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Blessed with a diverse coastline and year-round warm waters, there’s no shortage of fun watersports in Bali. From peaceful paddleboarding trips to the adrenaline of Bali’s wakeboarding course, we've tried just about every water activity possible.
In this guide, we’re excited to share some of our favourite watersports in Bali and provide some first-hand tips on the best places to do them and how to book.
1. Jet Skiing
Being one of our favourite water sports, we were excited to discover several places to go jet skiing in Bali.
While most people head to the Tanjung Benoa peninsula in Nusa Dua, this actually isn't the best place, as you're forced to ride with an instructor. This takes away the fun and makes it pricier per person, since you can’t share the cost with a friend.
Instead, we found these spots where we were free to drive the jet skis by ourselves (advanced booking wasn't required for either):
Sanur - At Sanur Beach, there’s plenty of space to zoom around in the water. The waves are calm, and the ocean is fairly shallow, making it a great spot for beginners and families. We rented our jet ski from Surya (here) and negotiated a price of 400,000 IDR ⓘ for 15 mins. It's tide-dependent, so aim to arrive around high tide.
Lovina - We visited Krisna Watersports just outside Lovina, where we rented a jet ski for 550,000 IDR ⓘ for 15 mins (set price - no negotiating). The waves were a little choppier here, making it quite an adventure. Included with the price was access to their pool with diving boards and a rock climbing wall, where we spent a couple of hours relaxing after our session.
2. Wakeboarding
Cable Wakeboarding:
Bali Wake Park is a unique water sports centre where a state-of-the-art overhead cable system pulls you around a large lake on either a wakeboard, kneeboard, or water skis.
You can book a one-hour session or get a full-day pass to use the cable park, which includes all equipment. The park is suitable for all ages and abilities, with alternating hours of fast and slow cables.
We were complete beginners, so we took advantage of the dedicated training area where an experienced instructor taught us the basics (included for free). Later, we advanced to the main cable park – although making it the entire way around the course was still challenging.
Bali Wake Park also has a fun inflatable water park for younger kids called Aqualand and a cafe with an infinity pool for spectators (there's no charge to sit and watch). You can easily spend an entire afternoon here enjoying the activities.
Boat Wakeboarding:
If you'd prefer the classic wakeboarding experience, you can also do this in Bali. But you can't do it at the wake park. Instead, head to the Tanjung Benoa peninsula and harness the power of a speedboat to pull you through the sea. We've not attempted this ourselves, but you can find out more here.
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3. White Water Rafting
Water sports aren’t just for the sea. Further inland, you can take to Bali's rivers for an adrenaline-packed white water rafting adventure. There are two main places to go white water rafting in Bali: the Ayung River (near Ubud) and the Telaga Waja River (near Sidemen).
Technically, the Ayung River should be less intense, with class II to III rapids, compared to the Telaga Waja River’s class III to IV rapids. However, we’ve tried both and would say they’re very similar, so choose the one that’s most convenient for you.
Ayung River, Ubud – This is the most popular option as it’s accessible from Ubud. Infinity Bali Adventure is one of the top-rated tour providers offering this experience, with pick-up available as an add-on. Most rafting trips along the Ayung River last around 1hr30 to 2 hours. Be mindful that there’s a steep walk down to reach the start point.
Telaga Waja River, Sidemen – We joined a trip with Bali Tubing and Rafting, which lasted almost 4 hours. The route twisted through the rugged valleys of North Bali, with two big drops (see photo above) and a mid-way stop at a waterfall. They drove our scooters to the endpoint to save us any hassle. Other transport can be arranged too.
4. Parasailing and Waterskiing
The best place for parasailing behind a speedboat is the Tanjung Benoa peninsula, just north of Nusa Dua. This is one of the main watersports hubs in Bali. Not only do they have parasailing, but also waterskiing, banana boats, wakeboarding, and lots more.
You can even try some more unique water activities, such as flyboarding, a type of hydro-jetpack that propels you above the water, and sea-walking, a unique scuba-style helmet that lets you walk on the ocean floor.
There are plenty of shops offering watersports along Tanjung Benoa Beach. You can walk up and negotiate a price on the spot. Or, if you suck at negotiating (like we do), you can book your activities in advance. There are some fairly affordable options on Get Your Guide.
