Not every tourist should go surfing in Bali. (symbol image)Image: keystone
For many people, surfing in Bali is an absolute highlight on their bucket list. But in Indonesia they are currently trying to restrict access to the popular water sport.
February 16, 2026, 8:30 p.mFebruary 16, 2026, 8:30 p.m
Nathalie Trappe / watson.de
You book a vacation in Bali to finally recreate the cool pictures from Instagram, and then you’re not even allowed to go surfing. This could soon happen to some tourists.
Because in the west of the Indonesian island there will be a surfing ban for all beginners in the future. «Beginners in surfing, especially surfers with softboards, are no longer allowed to surf behind the wave. You are only allowed to surf indoors or near the fishing boats,” says a statement from the Medewi Board Riders surf camp, which was published on Instagram.
Specifically, the new rules should apply to the entire Medewi area near the town of Pulukan. The innovations were decided together with community representatives and well-known surfers from the community.
If you’re a beginner and still want to make your first attempts on board, you’ll also have the opportunity to experience the real “Bali Experience” in Medewi. However, there is another rule to follow: “All beginners must be accompanied by a surfing instructor to avoid accidents in the water.”
Surf instructors in Medewi will be monitored more closely in the future
However, each surf instructor in Medewi is allowed to take a maximum of two students into the water with them. However, even when accompanied, they are only allowed to go directly into the waves if they can paddle there independently.
The background to the measures that have now been decided is, on the one hand, the safety of all visitors and locals in the water. Surfers should also be careful not to sail in the channel of fishing boats.
Just last year, a Chilean surfer tragically died after a boat dragged her to the beach.
The crowds at Bali’s surfing hotspots have been increasing for several years. Experts warn loudly The Bali Sunthat many beaches are not only full, but also dangerously overcrowded.
Another problem is foreign surfing instructors, who deprive the locals of an important livelihood. The new rules stipulate that all instructors must meet certain requirements, which are controlled by the Medewi Board Riders.