Surf breaks in Bali for intermediate surfers

You've got already some surfing experience but still need some practice to improve your skills. We've chosen for you surf breaks in Bali with soft breaking and not hollow waves, with deep enough water, so you could get wipeouts without being afraid to touch sharp reefs.

The most intermediate waves are located on the west coast, so if you're thinking about where to stay for surfing in easy green waves then Canggu, Seminyak and Tanah Lot area could be a good option for you.

Batu bolong is one of the most famous beaches in Canggu – the trendy place popular among hipsters, surfers, yoga lovers and digital nomads. There are plenty of cafes, bars and shops around and the vibe of surf culture is everywhere.

Batu Bolong lineups are always busy but the break offers several picks spreading along the coast, so everyone has a chance to catch a wave. Waves here are soft and mellow and suit to longboarders and of course surfers with little experience.

Features:

• Wave power: soft and slow rolling
• Best swell: 4-6
• Wave direction: left and right
• Bottom: sand and reef
• Preferred tide: middle to high
• Best season: March – November
• Watch out: on a big swell waves become too closing and non-surfable

Old Mans is an intermediate break which is a bit faster and more powerful than Batu Bolong, A-frame wave gives nice long left and a shorter right one. When the tide is getting lower waves become steeper. Lineup is usually crowded especially in the morning time.

Features:

• Wave power: soft
• Best swell: 4-8
• Wave direction: left and right
• Bottom: sand and reef
• Preferred tide: middle to low
• Best season: March – November
• Watch out: on a big swell left channel disappears and better to use right channel to get back to lineup

Kedunggu is a surf beach close by Tanah Lot temple and about 30 minutes drive from Canggu. The area is less developed compared to Canggu but in the recent years it's getting more popular among people who want to avoid touristic hustle and bustle and enjoy beautiful nature without crowds.

Kedunggu waves became a great option for surfers who is tired of crowded lineups in Batu Bolong and Oldmans and looking for alternative to soft Canggu waves.

On a small and medium swell, waves in Kedunggu are soft and mellow - perfect for beginner and intermediate surfers. On a larger swell more experienced surfer can enjoy riding the long left.

Features:

• Wave power: soft
• Best swell: 3-8
• Wave direction: left and right
• Bottom: sand and reef
• Preferred tide: middle and low
• Best season: March – November
• Watch out: on a big swell the shore break becomes very powerful

Medewi is a small Muslim village in the West coast of Bali, and it takes around 3 hours drive from Seminyak/Kuta area. Compared to other touristic areas in Bali, Medewi is less developed and mainly attracts surfers.

Medewi break is the longest left-hander in Bali. It has rock bottom which can make access to the water a bit harder if you don't wear surf booties. The break works at middle and high tide.

On small and medium swell waves are fat and slow enough for beginner/intermediate surfers who need easy takeoff.

On larger swell Medewi provides perfect fun waves with big open faces and long riding. The wave gets steeper on the inside and sometimes becomes tube.

Medewi is less crowded in comparison with popular surf breaks on the south Bali and sometimes especially in midday you can surf almost alone.

Features:

• Wave power: soft in high tide and not too big swell, get faster in bigger swell/lower tide
• Best swell: 5-9
• Wave direction: left
• Bottom: sand and cobbles
• Preferred tide: high and middle
• Best season: March – November
• Watch out: better to wear surf booties for easier access into water

Balian is a tiny village about 2 hours drive from Canggu with several surf camps/ surf stays located on the beach.

Balian break holds swells from knee high to double overhead, has several picks and in good days offers great A-frame waves – the lefthander is longer with open face, the righthander steeper and faster. Lineup is usually uncrowded and it could be a good reason to visit that spot.

Features:

• Wave power: lefthander soft enough, righthander a bit faster
• Best swell: 5-9
• Wave direction: left and right
• Bottom: sand and cobbles
• Preferred tide: any
• Best season: March – November
• Watch out: it's a swell magnet of the west coast, so waves could be a bit bigger than in other breaks

Kuta reef is located in center of Kuta in front of Kartika plaza shopping center. The paddle out to the lineup can take about 20 minutes, but there is also an option to hire a local boat.

While the Airport left (further to the right) provides powerful waves for advanced surfers Kuta reef is a good spot for less experienced surfers who seek slower and smaller waves. The break works well in any condition from 3 feet to double overhead, but on a big day it could be too challenging for intermediate surfers.

Features:

• Wave power: soft
• Best swell: 5-9
• Wave direction: left
• Bottom: deep reef
• Preferred tide: any
• Best season: March – November
• Watch out: it could be overcrowded due to the proximity of touristic center

Same like Kuta reef, Toro Toro is a break which is accessible by the boat from Jimbaran beach.

The wave is breaking both left and right, but the right one is longer, with open face, mellow and slowly, so perfect for whose who is not ready yet for fast take off. It is best on a small to medium swell. The break has two channels, so it's easy to paddle back to the lineup.

Features:

• Wave power: soft
• Best swell: 4-6
• Wave direction: right and left
• Bottom: deep reef
• Preferred tide: any
• Best season: March – November
• Watch out: you need to take a boat to get to the lineup

Serangan is a tiny island connected to Bali via bridge. It's famous for the Turtle Conservation And Education Center, which engaged in the protection of sea turtles. For now the entire island is under construction and the land access to the beach is closed, but surfers still can get to the break by local boats.

One of the most popular wet season waves in Bali, Serangan offers several picks suitable for all levels. Main pick to the right is usually bigger and faster and suits to advanced surfers, whereas the picks to the left side offer soft A-frame waves suitable for intermediate surfers at middle-high tide and small/medium swell. In December-February Serangan lineups could be overcrowded cause it's almost the only workable waves for beginner/intermediate surfers in wet season.

Features:

• Wave power: mellow in the side picks and faster in the main pick
• Best swell: 4-6
• Wave direction: left and right
• Bottom: reef
• Preferred tide: high
• Best season: March – November
• Watch out: on a big swell waves become very powerful and suits only advanced surfers