For beginners and intermediate surfers, Old Mans offers a gentle wave. Lefts and rights are available, with the lefts often being a touch more walled up than the rights. It peaks out above the reef. Low to mid-tides are ideal in smaller conditions since the wave can become quite soft on higher tides and smaller waves because it breaks on the reef and fades into the deep channel on the inside.
The left can have a quality wave that can offer a few barrels and powerful sections to do some spins, although it never really has any perfection as waves sporadically peak across the reef. When the swell grows bigger, the right will tend to close off.
Old Mans Best Condition
Old Mans is offshore from easterly winds through to the north, but since the dry season trade winds are cross-/onshore from the south and the rainy season trade winds are cross-onshore from the north, he enjoys the mild winds in the mornings. On all tides, depending on the conditions and all swell directions, it will break from waist high to 1.5x overhead.
By paddling out in one of the two channels on either side of the reef, you can get to Old Mans. It is simple to enter by just paddling the final few feet through the canal after riding any tide over the reef.
Note: When the waves are tiny, this is a relatively safe spot to surf, but keep an eye out for other surfers as there are many newbies. This is one of the best venues to improve your surfing, so be patient.
Why Old Mans?
Once you feel comfortable riding the waves at Batu Bolong, simply take a short 5-minute walk to the north to the well-known Old Mans Surfing Spot. Driving there from Wave House Surf Camp will just take ten minutes. If you feel in between, go and try Old Man’s Surf Spot because it will be too much for beginners and a little monotonous for experienced surfers. Additionally, Old Man’s is one of the best places in the area for longboarders.
How to Get Here?
Instead of being in front of the well-known Old Mans Restaurant and Bar, Old Mans Reef is actually situated near the intersection of Jalan Munduk Catu and Jalan Pura Dalem. As of this writing, you are welcome to park for free anywhere along the street. There will be a sizable crowd on the main reef, which you can see directly in front of you.
The two reefs here are Old Man’s and Batu Bolong, and they are adjacent to one another. As you progress to riding unbroken waves, both reefs are excellent places to practice your surfing techniques.
There are a few places to eat and hang out here, but for the time being it is avoiding the development that has been going on in the rest of Canggu, even if there are a few sizable projects planned for this length of coastline.
Old Mans Waves
It’s a good place to continue learning to surf after Kuta. Waves are friendly, fat, and slow. It’s also the best place to try your first reef break! The best thing is a current that will assist you in getting to line up, but on the way back you should be prepared to exert some effort and paddle, paddle, paddle.
Although they close quickly, rights frequently make the barrels. To get the most out of your ride, stay close to the foam ball. The lefts are long and continuous. You can ride all the way to the beach.
image source: ollieandthecaptain
More beginner surfing spots around the area? Check out our other post: Seminyak Beach Surf – Beginner-Friendly Surfing Spot Guide
