Surfing Balian (Bali’s “Sharky” Spot) || What’s it Actually Like!?

On Bali’s West Coast, lies the sleepy surf town of Balian. It’s known for its perfect, user-friendly a-frame peak and is regarded as Bali’s “sharkiest” surf spot. I was intrigued about what the place was actually like, so spent a morning there surfing and finding out. Here’s everything you need to know. Yew!
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#surfingbalian #baliansurf #baliansurfbali #balisurfing #baliansurfbali #surftravel #surfingindonesia #balisharks #bali

[@toruslife]

I lived in Balian for 12 months recently. This vid is a pretty good description of the wave- its very consistent, spreads the crowd out can handle good size. I had some great sizey surfs there. . I surfed most days when I lived there, saw a total of 3 sharks in 12 months. - 2 spinners jumping and a bull shark swam under me- the sharks are not interested in people- they are at most spots, just not seen as often. Just avoide going out after a big rain when the water is murky. Be careful on the road there- its truly fucked- trucks and busses are crazy with many crashes, I saw quite a few. Ocha warung has best food in town at good price and the night market is pretty cool as well. Happy traveling 🌴🏄‍♂️🇦🇺🌴

[@user-bw3dn1se3o]

G’day Dan , your channel deserves to grow mate , great insight into surf and travel always, keep it going 🤙

[@DanHarmon123]

Thank you so much!! Looking forward to sharing more :)

[@geezersurf]

Thanks Dan for posting your content. I always find it interesting. I think my travel days are over but it's good to see the spots you cover. I either have been there 30 yrs ago or would like to visit in my dreams!

[@DanHarmon123]

Thank you very much!! Stoked you enjoy them :)

[@robertmoricky4663]

keep it up mate, great insightful content !

[@DanHarmon123]

Thank you very much!! Stoked you found it helpful :)

[@southcoastpauly]

I look forward to all your videos Dan. Being dry docked for weeks and weeks I surf vicariously through KZbin, and you’re one of my top channels. Drop some more POV when you can please . (Makes me feel like I’m out there !)

[@DanHarmon123]

Hey mate!! Thank you so much! Stoked you like them... will definitely get some more POV stuff out there!!

[@lukeArmstrong524]

Good to see you can actually surf..👍. Your backhand bottom turn is on point when you touch the wave with your left hand, great technique. There's guys on you tube giving advice on surfboards and surfing and they are actually kooks... Keep the videos coming!

[@DanHarmon123]

Yeah, I do surf sometimes haha ;) Thank you very much!!

[@Pseudosurfer]

Epic content as always.

[@DanHarmon123]

Yewwww! Thank you :)

[@henrygordon87]

Love all your videos Dan. Balian is a great spot - had many good times up there. You seriously rip too.

[@DanHarmon123]

Thanks, Henry!!

[@jefffinlay3477]

Love your style dan!smooth bro!looks like a great left !cheers!

[@DanHarmon123]

Thanks, Jeff!! Definitely a fun wave :)

[@mackakiwinz4353]

You’re surging great Dan good on ya mate 🤙

[@DanHarmon123]

Thank you very much :))

[@barracuda833]

Sick backside roundhouse to 360 1:30

[@DanHarmon123]

Hahha thank you!! Felt fun to do that thing 😂

[@dennismccarthy7032]

❤ knew of this place decades ago , great to get a good update Dan , yeah dirty water is a no go for a few reasons, a time to do something else ❤

[@Nashinsi]

Had a very good sesión in Balian a while ago. Powerfull and big too. Keep filming!

[@DanHarmon123]

Epic!! I'm sure it gets some size on solid swells!!

[@ahagouel]

hahahh the roads are so intense in that region! drive safe, cool to see this spot surfed ⚡

[@DanHarmon123]

Yeah so terrifying haha!!

[@yudimahendra7655]

More recomendation on a similar spot, not to crowded, little melow wave and not to powerfull. Great video Dan. Cheers

[@emf2482]

surfed Canggu, was quite nice for a beginner. When I got back home a saw a YT vid where some divers spotted a GW near Nusa Lembongan

[@wendymorgan6651]

Nice memories I haven’t been there for 30 years I was learning to surf when my partner and I rocked up in the 80s

[@DanHarmon123]

Epic!! Bet it was wicked back then!!

[@wendymorgan6651]

@@DanHarmon123there were surfers not to many though love your channel

[@Endless_somers]

I had a week planned there but backed out after reading about some tourists getting chomped haha. Looks like you got some fun ones

[@DanHarmon123]

Yeah, it's definitely on your mind, but still pretty unlikely. And yes, a very fun, easy wave to surf though!! :)

[@dudeleboski2692]

I went in Rainy season and NOBODY was out, jut myself. NOW I KNOW WHY!!!!!😮

[@DanHarmon123]

Hahaha, at least you got a couple with no crowds ;)

[@sam.stoked]

3 days ago saw a small shark jump and do a few spins 30m from the paddle out spot there😅 Crazy road,saw a bus(coach) double overtake 2 trucks up a blind hill/corner

[@DanHarmon123]

Woah!! Gnarly... and yep, sounds totally normal for the roads there 😂

[@johnnyhadji7841]

Hey Dan , is that surfyogis natural surfscreen you are using?

