‘Spooky’ best describes this session, if you can call it a session. It was in March 2025 with perfect conditions, not a breath of wind, the water surface pure glass and a rising swell. The hurdle though was the morning low tide, which doesn’t mix well with most reefs around Bali. Nethertheless, I chose to give Hyatt Reef a crack. I’ve only surfed it once before a couple of years ago and it was awesome. In the right conditions it is one of the best waves in Bali! I had heard that on the low tide the currents can be strong but had really underestimated how strong!
I took the 2km boat ride out with my friend Wayan. As we pulled up there were only 3 surfers out, which was an abnormality for here. The tide was very low but on its way in, which I also knew would equal a big increase in size very quickly. Wayan dropped me way out the back of the reef so he would avoid getting caught before heading inside the reef to wait for me. Within 2 minutes I felt the intensity of the current quickly realizing I was getting nowhere as I was paddling and knew I would be lucky to be able to make the paddle into the take off zone. I waved down Wayan who collected me, as I was drifting further out to sea, and dropped me closer to the line up. As I began another strenuous paddle over to the break I noticed the 3 other surfers get into their boat and head to shore. So, I now was the only one out and I started to feel really unnervy.
The first set came and without hesitation I took the first wave, which was way bigger than expected, made the drop but had to turn straight as it closed out. Within seconds I was washed into knee deep water with super sharp coral lingering below. Feeling more hesitant this time but I had to try for another. I paddled back out but slowly got dragged further down the reef into a gnarly impact zone and before I knew it I was copping a 4 wave set on the head ending up on basically dry reef yet again.
It was at this time I thought to myself, there’s a reason why I’m the only one out..! I fought with the currents again to finally reach the boat, exhausted and done! A learning experience for sure…
I ended up surfing Sindu Reef a little further up the coast which was a little more timid and a lot more fun!
Yewwww. You’ll never know if you never go!
