The ultimate guide to surfing Green Bowl

Green Bowl was the first surf spot to be discovered and surfed on the south coast of Bali. It is an advanced surf spot that can be suitable for intermediates on the very smallest of swells. The spot is sometimes incorrectly called Green Bowls or Green Balls (it sounds similar).

Access to the break involves a very long walk down a steep trail with uneven steps carved into the cliff. The walk up after a surf is extremely strenuous, particularly if it is hot.

As with other south coast surf spots, Green Bowl picks up all the swell from any direction, and it is often too big to surf. Insider tip: Green Bowl always looks smaller than it really is from the top of the cliff.

Tiger sharks have been spotted in the water occasionally but there are no known incidents of shark attacks. Other than heavy breaking waves, the main danger is the rip current at the end of the right hander which will quickly take you far out to sea if you lose your surfboard or are not a strong paddler. Green Bowl is not suitable for beginner surfers under any circumstances, as big boards are very difficult to take to the beach and the current can be very strong.

Green Bowl surf spot information

Green Bowl is known as a low tide right hand reef break. In actual fact it works on all tides, which is quite unusual. The rule of thumb for all reef breaks is that they are best at mid-tide, but optimum conditions depend on both the specific surf spot and the swell size on the day.

Insider tip: Green Bowl also has a left hander reef break that works best on a spring low tide. It is fickle in that it is only surfable when there is a full moon, or new moon, but when the tide is low enough it is a high quality wave. It is located the other side of the channel where the right hander finishes.

Green Bowl is a shifty peak and there is quite a wide take off area. If you take off too deep you will not make the wave, but if you sit too far on the shoulder the risk is that someone will take the wave deeper than you. As at most breaks, positioning in the line up and wave selection is key. We offer surf guiding for advanced surfers whereby one of our coaches helps to find the right spot to line up.

If you make the wave all the way you end up in a channel with an easy paddle back. However, if you do not make all the sections you will get pushed inside and it can be a hard paddle back to the line up. Green Bowl is not a very long wave but it throws the occasional barrel and has a well defined end section that breaks into a deep water channel, which is the best place to paddle out.

Green Bowl is a beautiful white sand beach with a bat cave located directly in front of the surf spot. It is easy to walk to the surf spot at low tide. The reef is flat and not sharp.
The main hazard at Green Bowl is being pushed too deep on the take off and the strong rip current in the channel that takes you directly out to sea.

Despite the difficult access, the wave is busy, especially on a wet season morning with a small swell and low tide. For a less-crowded session, head over to Gunung Payung or wait for the tide to come up for Nyang Nyang or Pandawa.

Access and facilities at Green Bowl

Getting to Green Bowl means descending more than 300 concrete steps cut into the 75-metre cliff. The path is well maintained and shaded by foliage, with places to rest on the way down, but the climb back up is a genuine leg-burner, especially in the midday heat. Watch for monkeys along the trail and keep valuables zipped away, as they are quick to grab loose items.

Facilities are deliberately simple. A handful of small warungs by the parking area at the top serve nasi goreng, cold drinks and fresh coconuts, and provide free outdoor showers and basic squat toilets. There is no beach club, and no sunbeds or umbrellas on the sand itself, so bring water, sun protection and anything else you need for the session. A small entrance and parking fee applies. Directly in front of the break sit a couple of limestone caves that offer welcome shade, along with a small Hindu shrine. The beach all but disappears at high tide, so a low to mid tide is also the easiest time to get in and out of the water.

When is the best time to surf Green Bowl?

Like other south coast breaks, early morning is usually best at Green Bowl when the wind is at its lightest. Green Bowl is exposed to cross winds and works best with a north wind, which is very rare. In the dry season, the surf is often too big and gets blown out by the trade winds. Green Bowl is mostly a rainy season surf spot and is best with a very small swell and light winds.

The best conditions occur during northerly winds but this is very rare. North east and north west wind is almost as good. Rainy season west winds and dry season south-east wind will both blow the spot out when more than 10 knots, as the spot is exposed to cross winds.

Can beginners surf Green Bowl?

Green Bowl is an advanced-level surf spot due to its fast, hollow waves and the strong current. Access to the beach is difficult, with many steps down a winding path, but you can pay for someone to carry your board.

Conclusion

Green Bowl is an excellent spot in the right conditions but is often too big, and in the dry season it is mostly blown out by the trade winds. The best months are October to November, after the trade winds die down, and March to April when the wet season comes to an end. To understand why the south coast picks up so much swell and how the seasons shape it, see our guide to the 20 essential questions about surfing conditions in Bali.