Safe Surfing in Bali: Use a Certified Surf Instructor

ASI surf instructor bali

Although Legian Beach is one of the safest places for beginners to learn to surf in Bali, the sport still has its risks. Rip currents can take surfers by surprise, leg ropes can snap, and wayward boards can cause injuries.

We are fortunate that Chandra’s Surfing is situated right next to a lifeguard post, so there are trained lifeguards watching over our guests and students all day long. Should you get into trouble while surfing, they can jump on a rescue board or jet ski to reach you.

But taking a surf lesson in Legian with us just got even safer, because Chandra has completed three courses to improve his knowledge as a surf instructor and his service to customers. We are proud to say he is now one of the few ASI certified surf instructors in Bali!

Surf Rescue

This course provides skills and knowledge for basic surf awareness and preparedness for performing surf rescue operations. Rescue techniques include using rescue tubes and rescue boards to reach and recover surfers who are unable to make it back to shore by themselves.

surf rescue certificate bali

Senior First Aid and CPR

This course provides the skills and knowledge to administer first aid (including CPR) in emergency situations, until professional medical help arrives. It covers a range of situations that can possibly occur while surfing, including:

  • Heatstroke
  • Dehydration
  • Lacerations
  • Fractured and broken bones
  • Concussion
  • Drowning
  • Shock
first aid surf instructor bali

ASI Level 1 Surfing Instructor

Chandra has been successfully teaching people to surf for over 8 years, and now he has completed formal training to help him improve the service he offers through his business. This course from ASI (Academy of Surfing Instructors) included training on:

  • Delivering surf lessons safely
  • Surf lesson planning
  • Coaching methods
  • Communication in a surfing environment
  • Assessing performance
  • Responding in emergency situations

So, if you’re planning to book a surf lesson with us soon, you can be assured of an even more professional service – but of course we haven’t lost any of the fun!

ASI surf instructor bali
Chandra is now an ASI certified surf instructor

Where’s the best place to learn to surf in Bali for beginners?

white waves for surfing

Bali is a world-famous surfing island with excellent surf spots all around the coast. Plenty of people have made it their home simply because of the great surfing.

But you don’t have to be an expert to enjoy the waves here. Many people come to learn to surf in Bali, and others fit in a surf lesson just for fun while they are on holiday.

But where is the best place to learn to surf in Bali if you’re a beginner?

Surfing fail
At least we can capture some action shots of you falling off…

Well, here are some things you should look for if you want beginner surf lessons in Bali:

A sandy seabed

As a beginner surfer you can expect to fall off the board more than you stay on it. Your success rate will improve over time but until then, it’s best to avoid waves that break over rocks or coral reefs.

A wave that breaks over a sandy seabed is called a ‘beach break’ and this is the best type of wave for learning to surf.

Shallow water

When you first learn to surf, you’ll want to concentrate on finding your balance on the board. This takes enough energy without having to worry about paddling out to catch a wave.

So, the best place to learn to surf in Bali is a beach where the water is shallow enough that you can walk all the way out to where the waves are breaking. This also makes it easier for your instructor to accompany you and help you catch a wave at the right time.

white waves for surfing
This type of wave is ideal for beginner surfing

White water

Lots of white water after a wave breaks means you’ll have plenty of time to master standing up and balancing. It’s also easier to catch white waves when you’re just learning to surf.

Waves break when they hit shallow water so this really goes hand-in-hand with the point above.

A great surf instructor

Some people want to hire a surfboard and figure it out for themselves, but trust us, you’ll make a LOT more progress if you have an instructor helping you.

Not only will your instructor give you advice on your technique, they’ll also help you get out to where the waves are best and then give you a push to help you catch a good one. This means you don’t have to work so hard and more of your energy can go into balancing on the board!

As you progress and are able to surf independently, your instructor will show you how to identify the best places to surf.

Great team, for beginners suitable. Private surf lesson at really fair prices. Very patient and competent Guide. My sister had 2 hours of lessons and I was amazed at what is possible in the short time. Top photos and videos of her were made that she got free. – TripAdvisor Review

Read more of our reviews to see why Chandra’s Surfing is the best place for beginners to learn to surf in Bali – according to many of our guests!

