Today we have decided to answer the questions that we are often asked: “Tell us about the beaches in Bali for swimming? Where can you swim without fearing big waves? What kind of sea is in Bali?” Perhaps for some, this will come as a surprise, but for ordinary people, not athletes and extreme sports enthusiasts, there are practically no places to swim on the island of Bali, with its dozens of beaches and over 500 kilometers of coastline. Where one person will go into the water with a surfboard or a snorkel, and maybe even scuba diving gear, another person who just wants to swim a couple of meters, will not even consider going into the water. And today I want to tell you about those few beaches in Bali where even children, the elderly, and pregnant women can swim.
What kind of sea is in Bali? First, let’s clarify the answer to the question of what kind of sea is in Bali. As we already mentioned in the article “Bali on the world map” – the island of Bali is washed by the Indian Ocean from the south, the Pacific Ocean (Bali Sea) from the north, the Bali Strait separates it from the island of Java to the west, and the Lombok Strait separates it from the island of Lombok to the east. If we translate these geographical terms into language that is understandable to ordinary people who want to swim a few tens of meters in the sea, we can say this: “Don’t expect calm seas in Bali, they are practically nonexistent!” After all, the island is washed by two oceans! That is why the island of Bali is considered very popular among surfers who, as you know, need big waves.
Yes, the ocean around Bali can be very rough and should not be underestimated. There are examples of people being carried out into the open sea and being lucky to survive. Rip-currents can be particularly dangerous and can carry a person hundreds of meters away from the shore. Knowing how to swim well and that it is possible to swim out of the current diagonally towards the shore may save a life, but it is better not to risk it at all. Bali is of volcanic origin, and many parts of its 500-kilometer coastline are made up of hardened lava, which can be hidden beneath a thin layer of sand. Some parts of the coastline, especially on the east of the island, are covered with sharp coral reefs, which can also be dangerous during rough seas. It is important to also be aware of the huge waves that can easily be unleashed from the ocean.
Is it possible to swim at Bali beaches?
So, is it impossible to swim on the island of Bali at all? – you might ask. I can assure you that there are several beaches where you can still swim safely. They are: Sanur Beach, Nusa Dua Beach, Lovina Beach, and Amed Beach. Let’s start with the most touristy places – these are Sanur and Nusa Dua beaches. They are very similar to each other, like twins. During low tide, they become beaches for children, the sea on these beaches is literally knee-deep for several hours. The rest of the time, you can swim here and not be afraid of huge waves or back currents. When creating these artificial beaches, they thought about tourists and their safety. To do this, they blew up part of the coral reefs and made a kind of dam out of them to protect against the big waves.
To the same calm beaches on the island of Bali, we can also include the northern coast of Lovina Beach, which is washed by the Bali Sea. In Lovina, the sea is calm, almost without waves, with black volcanic sand on the shore.
The list of calm beaches on Bali, where children, elderly people, and pregnant women can swim, can be continued with the beach in the Amed resort area. Amed is the best place on the island for snorkeling and diving, where swimming without special equipment is difficult because the entire shore is covered with coral reefs. But in the village of Bunutan, there is a beach where corals are scattered only at the edges of the bay, and in the middle, there is excellent sandy ground where it is equally good at high and low tide. This beach belongs directly to the Coral View Villas resort, but anyone can visit it. Here you can not only safely swim from morning till evening but also admire the beautiful underwater world. Just put on a mask or diving goggles!
