Blog · By Gervas, surf coach at Nelayan Beach · 6 min read

Is Canggu safe for beginner surfers?

Canggu can be safe for beginner surfers, as long as you surf in the right conditions, with the right board and with someone who knows the water. Surfing always comes with some risk. A big soft-top board and professional instruction make that risk much smaller. The main dangers for beginners are collisions in a crowded line-up, currents, and paddling out when you're tired or in conditions that are beyond you.

I'd rather give you the full picture than a reassuring one. Knowing what can go wrong is the first step to keeping it from happening.

Is Canggu safe for first-time surfers?

With smaller waves, a soft-top board (a board with a soft foam surface) and an instructor next to you, surfing in Canggu is reasonably safe for first-timers. First lessons at Batu Bolong often happen in smaller waves, and beginners spend most of the time in the whitewater, the foam left after a wave has broken.

Every surf instructor in Canggu has to be a trained lifeguard before they can teach. I'm one too. That matters, because the beaches themselves don't have big lifeguard posts.

The risk goes up quickly when something changes: bigger waves, a strong current, a packed line-up (the area where surfers wait for waves) or a beginner who keeps going when they're exhausted. So the answer depends a lot on the day, and on whether someone is reading the conditions for you.

The main risks beginners should know about

• collisions with other surfers and boards
• being hit by your own board after a fall
• currents pulling you away from where you started
• tiredness, which leads to mistakes
• sunburn and dehydration, which are boring but very common

Each of these is manageable once you know about it.

Crowded water and other surfboards

Batu Bolong attracts lessons, longboarders and people on rental boards at the same time. Surfboards are big and hard at the edges, and a loose board in a crowd can hurt someone.

Your own board is part of that. It's attached to your ankle with a leash, a cord of a few metres, so after a fall it can spring back towards you. That's why I teach every student to fall flat and away from the board and to come up with their arms over their head.

As instructors, we do our best to find you a good spot in the line-up, so you can catch waves without worrying about collisions. More in my surf etiquette guide.

Currents and changing conditions

Water that waves push towards the beach has to flow back out somewhere. Where it does, you get a current that pulls away from the shore. These rip currents often look calmer than the water around them, with fewer breaking waves, which is exactly why beginners end up in them.

If you get caught in one, stay calm and stay on your board. It floats, and it keeps you on the surface. Don't try to paddle straight back against the current. Paddle parallel to the beach until you're out of it, then head in. Need help? Raise one arm and wave.

Conditions also change within a session and from day to day: the tide moves, the wind picks up, the waves get bigger. Weather changes that raise the risk are something a good instructor always takes into account when planning your lesson.

Sand, rock and reef

The bottom isn't the same everywhere in Bali. Some beaches are sandy, and some surf breaks have rock or reef underneath. At Batu Bolong, the tide changes the depth a lot, from deep water to quite shallow within a few hours, which is one reason the timing of your session matters.

Wherever you surf, fall flat rather than diving head first, and check with a local or your instructor what's under the water before you paddle out. My guide to the best beginner surf spots in Canggu explains where to start.

Why wave size alone does not tell the full story

Two days with the same wave height can feel completely different. A few things beyond size matter:

• Currents. A strong current makes paddling hard and pulls you out of position.
• Tide. The same wave can feel gentle at one tide and harder at another. For beginners, mid and low tide are usually the easiest.
• Sets. A set is a group of bigger waves that arrives after a quieter period. The forecast often shows an average, and set waves can be noticeably larger.
• Wind. Strong wind makes waves messy and makes paddling harder.

That's why I look at the water every morning instead of only checking a forecast app.

When you should not paddle out

Stay on the beach, or check with an instructor first, when:

• the warning flags tell you not to go in
• the waves are clearly bigger than what you've surfed before
• you can't tell where the currents are
• you're exhausted, unwell or have been drinking
• you'd be alone in conditions you're not sure about

None of this is being overcautious. Experienced surfers skip sessions for the same reasons.

What a surf instructor does to reduce risk

A good instructor assesses the conditions before you get in the water. That means choosing the time and the spot, and deciding whether it's safe to go in at all. They'll also give you a board that suits your level. For first lessons, I use big soft-top boards.

Before we go in, I show you how to paddle out with a big board and push up through the whitewater, lifting your chest with straight arms so the water passes underneath. In the water, I stay close, watch the surfers and currents around us and step in before small problems turn into big ones. I describe a full session in your first surf lesson in Canggu.

A lesson with me takes two hours, but we can stop earlier if you get tired. Tired surfers make mistakes, and that's when dangerous situations happen. So always tell your instructor how you're feeling.

It’s also why I keep my lessons small. In a private lesson I don’t have to split my attention at all, and in a semi-private lesson I only look after a few people. More about my surf lessons.

Basic surf safety rules

• Tell your instructor honestly about your swimming skills and any worries.
• Tell them how you're feeling during the session, especially when you get tired.
• Watch the water for ten minutes before you paddle out.
• Fall flat and away from your board, and protect your head.
• Keep your board to the side, never between you and a wave.
• Always wear sunscreen, and drink water after your session.
• When in doubt, ask a local, or don't go out.

Is Canggu safe for surfing? Common questions

Is it safe to surf in Canggu alone as a beginner?

For your first sessions, I wouldn't. Without experience, it's hard to judge the currents, choose the right time or stay out of other surfers' way.

Do I need to be a good swimmer to surf in Canggu?

You don't need to be a very strong swimmer. An instructor can choose conditions that suit you, for example more whitewater waves in shallower water. Be open about your skills and concerns.

What should I do if I get pulled out by a current?

Stay on your board, don't fight the current head-on, and paddle parallel to the beach until you're out of it. Raise an arm if you need help.

Are there lifeguards on Canggu beaches?

The beaches have warning flags, but there are no big lifeguard posts, and most of the beaches aren't suited for swimming. All surf instructors in Canggu are trained lifeguards, though.

Can I swim at Batu Bolong?

It isn't really a swimming beach. Check the warning flags, and ask the locals when in doubt.

Surfing safely in Canggu

How safe surfing in Canggu is depends mostly on when you surf, what board you use and who's with you. Smaller waves, a suitable tide, a soft-top board and a trained instructor take away most of the risk. The waves will still be there tomorrow, so there's no need to rush into conditions you don't understand.

If it's your first time in the ocean, start with an instructor who assesses the conditions before you enter the water. Send me a WhatsApp on +62 813-3684-866 and we'll plan a session that suits your level.