There are also random Police license and rego checks along the way.
Ok friends this is me for today I want to hobble down to the beach and see what damage last nights storm caused. Luckily my fishing boat is safe up on the beach. Please feel free to email us if you need any on the ground info on surfing / fishing or accommodation etc etc from here in Bali.
SURFING / ACCOMMODATION PACKAGE DEAL WITH ALL LEVEL OF SURFER WELCOME. WE SPECIALIZE IN FINDING WAVES FOR THE CREW WHO DON’T LIKE DEALING WITH MASSIVE CROWDS, BUT STILL WANT TO GET SOME GOOD WAVES. WE WILL ALSO BE HAPPY TO OFFER ANY ADVICE WE CAN THAT WILL HELP IMPROVE YOUR SURFING GETTING TO THE NEXT LEVEL WHERE YOU WANT TO BE.
WHAT YOU GET, ACCOMMODATION / SURFING DEAL:
SAFE AND SECURE location
PRIVATE AIR CONDITIONED ROOM un limited mineral water safe and secure
Join us on DAILY SURF TRIPS all around Bali
PHOTOGRAPHER to shoot all your surfing photos (photos included)
for Rp650,000 (around US$45.00)
This is single surfer price, cheaper for 2 or more surfers at Rp550,000 (around US$38.00) per surfer per day.
5 rooms only available so come and make some new friends and score some good waves.
contact us now and come surf with Wayan here in Bali
Hot water
WiFi – Hi Speed
Contact us right now email link here !
We also have AIR CONDITIONED ROOMS starting from Rp 150,000. (around US$10.50 a night for single occupant). just a 10 min walk to the airport or beach
Hot breakfast is optional, un limited drinking water, tea or coffee and WiFi
contact me now email link here
Or SINGLE FAN COOLED ROOM FOR JUST Rp100,000 (around US$7.50) a night (single occupant) just a 10 min walk to the airport
contact me now email link here
Wayan can PICK UP FROM YOUR HOTEL, ALL LEVEL OF SURFER WELCOME you’ll be taken to the best waves on the island to suit your level, see some of Bali’s surf breaks that aren’t on the map, avoid crowds and be at the right place at the right time.
Also INCLUDED ARE ALL YOUR SURFING PHOTOS AT EACH LOCATION YOU SURF with high end camera equipment.
1 surfer is Rp550,000 (around US$43.00)
or
2 or more surfers priced at R450,000 (around US$35.00 per surfer).
surf with Wayan here in Bali ! (this price covers Jimburan to Legian, extra fee for outside of this area)
contact me now email link here
SURFBOARD / BAGAGE STORAGE is also not a problem and only a 10 minute walk away from Bali’s International / Domestic airport. Drop us an email for more info
We hope to see you here surfing in Bali soon, and don’t hesitate to drop us an email for any Bali surf info and we’ll do our best to help out.
Disclaimer; Baliwaves.com accepts no responsibility for absenteeism, day dreaming, depression, divorce, lethargy, alcoholism, jealousy, black magic, mid life crisis, Bali belly or loss of wages. Any reference or resemblance to real living people (or zombies) in these reports are purely co incident + all material appearing on baliwaves.com can under no circumstance be re printed or used in anyway without written permission (bahahaha) from baliwaves.com
Yeah my mate, Dan Moore, got attacked there in 2017, January. I told him the night before not to surf there, that time of year with murky water, My wife asked me in the morning why i was surfing Kuta Reef by myself rather go to Balian with him…”too fucking sharky!” was my reply. Got home from my surf, my wife told me i had to had to head up to BMIC to offer comfort while he waited for surgery from a shark attack! Severed seven tendons in his hand. He was paddling out to the left with his son and a friend with his wide and daughter watching. Horrific.