Jimbaran is a beach break in a sheltered bay at the foot of the Bukit Peninsula. Most of the year it's flat here — the bay is shielded from the main SW swell. Waves only show up when the ocean swell tops 6–8 ft and closes out the Kuta spots. For intermediate and advanced surfers, Jimbaran holds little interest: the waves are poor quality and usually close out. But for beginners it's a handy, safe place with soft whitewater and almost no current.
The wave & conditions
The main stretch is Pantai Muaya (Muaya Beach), a typical beach break with lefts and rights. Usually a closeout. The bottom is sand, but on the left (south) side of the beach the sand quickly gives way to sharp reef and rocks. At low tide the reef is exposed — you can cut your feet badly. It works best at mid tide and above (at the peak of high tide the waves die out). Surf schools come here when the other spots are too big. There are also reef breaks in the bay (Toro Toro, Airport Rights), but they're separate from this spot and work in different conditions. There's a reef offshore in front of the beach that kills a weak swell. The wave only reaches the beach with enough energy and a mid or high water level. At low tide, even on a strong swell, the energy dissipates over the reef and doesn't reach shore.
Conditions & tips
In the dry season (April–October) the SE offshore makes it the best time for beginner surfing. On a big SW swell the shorebreak can be unexpectedly powerful — be careful. There are no lifeguards. You can rent a board on the beach (~50,000 IDR) and find a local instructor. Jimbaran's seafood restaurants, parking and easy water access round it out.
Hazards: powerful shorebreak on a big swell
