Old Mans

N - NE Wind

Surfing at Old Mans Overview

Quick Info

Wave size: Waist high – 1.5x overhead

Swell size (ocean): 1 – 5ft

Swell direction: S – SW

Tides: All tides

Direction: Left & right

Best wind: N – E

Surfing level: Beginner / Intermediate

Crowd factor: 10/10

Localism factor: 6/10

Fun factor: 5/10

Risk factor: 2/10

Must know: Surf the lower tides when small for the best waves.

Old mans and Batu Bolong are the 2 reefs here and they sit side by side. Both reefs are a great place to hone your skills as developing surfer as you move onto riding unbroken waves.

There are a few places to eat and hang out here, but for now it is avoiding the construction that the rest of Canggu has seen, although there are a few large projects in the pipeline for this stretch of beach.

Old Mans offers a mellow wave great for beginners and intermediates. It peaks up on the reef, offering lefts and rights, with the lefts typically being a little more walled up than the rights. On the higher tides and smaller swells the wave can become very soft, as it breaks on the reef and fades into the deep channel on the inside so low to mid-tides are great in the smaller conditions.

When the swell gets larger, the right will tend to close out but the left will hold a quality wave that can offer a few barrels and powerful sections to do some turns, although never really has any perfection as waves randomly peak across the reef.

Old mans is offshore from easterly winds through to the north, but prefers the light winds in the early mornings as the dry season trade winds are cross / onshore from the south and the wet season trade winds are cross onshore from the North. It will break from waist high to 1.5x overhead on all tides, depending on the conditions, and all swell directions.

Access old mans by paddling out in either of the 2 channels either side of the reef. Coming in is as easy as riding over the reef on any tide and paddling the last little bit through the channel.

Old mans reef is actually located at the corner of Jalan Munduk Catu and Jalan Pura Dalem, and not in front of the popular Old Mans Restaurant and Bar. At the time of writing you can park anywhere along the road here for free. You will see the reef straight in front; there will usually be a large crowd on the main reef.

A relatively safe place to surf when conditions are small, be aware of other surfers as there are a lot of beginners surfing here. Be patient as this is one of the better places to hone your surfing skills.

More surf spots in West Bali

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Old Mans

Surfing at Old Mans Overview

Quick Info

About Old Mans

Best Conditions for Old Mans

Getting in and out at Old Mans

Getting to Old Mans

Hazards to look out for at Old Mans

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