Best beginner surf spots in Bali

So where in Bali ticks all these boxes to make the surfing conditions ideal for beginners? Despite its many surf spots, there are only a few beaches in Bali that offer safe and predictable conditions for learning to surf.

surfing legian beach
The waves at Legian Beach are good for improving your surfing skills, too

Kuta and Legian Beach

Often referred to simply as ‘Kuta Beach’, this white sand beach stretches from the airport towards the north. Kuta is probably the best-known place to head for beginner surfing lessons in Bali, but that means it is often the most crowded.

Legian Beach offers the same surfing conditions without drawing such crowds to the water. Legian Beach surfing is fun and laid-back, spared from the competitiveness of more accomplished surfers that you’ll find in places like Canggu.

Another benefit of surfing in Legian and Kuta is that the beaches are patrolled by lifeguards and have clearly marked swimming areas. Having all the swimmers in one place leaves more of the beach clear for surfing safely.

All along Kuta and Legian Beach, you’ll find little one-man surf stands as well as big-name surf schools. Our Legian surf school offers the friendliness of a family-run business with the flexibility to cater to bigger groups. An added bonus if you’re travelling Bali on a budget is that surf lesson prices at Chandra’s Surfing are less than half the price of nearby surf schools like Rip Curl.

Conditions aren’t perfect for beginner surfing in Legian 100% of the time, but we’ll advise you of the best time of day for your lesson. The waves change all the time as tides and currents move the sand around on the seabed.

We contacted Chandra via email & had all our questions answered very promptly. They watched to tides & waves & let us know when was best to try not just taking us out to learn in any waves. Very patient, good sense of humour & always felt in good hands & when you were finished the lesson there was a sun bed with umbrella to crash on. We will be back !! Thank you Caro & Dasha – TripAdvisor review

Our priority is making sure you get the most out of your surf lesson, so we’ll only take you out when and where the conditions are right.

Seminyak and Canggu

Continuing along from Legian you’ll find the more upmarket Seminyak, home to many of Bali’s famous beach clubs like Potato Head and KuDeTa. This is followed by hipster hangout Canggu. Surfing in both of these locations is suitable for beginners at certain times, but not consistently.

The bigger, faster breaks that often appear here are better suited to surfers with some experience. Rip tides and currents can also be stronger than they look from the shore. That said, there are plenty of surf schools dotted along the beach offering beginner and intermediate surf lessons.

Serangan

Serangan, located due east of Kuta, is an area mainly frequented by locals. It’s a man-made island (also known as ‘Turtle Island’) accessible from the Bypass on the way to Sanur. It’s not just surfing that’s popular in Serangan; you’ll find other water sports such as kite surfing, paragliding, and even underwater scooter rides on offer.

Serangan’s beaches are mainly sandy but the best surfing spots vary depending on the time of year and tide. If you’re a complete beginner you can ask around to find a place where the conditions are suitable, then approach anyone renting out surfboards to ask if they can give you a lesson. Not all the breaks are suitable for beginners though, so don’t go out alone unless you’re a more confident surfer.

When you’ve finished, we recommend ordering barbecued fish (ikan bakar) at one of the little warungs on the beach.

Sanur

Sanur reef is about 15 minutes north from Serangan. It has some gentle breaks which are, in theory, good for beginner surfers. The only drawback is that they are located a long way out from the beach so you’ll either need to paddle a very long way or get a local guide with a boat or jet ski to take you out.

Because you’re so far from the shore, we don’t recommend surfing here if it’s your very first time. Get a couple of lessons at a Kuta or Legian surf school first so you at least know the basics.

Although it’s called Sanur reef, the reef itself is far enough below the surface of the water that it shouldn’t present any danger to surfers. It does make this a popular spot for snorkelling and diving, too.

learn to surf in Bali
Choose an instructor you feel comfortable with

So, why learn to surf in Legian with Chandra’s Surfing Bali?

At our Legian surf school you’ll find good surfing conditions for beginner surf lessons and – just as importantly – a friendly and knowledgeable team.

We want to make sure you have a great time when you learn to surf in Bali. All our surf lessons include:

  • A private instructor for you and your group (maximum 3 people per instructor)
  • All the equipment you need to surf
  • A free bottle of water to keep you hydrated
  • Optional surfing photography (for an extra fee)

You can view our pricing here or contact us to book your lesson.

