Bali Bay (Glen Reef) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s talk about the 16-day window for your local surf. The start is a bit slow, with the first few days having some size but the wind’s a mess – cross-shore and choppy. The real action starts to build from Saturday morning, and there’s a couple of windows that look like absolute crackers.

Let’s start with Bali Bay (Glen Reef). This is a very consistent reef break that loves a NW swell. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so just a standard spring suit.

Thursday 9th July is a write-off. You’ve got a solid 10ft SSW swell, but the wind is a dirty cross-shore at 12 mph. The combined energy is a hefty 3037 (moderate to strong), but it’s just messy. Not worth it.

Friday 10th July is a slight improvement. The morning session sees a 10ft SSW swell, but the wind turns cross-off at 12 mph. The energy is still high at 2608, and it’s labelled as clean. It’s a big, powerful wave, though, so only for the experienced crew.

Now, Saturday morning 11th July – this is the first real standout. The swell drops to a still-chunky 6ft from the SSW, with a good 12-second period. The wind is a light cross-off at 6 mph, and the wave zone is clean. The energy is 1512, which is solid. This is excellent for experienced surfers. The crowd factor is “sometimes,” so you might have a few friends out, but it’s not a zoo.

Sunday morning 12th July is another gem. The swell is 5ft from the S, with an 11-second period. The wind goes glassy – just 3 mph from the ESE. The energy is 784, and it’s glassy. A perfect morning for a long session. Waves will be clean and lined up.

The following week sees a bit of a lull. Monday 13th through to Wednesday 15th have small, weak swell (under 3ft) with long periods, but the energy is low (189-592). The winds are light or glassy, so it’s surfable, but very ordinary. Nothing to write home about.

Thursday 16th July brings a big increase. The morning shows an 8ft SW swell, but the wind is a strong cross-shore at 15 mph. The energy jumps to 2565, but it’s going to be a choppy mess. The afternoon has a cleaner cross-off wind, but at 25 mph, that’s a strong breeze – it’ll be howling.

Friday 17th July is your next big shout. The morning has a 7ft SSW swell with a 12-second period, light cross-off wind at 6 mph, and a clean surface. The energy is 1727. The afternoon is even better: 7ft, 12-second period, Slight air, and cross-off. This is excellent for the experienced crowd. The crowd is only “sometimes,” so it’s a prime window.

After that, the swell fades again through Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th, with small, weak waves (4-5ft) and low energy (363-854). The winds are light, but it’s mostly cross or cross-on, so nothing special.

Monday 20th July gets a bit of a bump. The morning is 5ft from the WSW, but the wind is a moderate cross-off at 15 mph. Clean, but the energy is only 647. It’s okay, but not the best.

Tuesday 21st July is a full-on blown-out mess. The swell pumps up to 11ft from the SW, with a 13-14 second period, and the energy is massive (4446-4787). But the wind is a fresh cross-onshore at 15-18 mph. This is a kite-surfing special, not a paddle day.

Wednesday 22nd July is even bigger. 11ft SW swell, 15-second period, and the energy is 6039. The wind is a moderate cross-shore, but the file says it’s too big for this break. For the experts only, and even then, it’s a beast.

The final two days, Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th July, are massive. 16ft SW and WSW swells, with a very long 17-second period. The energy is off the charts (16177 and 8975). The winds are clean, even glassy on the Thursday afternoon. But again, the file says it’s too big for this break. This is a serious, heavy-duty swell. Only the absolute top-tier locals should even think about it.

So, the two true standouts are Saturday morning 11th July and Friday 17th July. Both have solid, clean swell, good winds, and manageable crowds. The Sunday morning 12th July is also a beauty for a glassy session. The rest of the period is either too small, too windy, or too big. The big stuff at the end of the window is promising but a long way off and very uncertain for a reef break.

Rusty.

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