Sanur Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the forecast for the next couple of weeks. Straight up, I gotta be honest with you – this is a tough one. The surf is coming, but the wind just won't play nice, and that’s going to mess things up.

We’re looking at Sanur Reef, a sheltered reef break that needs a south swell to work. The swell is coming in from the SSW, which is pretty much bang on its optimum direction, so that’s the one piece of good news. The water is sitting at 81°F right now, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The problem is the wind. For pretty much the entire 16-day run, it’s hammering from the ESE to SE at 12 to 19 mph. That’s a cross-on wind for this spot, and it’s going to leave the surface choppy and messy. The swell is there, but the quality is going to be poor. It’s a real shame, because there’s some decent energy in the water.

The first real pulse of swell we see kicks off around Saturday, July 20th. The wave energy climbs to a moderate 2046 (combined energy of all swells directed here) with a 7ft SSW swell, but that 12 mph cross-on breeze is just going to ruin it. It’s a marginal call at best.

Things get a bit more interesting on Monday, July 28th. The swell picks up again, with a long-period 17-second swell from the SSW at 5ft. The energy is strong at 1511 (combined energy of all swells directed here), but the wind is still a fresh 16 mph cross-on, which will make for lumpy, difficult conditions.

The biggest push of the whole forecast comes right at the end, on Saturday, August 2nd. We’re looking at a solid 8ft SSW swell at 18 seconds, with very strong energy readings of 3504 (combined energy of all swells directed here). That’s a proper groundswell, and with that period, it’s going to have some serious power. But again, the wind is howling at 19 mph from the ESE, a fresh cross-on. For a reef break, the long period and strong wind might make it a bit of a washing machine and honestly, that size and those winds, it’s really only one for the experts.

The best of a bad bunch? If I had to pick one, I’d say the Sunday morning, July 26th session. It’s the only time we see an offshore wind, even if it’s just a moderate breeze. You’ll have a 6ft, 8-second swell from the SE. The period is short, so it won’t have the punch of a groundswell, but with the wind offshore, it’s going to be the cleanest wave we see all forecast. The wave energy is moderate at 814 (combined energy of all swells directed here), and it’s the only real chance for a half-decent wave. For a sheltered spot like this, those offshore conditions are gold.

Other than that, it’s a pretty bleak outlook. The wind is just relentless. For a break that’s inconsistent at the best of times, this is a particularly frustrating stretch. If you’re a beginner, the swell stays under 5ft for most of the first week, but the wind will make it a fight. After July 28th, the swell gets over 8ft, which is expert-only territory, and the wind is still blowing. Honestly, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing for most of the run.

Stay patient, crew. The swell is there, but the wind isn't. It tends not to stay this poor for long, so keep your eye on the forecast.

Rusty.

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