[@bluedoggum8373]

Did you get an idea how consistent it was compared to a place like canggu? I just like to sit in the hotel and surf and not move much. I actually already booked my bali flight for Jan I’m stoked.

[@DanHarmon123]

Epic!! I think Balian is super consistent, I think there's basically waves there all the time!!

[@shakalifewear]

went there a few months ago, basically no waves all week, one aussie expat said it's been bad for months. So I went up to medewi mostly, tho the few days were decent but only at dawn

[@DanHarmon123]

Damn!! That's unlucky... I thought it was a fairly consistent wave!?

[@fabiopatrao6354]

surfed this spot in 97...just me and a friend...first time in Bali...good surf!! we didn't know about the existence of sharks in the place...the night when we talked about where they had surfed, we were excited about the absence of crowds... .they told us the reasons...I never went back there

[@jordanj7182]

😺

[@suomalainentalvi2792]

Bagus Bos 👍🏻 Shredding the waves 😮 🦈 strange occurrence

[@DanHarmon123]

Thank you!!

[@seandillon933]

If you were there recently it would have been around when I was there which was super warm and dry. Similar conditions actually. Talked to one of the local yoga sup guys (what a combo), anyway he said there had been like 7 attacks this year. Just little nibbles, but cuts. He said that they often occur when people are coming in at the end of that section you were travelling through. Also on the other side where that right is. I thought it was a myth but turns out it's not😅

[@DanHarmon123]

Hey Sean!! Wow, I didn't think that would be the case, I actually felt kinda safe in that inside bit haha! But yeah I was there a couple weeks ago!!

[@lozstuddert5090]

So many sharks every time I looked down I saw a shadow I’m spooked here for shaw

[@alexandros8361]

I can see they're only baby waves, but you do surf them well. Well done!

[@DanHarmon123]

Yeah fairly small and pretty fat! But thank you :)

[@alexandros8361]

@@DanHarmon123 No worries. I tried surfing Kuta, but was facing pure coral which freaked me so I bailed. Best wishes and I agree, keep away from river mouths.

[@iampetrunin]

How come you produce so many good useful videos on a regular basis???

[@DanHarmon123]

Haha, thank you!! I think because I'm obsessed with surf and travel and spend a hell of a lot of time looking at my laptop screen haha 😂

[@laurencegreen1705]

Lived in Bali for 4 years and will never drive that road, despite happily driving all other places on the island on a bike. Potholes and big trucks on transisland trips with a driver who probably hasnt slept in days... For Balian and Medewi I'd always get a car with driver

[@DanHarmon123]

Hey Laurence!! Good idea to be fair! I was so scared every day driving on that road!!

[@SURF-MAN]

Dannnnnnnnnnnnnn be surfing

[@DanHarmon123]

Haha, I do go surfing sometimes ;)

[@JB-ye3lp]

Seen more sharks at Balian than anywhere else in the world - Bulls Shark in schools - spinner sharks jumping everday - once a year someone gets bitten by a shark at Balian.

[@owwwkinky]

What size board you riding here?

[@DanHarmon123]

It's a 5'9 Lost "Baby Buggy"

[@marcelopellegrino9560]

🤙

[@RhysJones18]

Would be awesome if you could put the Surfline chart alongside your surf clips just to give more of an insight as to how to judge the forecast!! Love the videos mate keep it up

[@dishonestneill]

Great wave but yes definitely very sharky. Ive surfed it quite a lot and seed sharks every time Ive been there. Mate of mine had his hand mauled last year (2023) paddling out early morning. 25 stitches. Lots of surfers there wearing sharkbanz when I was there last year...including myself and my two mates. Theres been an attack there on average 1-2 times every year for the last 10yrs.

[@djizzah]

First trip to indo people go both directions through roundabouts, not one direction like western countries, maybe warn people about this

[@DanHarmon123]

For sure!! The roads in Indo probably deserve their own entire video, some crazy things go down on a daily basis!!

[@JoseLopez-wj4mc]

I went to Bali for my honeymoon last summer and did not see anything at all in their waters so It seemed to be a pretty safe place mate

[@DanHarmon123]

Yeah for sure!! I never even think about it, to be honest. This is the only spot where it creeps into mind haha!

[@michaelj8793]

IMO leave the driving to locals the people on the road don't respect foreigners it's worth the extra cost to avoid the road rage can ruin your trip and your wallet I've found it better to select the proper home base Thanks for sharing as always my friend and Safe Travels 👍🤙

[@DanHarmon123]

Thanks mate!! Yeah that road is next level!!

[@user-mq6rz4eo9i]

Your riping the turns bro

[@DanHarmon123]

Hahah, I'm trying ;) Thanks tho!!

[@richardmcclelland1201]

How about not promoting every location you surf even if they are well known as it just attracts more and more people, you do it on every video

[@micpotato8158]

Yeah what’s in it for these guys who do all this promotion for a few likes or whatever….the surf is crowded enough without these type of videos

[@clintjames3939]

It's his job. People can do whatever they like.

[@micpotato8158]

Personally ibelieve surfing is better if codes of etiquette are respected in and out of the water