Uluwatu Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, and I’ve got a solid look at the 16-day window for our little slice of paradise. We’re looking at Uluwatu, and it’s a classic winter run. The trade winds are locked in from the southeast, blowing offshore, which is the dream. That means the famous reef and point setup is going to be clean and lined up, but don’t expect a gentle introduction.

First up, the water. It’s sitting right around average for this time of year, so no shock to the system when you paddle out. For the whole period, we’ve got persistent offshore winds. That’s a massive positive. The wind state is consistently described as "offshore" or "cross-offshore," meaning the faces will be clean.

We start with a bit of a slow burn. Sunday the 19th into Monday the 20th, the swell is building. It’s a solid SW groundswell, with periods around 13-14 seconds, so it’s packing proper energy. The combined energy on Monday morning is a strong 2078 (moderate to strong). The swell height Monday afternoon hits 7 ft from the SSW with a 16-second period. That’s a big, powerful swell. Because it’s long-period groundswell from the SSW, it’s going to wrap beautifully into Uluwatu’s lefts, but it’s also a serious step up. This is an advanced wave, and with that size, it’s expert territory. The crowds are a given here, always busy, but the quality of the waves will be worth the company if you’ve got the skills.

The middle of the week, from Tuesday the 21st through Thursday the 24th, the swell backs off a touch. Still a solid 5 ft to 4 ft range, with that same clean offshore wind. The energy drops to moderate (643 to 773), but the consistency is there. The period stays in the 13-14 second range, so the shape is still good. This is the sweet spot for the average advanced surfer. It’s not the peak of the swell, but it’s the most manageable.

Then we get a bit of a funky day on Saturday the 25th. The wind goes a little cross-offshore, and the swell is a bit jumbled. The energy is moderate (994). Not the best day, but still surfable. Sunday the 26th is interesting. The swell direction shifts to a short-period SE windswell, only 8 seconds, but 5 to 6 ft. The energy is moderate (631-655), and the forecast says "expect very good surf conditions." For a point break like Uluwatu, a short-period windswell can be a bit crumbly, but it’s clean, so it’ll be fun for the crew that just wants to get wet.

The standout is clearly the end of the run. Thursday the 30th of July. The morning shows a 3 ft SSW swell with a 20-second period. That’s a very long-period groundswell. The energy is a strong 1053. The forecast says "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers." This is a classic Uluwatu day. That long period will wrap in perfectly, offering long, drawn-out barrels. The afternoon bumps up to 4 ft with a 19-second period and an energy of 1707. This is the best looking day of the whole window. The wind is a moderate offshore, so it’s clean.

Going into the first week of August, the size picks up again. Saturday the 1st and Sunday the 2nd see a strong 7 ft to 8 ft SW swell with a 15-17 second period. The energy is very strong (2063 to 3124). This is a serious swell. It’s expert-only territory. The tides and wind will be a factor, but for the big-wave chargers, this is the bomb. The forecast does note "marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions," so you’ll need to pick your session.

Monday the 3rd of August drops back to 6 ft from the SW with a 14-second period. The energy is still strong (2104), and the forecast is "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers." A solid way to finish the outlook.

So, the best of the best? It’s a tie between Thursday the 30th of July for that perfect, long-period groundswell, and Monday the 3rd of August for the solid, powerful swell with clean conditions. If you can only make one day, aim for the 30th.

Rusty out.

Read more