East Bali

Once an ultra-secret hideaway of tightlipped Sanur expats, in the past few years, no other spot has received more media attention than Keramas. Whether it's Andy Irons dropping in out of a Helicopter, or any of dozens of international professional surfers adding a section to the latest surf movie, Keramas is no secret anymore. The good news is that Keramas does live up to its' hype. It's an excellent reefbreak in a classic black sand beach and rice field setting, and.. In a land of perfect lefts, it's one of a few perfect rights. Keramas seems to have a wind of its own and is often different than the prevailing winds at other spots.. Unfortunately Keramas' wind of it's own is often onshore. As such, Keramas is a spot for true Dawn Patrol surfing. First light. After 7am, chances are that wind is going to begin to affect the barrels. Keramas is a fun righthander for hot dog surfing when it is smaller. In the past few years, surfers have been pushing the limits of what is considered too big to surf at Keramas. Even on the biggest days of the year, some local and international chargers have been paddling out there. While some are returning with stories, film, and photos of glory, others are being treated for broken bones, deep reef cuts, and near drownings. Keramas is a heavy wave when it is big, the reef is shallow and sharp, the currents in the end section can be fierce, and it can be difficult to exit the water. Surfers should use extreme caution when considering paddling out in Huge surf at Keramas. To get to Keramas: Follow the signs to Gianyar and turn off onto the new bypass that runs along the black sand coast. A few miles down the road there will be a sign on your right. Park at the warung and walk down the black-sand beach. Unless you want your feet to melt, bring sandals.

Nusa Dua is the rainy season bread and butter equivalent to Uluwatu. There's always a wave, and often it's big. Nusa Dua is a swell magnet and sometimes it's too big, in fact Nusa Dua is known to have the biggest rideable surf in Bali, and much of Indonesia. These days, local fishermen offer surfers a lift out to the break for 5,000rp ($0.50). It's a great deal considering how far out the break is, and allows for many people to get out there that would otherwise think twice. Nusa Dua can be a beast of a wave. The wicked current and rogue set waves can wash a surfer down the entire reef before he or she even gets a wave. Nusa Dua is known for big waves, and on its day, giant Nusa is a difficult playing field and only a few local chargers are out there. Visiting surfers should use extreme caution when looking out at what appears to be six-to-eight-foot fun waves with nobody out. The distance of the reef from the beach can be deceiving, and often a surfer will be looking at twelve-to-fifteen-foot dangerous conditions. If in doubt, count how long it takes for the lip of the wave to reach the bottom. In any case, Nusa Dua can be a great wave and is usually a good place to ride a bigger board. Another nice thing about Nusa Dua is the beach. This is a great place to bring the family. Come on down to Tim and Putu's Nusa Dua Beach Bar and Grill and there will be good food, fun tidal pools for the kids, and mom or dad can go out and get a few waves. Click here to download Surfline's Bali Surf Guide pdf.

When Nusa Dua is huge and dangerous, it's worth a look at Sri Lanka. This wave is directly in front of the Club Med Resort. Often Sri Lanka is inconsistent and imperfect, sectioning, and offering only a fat end section. However, when it all comes together, this can be one of the best barrels anywhere. When it's on, Sri Lanka is a very challenging wave to surf, particularly on your backside. To make the wave, you need to drop in behind the peak and immediately enter a dredging barrel section. To misjudge this barrel section usually means a trip to a sharp and shallow reef. There's a local crew that is usually on it the minute Sri Lanka starts to work. These guys know the wave inside and out and it can be quite difficult for a visiting surfer to get a set wave. Click here to download Surfline's Bali Surf Guide pdf.

Serangan has quite a history. A few years back, Serangan was a peaceful, secluded island, home of one of the most important temples on the island, and accessible only by boat. There was a huge lagoon of shallow water and seaweed farming and way on the outside there were some reef breaks. These breaks were only accessible by boat and this was an ultra secret hideaway of a few expat surfers who would regularly surf the spot by zodiac. In the mid 90s, then-president Suharto's son, initiated a giant development project to turn Serangan into a resort complex. Enormous dredgers were brought in and operated for years. The dredging, combined with a giant landfill project turned Serangan into a peninsula and filled in the lagoon. After this, the project went defunct. Today driving out to Serangan is almost surreal. It's like a trip to the moon, and resembles a giant salt flat. At the end of the road are a few warungs, and a beautiful beach, what's left of the lagoon and waves. Good waves. Serangan is a great rainy season surf spot. There's almost always good rideable surf, there's several different peaks, and it breaks on almost any tide. For the most part Serangan is a group of hot dog waves almost resembling a beach break. However, during a huge swell Serangan transforms into a big, bowling, barreling right-hander. Click here to download Surfline's Bali Surf Guide pdf.

In the Sanur area of East Bali, there are a few reefs, which can be seen from the beach. Just south of Sanur, way out at sea, surfers can catch a glimpse of what appears to be a long, spinning, right-hander peeling along a huge stretch of reef. This is Hyatt Reef. Many days, distance is a friend to this wave, and on closer inspection, what will be revealed is an imperfect, ultra shallow, cluster of sections. However, with a solid swell, and a higher tide, Hyatt Reef can be as good as it looks. There are two main sections to this wave. The outside peak is a shifty, gnarly, beast that can offer up square, perfect barrels just as easily as splat the unsuspecting surfer onto the reef. The inside peak is a more consistent, groomed right-hander that allows maneuvers and sets up for a bowling barrel section. Hyatt Reef can get big, and when it is, it's a heavy place. Another thing worth mentioning about Hyatt Reef is that it's way out at sea, and as such, can be easily wind affected. Best bet is early mornings or glassy days. To get to Hyatt Reef: Coming from Kuta, follow the main bypass towards Sanur. Just after the turn off for Pantai Shindu. Follow this road Jln Danau Tamblingan until you see the Bagus Drugstore. Turn left here and you will arrive at the beach. Click here to download Surfline's Bali Surf Guide pdf.

Sanur is a mythical wave in Bali. Surfers living here all have a tale of surfing, seeing, or hearing about the most perfect wave on the island. And, as with most mythical waves, Sanur is difficult to see in this state of perfection. Like its dry season cousin Padang Padang, Sanur requires a huge swell to be hitting the coast. If Nusa Dua is over ten feet, then there's a chance that Sanur could be firing, however, a long drive often ends in disappointment when Sanur is only three feet and slightly onshore. When the swell is hitting Sanur at six feet or more, and the wind is offshore or glassy, and the tide is mid low-high, Sanur can be a world-class wave, as good as anywhere - a long, bowling wave with multiple barrel sections over ultra-sharp living coral. These days become legend. There are two cautions that need mentioning here. One is the reef. It is important for surfers to be aware of the tides. As the tide gets lower at Sanur the end section goes from dangerous but makeable to an almost sure trip for stitches at the local medical clinic. Surfers should know the tides, and when it gets real low, it's better to call it a day. The other thing is, unfortunately, localism. Of all of the waves in Bali, Sanur is the one wave that can have bad localism. This is mainly from one group of surfers who seem to come out into the line up with a chip on their shoulder, and it will be obvious if they are present. Visiting surfers should take care, and if things get heated, it is best to leave it for another day or another place. Click here to download Surfline's Bali Surf Guide pdf.