Sanur seasonal overview
Best Surf Season (November - March)
Sanur's most consistent and user-friendly waves arrive during the northwest monsoon, when the trade-wind inversion relaxes and west to northwest offshore winds become the norm. Swell energy from the Southern Ocean and Indian Ocean is delivered through the SSW-SW corridor, wrapping into this east-facing coastline with long, 12-14 second periods. The statistics peak in December, January and February, when ideal offshore winds blow 60-64% of the time. This is the time to plan a trip if Sanur is on the list: solid 5-6.5ft (1.5-2m) groundswell, groomed faces and warm 29°C water. November and March are slightly less consistent but still offer plenty of clean windows.
Fair Surf Season (April & October)
These transitional months find the monsoon at a crossroads. The ocean is still full of long-period SSW groundswell, with April averaging 5.6ft (1.7m) at 13.5 seconds and October 5.9ft (1.8m) at 13.5 seconds, but the offshore wind windows shrink to only 20-22%. East-southeast winds take over in April and are still fading in October, creating bumpy, wind-affected conditions much of the time. When the wind does align, however, the waves have serious power and the water is still warm and inviting.
Low Surf Season (May - September)
The southeast monsoon locks in from May through September, and Sanur loses its offshore wind for virtually the entire period. The ESE-SE trade winds blow 60-90% of the time, turning what would otherwise be powerful Southern Ocean groundswell into onshore, bumpy, windblown surf. Ironically, the average swell height climbs to 6.5-7ft (2.0-2.2m) and periods hold around 14 seconds during this window, but the quality is ruined by continuous cross-onshore ESE winds. This is the season for reef passes elsewhere in Bali, not for Sanur. If you find a rare morning gap in the trades, the waves can be heavy and powerful, but those windows are few and far between.