Blog · By Gervas, surf coach at Nelayan Beach · 5 min read

Can beginners surf in Canggu during the wet season?

Yes, beginners can surf in Canggu during the wet season. From roughly November to March, the wind blows onshore more often (from the sea towards the land), which makes the waves messier. But there are waves all year, and you can surf almost every day. What changes most is that you need a bit more flexibility with timing, because the conditions can vary a lot from one day to the next.

Plenty of travellers visit Bali in the rainy season and expect there won't be much surfing. In Canggu there usually is. Surfing Canggu in the wet season just means checking in with your instructor about what to expect.

Can you surf Canggu during the wet season?

You can. Batu Bolong, where most beginners learn, still has whitewater to learn in. Whitewater is the broken foam close to the beach where beginners start.

What changes is how predictable it is. Some days are clean and friendly, others are windy and messy, and not every day suits every level. That's true in the dry season too, but the wind makes the difference more noticeable in the wet months.

What changes during Bali's rainy season?

A few things shift:

• The wind blows onshore more often, which makes the waves choppier.
• The weather brings more showers and some heavy downpours.
• The crowds are generally smaller outside the Christmas and New Year period, which is one of the busiest times of the year.

A rash vest comes with my lessons, and most visitors don't feel the need for a wetsuit.

Are the waves smaller?

Not necessarily. Wave height changes a lot from day to day, in both seasons, so you can't say the wet season is always smaller or bigger. Some wet-season days are perfect for beginners, others are better for experienced surfers only.

The best way to know what to expect is to check with your instructor. I'm in the water every day, so I can tell you what the next few days are likely to bring.

Wind and changing daily conditions

Wind is the biggest factor in the wet season. Onshore wind breaks up the shape of the waves, makes them crumble unpredictably and makes paddling harder. When there's no wind, surfers call it glassy, and those are the mornings you want.

On many days, the calmest time is early in the morning, and the wind often picks up by late morning. Some days it stays calm for longer, and some days it's windy from the start. That's why wet-season sessions need flexible timing.

Is wet-season surfing good for beginners?

It can be. Fewer people in the water outside the holiday weeks and plenty of surfable days both help. On a calm morning with smaller waves at Batu Bolong, it's a good time to learn.

The downside is the changeable conditions. For a short trip, it helps to plan a few possible session days rather than only one, so we can pick the best of them.

Rain vs surf conditions

Rain on its own doesn't change the waves much. Surfing in warm rain can even be nice. The sea is already wet, after all.

What matters is the weather that comes with it. Strong wind makes the waves messy, and storms bring conditions that aren't safe for learning. Weather changes that raise the risk are something I always take into account when planning a lesson, so you don't have to judge that yourself.

A light shower on a calm morning is no problem. A stormy forecast is a reason to talk about moving the session.

What should you expect from a wet-season lesson?

A wet-season lesson works the same way as any other. We meet at Nelayan Beach, look at the waves, do theory and pop-up practice on the sand and then paddle out at Batu Bolong. The pop-up is the move from lying on the board to standing. The lesson takes two hours, and we can stop earlier if you get tired.

The main difference is timing. I watch the conditions closely and often suggest early sessions, when the wind is lighter.

Small lessons help here. In a private or semi-private lesson, I can move the session to the best time of the day without fitting a big group or a fixed timetable. Coming with friends? We find one time that works for all of you.

When should a session be moved or cancelled?

If the conditions aren't good, the lesson moves to a different time. That can happen when:

• a storm or strong wind makes the water unsafe for learning
• the waves are too big or messy for your level
• the weather changes in a way that raises the risk

It works both ways. If your plans change, let me know, and please don't leave your instructor waiting on the beach without cancelling or rescheduling. A quick WhatsApp message is all it takes. More about safety in my article on surf safety in Canggu.

Wet-season surfing in Canggu: common questions

Can you surf in Canggu in December?

Yes. December is in the wet season, so the wind is more often onshore, but there are still good beginner days. It's also one of the busiest months around Christmas and New Year.

Is January a good month to learn to surf in Canggu?

It can be. Keep your schedule flexible so you can surf on the calmer days.

Do I need a wetsuit in the wet season?

Most visitors don't feel the need for one. A rash vest comes with my lessons and protects your skin from the sun and from rubbing on the board.

What happens if it's stormy on the day of my lesson?

We move the lesson to a better time. Keep in touch on WhatsApp so we can find the right moment.

Is November or March a good time to surf in Canggu?

They're at the edges of the wet season, and the waves change a lot from day to day anyway. Check with your instructor rather than the calendar.

Surfing Canggu in the wet season, in short

It's very possible for beginners. Go early, stay flexible, keep in touch with your instructor and let them judge when the weather makes a session unsafe. A light rain jacket for the scooter ride to the beach is a good idea too.

Visiting Canggu in the rainy season? Lessons can still run when the conditions suit your level. Send me a WhatsApp on +62 813-3684-866 and I'll suggest the best time. See also the best time to surf in Canggu, how tides affect beginner surfing and my surf lessons.