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NUSA ISLANDS: SURF GUIDE
The definitive guide to surfing the Nusa Islands, written by surfers who have surfed the Nusa Islands year-round in all conditions. We've read too many surf guides, written by non-surfers, or people who have spent a handful of days in total on the Nusa Islands. We thought it was about time for someone who has spent a meaningful amount of time surfing each of the breaks on the Nusa Islands to have a go and put pen to paper so to speak. We put this guide together with surfers of all skill levels in mind, so as you read along, pick out the snippets relevant to you. So where do we start? Perhaps a little video to get things warmed up...
IS THERE SURF ON EACH OF THE ISLANDS? Surfing the Nusa Islands is really what put the region on the tourism map. Having said that, it doesn't mean there is surf on each of the Nusa Islands. Nusa Penida - There is NO surf on Nusa Penida. Zilch, Nada. If you think you know better, you're welcome to go look for yourself.
Nusa Ceningan - There is 1 x surf break on Nusa Ceningan at Mahana Point. Nusa Lembongan - There are 4 x surf breaks on Nusa Lembongan.
The surf breaks on Nusa Lembongan is what surfing on the Nusa Islands is all about. The 4 x surf breaks are all located on the western side of the island along the stretch of router-reef that runs parallel to Jungut Batu - the main village of Nusa Lembongan.
The outer-reef where the surf break are form natural protection to the rest of the island. To get to the surfing breaks is a couple of hundred metre paddle from shore, or a quick boat ride if you want to be dropped at the reef with fresh arms (for a couple of dollars).
The outer-reefs form a barrier between the full force of the ocean and the shore, which makes for beautiful calm lagoon; ideal for all sorts of calm water sports - swimming, canoeing, paddle boarding and the like.
WHERE SHOULD I STAY IF I WANT TO SURF ON THE NUSA ISLANDS? 100% stay in Jungut Batu in Nusa Lembongan. To do anything else is really doing yourself a disservice. When you stay in Jungut Batu you have all the best surf breaks on the Nusa Islands right at your doorstep. Ohana's beachfront resort & beach club, and AQUA NUSA (our premier private villa brand), are both perfectly situated for surfer's. We (the owners of Ohana's & AQUA NUSA) are surfers ourselves and as a result we tend to develop properties where there is surf. When we're not on Nusa Lembongan, our other home in Bali is directly out the front of Kuta reef, Airports and Middles (we rent that villa out too, it's called Karlamanda) - and our Australian home is on top of Kirra Point (yep, you can also stay there - Kirra Point Penthouse)! The common thing about each of these places is they are all in incredible locations, there is great surf, and when not surfing, they are not too detached from civilisation; which makes them great destinations for the whole family.
Did you know, the site where Ohana's is located, was formerly known as "Mainski". This was the very first property for foreigners on the island, and it's perfectly positioned directly in front of Shiprwrecks and Razors. It was supposed to be short for "man-on-ski" but in true Indonesian fashion they stuffed up the writing of the sign. "Man-on-ski" was how the locals first described the weird sight of people riding surfboards when they saw it for the first time.
WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT SURFING IN NUSA LEMBONGAN VERSUS BALI? Unique factor 1: Variety of left & right hand breaks within easy distance to each other
Good quality right hand reef breaks are somewhat of a rarity in Bali (as most of the best known Bali waves in the Bukit are lefts), and Nusa Lembongan is home to two of the best right handers in the whole of Indonesia, especially without needing to get too remote. Along the stretch of coast out the front of Jungut Batu (the main village on Nusa Lembongan), you'll find a mix of great left and right breaks.
The four main breaks in Nusa Lembongan are all also within a few hundred metres of each other making it easy to surf a variety of different waves, across pretty much all tides, without needing to drive anywhere.
Unique factor 2: Crystal clear water and less polluted Unlike surfing in many place in Bali, where you're surfing often on a base of black volcanic sand which makes the water murky (and questionable with god knows what running out of all of the estuaries in Bali), in Nusa Lembongan you are surfing in beautiful crystal clear water.
It feels cleaner and you feel like you're truly surfing in paradise.
Unique factor 3: Not too remote - loads to do for the non-surfers
When planning trips (other than pure surf missions), we have often found it difficult to find surf locations that offer a balance of great, consistent surf, as well as things to do for the rest of the time when not surfing or if the waves are flat. Sure, you could go deep into the Mentawai's chasing waves, but there really isn't much to do there outside of a hardcore surf mission. Nusa Lembongan is very unique in that you you have some of the most consistently good, high quality right hand reef breaks (there are lefts too), yet are not stuck in the middle of a remote jungle with nothing else to do aside from surf. So if you're bringing along a non-surfing partner, friends and/or family, then Nusa L