We hope to see you soon!

My two daughters took a lesson from Jimmy from Chandra’s surf. They had a great time and Jimmy was very helpful. We all had so much fun that we ended up going back two more days to rent both surf boards and boogie boards. The equipment was all in good shape and the guys were very accommodating and knowledgable. Would definitely recommend! – TripAdvisor review

Remember us wherever you go with a Chandra’s Surfing t-shirt

Legian surf school t-shirt

We’re happy to announce we are now stocking our exclusive Chandra’s Surfing Bali t-shirt in both men’s and ladies’ styles. Get yours now for just 150k!

Legian surf school t-shirt

We have sizes S-XXL in dark grey for men and S-XL in cobalt blue for ladies. Both are 100% cotton with the ladies’ one in a slightly lighter weight of fabric.

The unique artwork on the back is designed from a photo of one of our customers surfing at Legian Beach. These are high-quality t-shirts with a print that’s made to last, thanks to our friends at Blue Azure.

custom t-shirt bali

How to get one

You can grab one of our t-shirts for just 150,000 IDR when you come to visit us in Bali. Along with some photos of you surfing, you’ll have a great reminder of your time here.

Even if you don’t make it onto a surfboard but have a great time hanging out at our spot on Legian Beach, you can take home one of our t-shirts as a souvenir (and we promise not to tell anyone you didn’t actually surf).

Got a trip planned soon? Stock is limited right now, but we can set aside the size(s) you want. You can send us an email or message us on Facebook to book your lesson and reserve a t-shirt in your size. We might even be able to post one to you at home if you’re not going to be back in Bali for a while.

If you’re interested in getting your own custom t-shirts made in Bali, we can highly recommend Blue Azure for quality and service. You can contact the owner, Fay, to get a quote.

Plan your trip to Bali and don’t forget the surf lessons

Bali sunset

Learning to surf in Bali is just one of the many activities to enjoy on this island. Whether you’re a first-timer or a regular visitor, there’s always more to explore. Surfing, trekking, and diving are all popular for adventurous types, while others prefer to watch the sunset on the beach after a hard day’s shopping.

Bali sunset

A day in Legian, Bali

If you visit our Legian surf school, here are our tips for filling the rest of your day:

  • Browse the nearby art markets along Jalan Melasti
  • Try Indonesian fried rice or noodles from one of the food stalls on the beach
  • Grab one of our sunbeds and go for a swim in the ocean
  • Stay to enjoy panoramic views of the sunset
  • Get a sunset photo shoot to give you and your friends or family some special photos of your Bali holiday

Legian Beach is still a great place to come even if you want to just sit back, relax, and watch the world go by. For those who want to learn to surf in Legian with us, we offer several options.

surf lessons legian beach
Beginner surf lessons start with some practice on dry land

If you’re trying surfing for the first time we recommend a 2-hour lesson. This gives you time to learn the basic steps for standing on the board, and most of our customers manage to catch a wave after just a few tries.

Your instructor will stay with you throughout the lesson to help you catch the right waves and give you guidance on your technique. And because we care about giving you a great experience, we’ll never put more than three students with one instructor.

Oh yes, and you can add some amazing photos to your lesson for just 100,000 IDR!

We also have intensive learn-to-surf packages which span two or three days. During this time you should become very confident catching a wave by yourself. You may well be able to progress from a soft-top board to a hard board, on which you can develop your style.

You can book with us directly by contacting us with your preferred dates. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Learn to surf in Bali with our intensive surf courses

Learn to surf in Bali
Surfing in Legian on a hard top board
You can switch to a hard-top longboard once you master a soft-top board.

If you’re looking for beginner surfing lessons in Bali and want to learn to surf in just a few days, our intensive surfing courses could be just what you need.

We have two surfing packages for people who want to take either two or three days of their trip to learn to surf in Bali.

The waves on Legian Beach are great for learning to surf because they are not too big and the water is usually quite shallow. The fact that it’s a sandy beach with no rocks or coral also helps.

If you choose to take our 2-day surf course you’ll have 5 hours of private tuition, plus you’ll be able to take your board out to practice by yourself at any point over the two days. When you get tired, you’ll have a sunbed on the beach to relax on whenever you want.