Book Now: Parasailing at Tanjung Benoa Peninsula
5. Banana Boats
If you’re looking for a fun water sports activity for groups or families, consider hopping on an exhilarating banana boat ride.
No skills are required for this one. Just jump onto the big banana-shaped inflatable and hold on for dear life as you glide across the water. It won't be long before the inevitable happens and you're launched off the banana into the refreshing water - it's all part of the fun.
The best place for banana boating is also the Tanjung Benoa peninsula. You can choose from traditional-shaped banana boats or circular ones called donut boats (a little easier to keep balanced).
Book Now: Banana Boats at Tanjung Benoa Peninsula
6. Kayaking
For a slightly slower-paced water activity, take to the shores in a kayak where you can paddle at your own pace. The south coast of the Bukit Peninsula is one of the best places, with several beaches offering kayak hire:
Gunung Payung Beach - A quiet, untouched beach and a bit of a hidden gem if you ask us. There’s a 10-minute walk down to the beach, or you can take the shuttle for 25,000 IDR. Once you arrive, a stall on the beach offers kayak hire for just 50,000 IDR per hour. Chances are that you’ll be the only person kayaking, so it's super peaceful.
Pandawa Beach - Far more accessible as the beach starts just a few metres from the parking area. This is the most famous kayaking spot in Bali, so there's no shortage of shops offering kayak hire. Prices are similar to Gunung Payung, but you definitely won't be alone.
Melasti Beach - Several beach clubs at Melasti Beach offer complimentary kayaks and paddleboards for guests (we’ve done this at Klive and Sundays). The gentle waves are perfect, however, the shallow coral shelf just offshore prevents you from going too far. Expect to paddle laps near the shore rather than taking long-distance kayak trips.
Kayaking elsewhere in Bali:
Amed - In East Bali, you can hire a transparent kayak from Crystal Kayak and see the bottom of the ocean directly through the base.
Batur Lake - Take an inflatable canoe out onto Batur Lake in Kintamani. We hired a two-person canoe from C Bali Canoeing for 150,000 IDR for one hour. The lake is huge, but an hour gave us enough time to row over to the magnificent floating temple on the other side and back again. Be mindful that swimming is prohibited here as it's a sacred lake!
Sumberkima - In this quiet part of Northwest Bali, you can kayak from the shore out to a small white sand island. We did a kayaking trip with conservation charity Metamorfosa, which included snorkelling at their underwater art gallery.
7. Surfing
Bali has a reputation as one of the top surfing islands in the world. It has more than 60 surf breaks and is one of the few destinations that’s great for surfing year-round. Here are a few spots to know about:
Kuta Beach - If you’re a beginner, Kuta is ideal for learning the basics as the waves are gentle but consistent. It has a sandy bottom, so you won’t come away with cuts and bruises on your feet. Plus, it's the cheapest place to learn. Book a lesson in advance to save negotiating on the spot.
Canggu - One of Bali's most famous surf towns. Here, you’ll find consistent swells and a huge availability of surf schools. Canggu has breaks for all abilities, from easier waves at Batu Belong Beach to more intermediate breaks further up at Echo Beach. We tried beginner lessons in Canggu, but didn't enjoy it as the training area was crowded and the coral cut our feet. It's better for those just wanting to hire a board and go solo.
Uluwatu - For seasoned surfers, Uluwatu has many world-renowned surf breaks, including the ‘Balinese Pipeline’ at Padang Padang beach and no less than five different breaks at Uluwatu Beach. Research is required as some are better on larger swell days and others on smaller swells.
8. Stand-Up Paddleboarding
While most of Bali’s coastlines have strong waves that are more suited to surfing, there are still a few spots we've enjoyed paddleboarding around Bali:
Sundays Beach Club - One of our favourite beach clubs in Bali, Sundays offer free use of paddleboards and kayaks for all guests, though the entrance fee isn't the cheapest. It's one of the only places on mainland Bali where the water is calm enough to enjoy the experience without being thrown around by waves. This is due to submerged reefs that cause the tide to break far away from the shore.
