PRONOUNCED PAH-DUNG.

Real name Labuhan Sait. Bali’s hollowest, most dangerous left, tubing over very shallow coral. Only breaks on big swells when Uluwatu is getting out-of-control, over 10 or 12 feet.  The only way to make the wave is to backdoor the 2nd tube section in front of the cliff, so it is a place for experts only, safest at high tide. Low tide gets insane but deadly.

BALI’S SHORTEST, MOST MAKEABLE TUBERIDE, BEST AT MID TO LOW TIDES.

Remember to pull off before the inside sucks dry.

BINGIN USED TO BE “THE LAST SECRET SPOT” IN BALI, BUT NOW THERE IS A PAVED ROAD FROM PECATU RIGHT TO THE CLIFF, AND A STRING OF THATCH-ROOF WARUNGS LINING THE BEACH, OFFERING FOOD, ICED DRINKS, MASSAGE AND SOUVENIRS.

Plus some great value losmen and Villas along the clifftop and beach from Padang to Bingin to Dreamland.

IMPOSSIBLES IS WELL NAMED.

Renowned for high-speed tube runs, but sooner or later it will race past you. Sometimes though it lines up perfectly, usually on giant swells at dead low tide. You can either paddle out from Padang or Bingin.

TAKE-OFF SPOTS TEND TO SHIFT AROUND A LOT, SO DON’T WORRY IF IT LOOKS A BIT CROWDED.

Take your time checking where the sets break wide, and then get out there and be patient waiting for your Impossible dream to come true.

BALANGAN IS A VERY FAST LEFT REEF BREAK, BEST ON THE HIGHEST OR LOWEST TIDES OF THE MONTH.

Not a perfect wave, because most mid-tide waves tend to close out. Some surfers surf near the cliff, others surf the tail end. To get there turn right off the Uluwatu road into the road through the Suharto family owned “Pecatu Indah Resort”.

LOTS OF SURF SCHOOLS TAKE ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS THERE THESE DAYS, SO DON’T WORRY IF IT LOOKS A BIT CROWDED.

Most are just floating around, not catching any waves over 3 foot high.

KUTA REEF . . . THE FIRST REEF BREAK YOU SHOULD TRY.

Picture-perfect 50 to 100 metre rides. Best on high to mid tide, with swell 3 to 8 feet. Over 8 feet it doubles up for a very precarious ledgey takeoff. Low tide is often too shallow. Kuta Reef is Bali’s most crowded reef break, with locals and tourists alike, so show plenty of respect and friendliness. Also don’t paddle too far inside, towards the first peak, because you can’t make the wave from there and locals will drop in on you every time. Try to take turns and share.

THE SOFTEST SAND-BOTTOM WAVES IN BALI.

Usually the smallest waves on the island, so Kuta is the best place for beginners and less experienced surfers. The long fast walls are a fun and exciting alternative to the dangers of surfing over sharp coral reefs.

HIGH TIDE AT LEGIAN CAN SERVE UP SOME OF THE MOST POWER-PACKED BEACHBREAKS IN THE WORLD.

Always bigger than Kuta, although it usually closes-out on low tide. It also closes out on high tide if the swell is over 8 feet. Because Legian is in the curve of the beach, it collects the compressed energy of all swells. A much more powerful wave than Kuta, 2km south along the sand.

THIS IS THE BEST AREA TO AVOID CROWDS AND FIND FUN BEACHBREAKS TO YOURSELF.

There are over 5 kilometres of isolated beachbreaks stretching from Jalan Double Six, past Ku De Ta Restaurant and through to Canggu. A few rivermouths and inshore reefs can create good sand banks.

PRONOUNCED CHAHNG-GOO.

A town with 6 breaks that are reliable swell magnets, always 2 or 3 feet bigger than Kuta, so it gets very crowded on small swells. To get to the best break drive 45 minutes north of Kuta along Jalan Legian. Turn left at Kerobokan traffic lights, follow signs to “TPA Sampah Canggu” and then left to Pererenan.

THIS WORLD-CLASS RIGHT PEAK TUBES OVER VOLCANIC BLACK LAVA ROCK, WITH THREE FUN LEFTS NEARBY.

It’s a good intermediate area between the safety of the beachbreaks and the dangers of the coral reefs.

PRONOUNCED MER-DAY-WEE, BUT SOME SURFERS MISPRONOUNCE IT AS “MA-DOW-EE”.

A LONG LEFT POINTBREAK, ROLLING GENTLY OVER ROUND RIVER STONES, A BIT LIKE A REVERSED MALIBU.

Perfect for longboards and intermediates. Can be a bit fat and slow, but still lots of fun.