Black Stone is a reef break in the Nusa Dua area, in front of the Grand Hyatt and closer to the Waterblow headland. It's named after the black basalt rock jutting out at the edge of the reef. The main wave is a left with a sharp shove on take-off: the swell rebounds off the rock and creates a steep, unpredictable section at the start. The spot is fickle — the wave is often warped, and good conditions don't line up every day.
The wave & conditions
The left is the main one. The peak gives a steep take-off with the rebound off the rock, and in good conditions there are barrels. The peaks shift around, so your position in the lineup keeps changing. There are rights too. On the inside the wave is mellower — without the rebound off the rock — and suits intermediates. The inside is used heavily by surf schools, so there are always plenty of students with instructors. 50 metres to the south, toward Mengiat, conditions are even softer for learning on a small swell.
Conditions & tips
On a small to medium swell the lineup is crowded — the spot is popular with surf schools. On a big swell the outside starts to barrel, the crowd thins out noticeably, and the spot opens up for experienced surfers. There are a lot of locals in the lineup. It sits right next to Mushroom Rock, separated by an isthmus. There's a viewpoint before the headland where you can see both spots at once — handy for choosing which one is cleaner in the wind. You can paddle out from Mengiat beach. The beach has board rental in all sizes and a surf school with instructors.
Hazards: shallow reef, current on a big swell, rebound off the rock
Max swell: 6-8 ft