With the 3-day surf course, you’ll get 7 hours of private surf coaching and you may be able to progress from a soft-top board to a longboard for more advanced maneuvers.

Learn to surf in Bali
When you learn to surf in Bali with us, we’ll start with some basic surfing theory.

With both learn-to-surf packages, your instructor will start by teaching you some basic surfing theory and safety so you know how to lie and stand on the board correctly and stay safe in the water.

As you improve, we’ll be sure to take some photos of the action. These are included in your surf course package so you have some great memories (and proof!) of learning to surf in Bali.

Bali intensive surf course prices

The two-day surfing course costs 1,000,000 IDR for one person, or 900,000 per person if you have a group of two or more.

For the three-day surfing course it’s 1,450,000 IDR, or 1,300,000 per person for a group of two or more. You can view our full surfing price list here.

Remember, you’ll get a private surf instructor (at least one instructor for every three people), plus board rental, sunbeds, photography, and water.

So, if you’re after a two- or three-day surf course in Legian, Bali run by friendly instructors, just contact us to book your place with us or ask any questions you may have.

We hope to see you soon!

A shady spot on Legian Beach

Chandra's sunbeds on Legian Beach, Bali
Chandra's sunbeds on Legian Beach, Bali
Chandra’s sunbeds on Legian Beach, Bali

Any recent visitors might have noticed that our umbrellas – the old red ones provided by Coca Cola – were looking a bit tatty. Well, we’re pleased to announce that our beach beds now have smart new umbrellas to keep the sun off you while you’re relaxing on Legian Beach.

Our new umbrellas are a lovely deep blue to match the cushions, which we had newly made a few months ago. They also now feature the business name, so as you walk along the beach it’s easy to spot Chandra’s Sunbeds and Surfing.

Chandra's sunbeds Bali
So if you’re coming to Bali and want to relax on the beach in comfort but stay out of the sun, you can rent 2 sunbeds for just 100,000 IDR for the whole day – we don’t charge by the hour like some other places.

We’ll throw in friendly service for good measure, and don’t forget you can learn to surf with us while you’re in Bali too!

If you want to find out more about the sunbed + surf packages we offer, check out our pricing page. We hope to see you soon!

Have you seen our new rash guards?

Custom rash guards for surfing
Chandra's surfing rash guards

It would be hard not to notice us if you’re out relaxing or surfing on Legian Beach as our new rash guards are bright orange!

It’s important to wear a rash guard when you surf, especially as a beginner, because the surface of the board is quite rough and you’ll spend a lot of time lying on it as you paddle out (or get pushed out by your instructor) to catch a wave.

When surfing in Bali you’re at risk of getting sunburn too, so a rash guard also provides protection against the sun for your arms and torso.

Surf training on Legian Beach
Custom rash guards for surfing


Our rash guards, custom-made by local company Blue Azure, will help keep you protected and make you stand out from all the other surfers. They match our lovely blue and orange surfboards, too!

Use of a rash guard is included for free whenever you take a surf lesson with us or rent a surfboard or bodyboard to use on Legian Beach.

Each of our instructors also has their own rash guard so you can easily spot them during your surf lesson. Don’t they look great?

By the way, if you want to place an order for your own custom rash guards you can contact Fay at Blue Azure via their Facebook page.

We’re on TripAdvisor!

We now have a page on TripAdvisor so if you want to see what other people have to say about us, please click here. We hope you’ll be able to come and visit us soon!

If you’ve been to visit us already, we’d love you to leave a review to let us know what you thought. Hopefully we’ll see you again soon.

New surf boards

Our new surfboards
Our new surfboards
Chandra and Joni showing off two of their new surfboards

We’re excited to announce the arrival of 3 brand new surfboards to our collection!

The new additions are:

  • 7′ 8″ Soft top
  • 7′ 8″ Epoxy funboard
  • 8′ 0″ Epoxy funboard

Now we can cater for an even wider range of surf levels. The new soft top surfboard is perfect for beginner surf lessons for our shorter and lighter customers, including children. The epoxy boards are suitable if you’ve mastered a soft top board and want to move to something that is lighter and gives you more control and, ultimately, more style with your surfing.

So if you’re planning to head to Bali to surf in 2014 then come and visit us! We hope to keep adding to our collection throughout the next year so we’ll keep you posted.