What to Do at Sea

All year long, monsoon winds push waters from the deep Indian Ocean onto the southern and western shores of Bali . Reaching the coast, these masses of water turn into waves as they bounce onto the isla­nd's drop-off and reefs. The nascent waves are further swollen by the gentle trade winds blowing from the land, which prevent ­them from breaking too quickly. The result are endless ­barrels, pounding from the sea in a machine­-like rhythm that has struck awe in generations of surfers .

The monsoon winds blow from the southeast during the dry season (May-Oct) and from the south ­ west in the season (Nov-Mar). Combined with land-borne winds, they yield strong, shifting currents, especially during intermediate seasons. Currents and waves make swimming perilous on most of the southwestern coast of Bali.Swimmers looking for quiet spots, es­pecially with children, will prefer the northern and eastern coast. Water Sports Surrounded by coral, reefs, and waves, Bali offers limited ­opportunities for water sports other than diving and surfing. However, you can find a choice of windsurfing canoeing, and parasailing in Sanur, close to the hrbour of Tanjung Benoa in south Bali , and in Lovina (north Bali ) Dolphin-watching tours are on offer in the south of Bali or around Lovina in the north. Unfortunately ­they often turn into dolphin chases. Before embarking on such a trip, ask if the operators follow i­nternationally-accepted guidelines to respect dolphins and whales ­(read more in the Lovina section, north Bali ) When staying on the quiet coasts of east and north Bali , hop on a local fisherman's boat for a sunrise fishing trip (usually around Rp50,000). You can thus experience the joys of fishing without adding to the existing destruction of marine life - a better idea than sponsoring one of the fishing tours organised for tourists.