Away from mainland Bali, the surrounding islands offer far more opportunities for a paddleboarding adventure:
Nusa Lembongan - Our favourite SUP spot on Lembongan is at Jungutbatu Beach. We rented SUPs from a small rental shop on the beach called “Made Yogi” - not on the map, but right next to Ohana’s Beach Club. We paid 100,000 IDR ⓘ per hour. We went out at sunset, and it was an incredible spot to watch the sun dip behind the horizon (photo above).
Gili Trawangan - You'll find SUP hire on almost every corner of Gili T. We hired SUPs and paddled over to Gili Meno (just be careful of boats crossing the path). We took snorkels and visited the famous underwater statues too. This is another beautiful sunset experience when the colours of the sky and the echoes of the call to prayer created a peaceful and almost spiritual atmosphere. You can also guided paddleboarding sessions if you don't want to go alone.
9. Scuba Diving
Bali is a renowned scuba diving destination thanks to its location within the Coral Triangle, providing rich marine biodiversity.
Look out for unique species that can only be found here, such as manta rays, reef sharks, sunfish (Mola Mola), pygmy seahorses, and nudibranchs. Here are some of the best spots for diving:
Amed - This village in East Bali has a huge diving community and many surf schools offering PADI qualifications. You can dive from the shore or take a boat. Expect tons of nudibranchs, turtles, and schooling fish. In nearby Tulamben, dive to the USAT Liberty shipwreck on the ocean floor. Dive Concepts offer a 3 dive sites package (for certified divers) or a half-day package with dedicated dive master (for non-certified divers).
Nusa Islands - The water here has great visibility and unique underwater life, including giant Manta Rays and Mola Mola (also known as sunfish). Both Nusa Lembongan and Penida have plenty of dive centres who will organise everything - see various packages here.
When To Dive? Bali’s crystal clear water and warm temperatures provide comfortable diving conditions year-round. However, if you're adamant about seeing some of the island's most unique species, you should time your visit wisely.
You are more likely to see Manta Rays around April to May, whereas Mola Mola (also known as sunfish) are most abundant between August and October. Both of these can be found in the waters around the Nusa Islands.
10. Snorkelling
You don’t need to venture deep into the ocean to experience Bali’s captivating underwater life. You can enjoy it from the surface with the help of a snorkel.
Both Amed and the Nusa Islands are also good for snorkelling (same reasons as shared above), but here are a few other spots we loved too:
Menganjan Island - The vibrant corals and colourful fish are unlike anywhere else in Bali - and we've done a lot of snorkelling here! It's part of West Bali National Park, so there's an additional park entrance fee. Check if your package includes this (ours did!). Afterwards, we also stopped on the island itself, where Menjangan Deer roam free. See all packages here.
Gili Islands - Although not technically in Bali, the Gili Islands are another popular snorkelling spot. If you want to swim with turtles, this is the place to do it - we've seen more than we can count! You can snorkel near the shore of all three Gili Islands, but we've had better luck seeing turtles when taking an organised boat trip. You’ll also stop at the famous BASK underwater statues next to Gili Meno (pictured below).
Padang Bai - While not as famous, Padangbai surprised us. You can snorkel from the shore at Blue Lagoon, but the highlight was taking a snorkelling tour to Tanjung Jepun, a secluded area around the cliffside that’s only accessible by boat. Schools of colourful fish swam around us, including clownfish (yes, like Nemo). Unfortunately, we didn’t spot any turtles, but apparently they’re common.
Bonus: Waterbom Water Park
Since you're reading this article, chances are that you're both an adrenaline seeker and a water lover, which is why spending a day at Waterbom would be a great addition to your itinerary.
One of our favourite things to do in Bali, Waterbom is packed with thrilling water slides and other aquatic activities such as a lazy river, wave pool, and water playgrounds.
The Climax slide really gets your heart racing. You'll wait in a small capsule until the trap door swings open and drops you onto the slide at full speed. The wait was more terrifying than the drop itself.
Our favourites are the three slides in the Oasis Garden, especially the Boomerang, where you're launched up a giant wall in an inflatable tube.
Whether you’re travelling as a family, a couple, or a group of friends, the park is suitable for everyone and for every occasion - we even spent Christmas Day here last year!
There's a surprising amount to do at Waterbom, so we usually aim to arrive in the morning and stay until close at 6pm. Buy your ticket online to save 15% compared to getting it at the gate.
Book Now: Waterbom Bali (with online saving)
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