Pandawa is a powerful reef break on the southern shore of the Bukit Peninsula. One of the most swell-exposed breaks in Bali — a swell magnet that's never flat. The main wave is a quality left that sucks dry, breaking over a shallow reef. On big swells the wave gets genuinely heavy. There's a fee to enter the beach grounds.
The wave & conditions
The left breaks into the channel — about 100 metres of fast, powerful ride. The wave is surprisingly powerful even on small days. Sometimes there's a right too, but it's lower quality. The best size is head high and a touch above. The spot handles a westerly wind well: the channel breaks up the chop. But a SE onshore blows it out, so in the dry season it usually doesn't work. It's a wet-season spot — the main season runs from October to April.
Conditions & tips
The standard in the water is high and the competition fierce. The reef is very shallow — be careful. Strong current, especially at low tide — it eases off noticeably above 1.4 m of water. If you surf the left and ride through to the inside, the current works in your favour and carries you back to the lineup. The beach is beautiful and swimmable.
Hazards: shallow reef, strong current
