Bali Tourists Urged Not To Swim At Iconic Nusa Penida Beaches

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Tourists in Bali are being urged to observe the no-swim zones in place at many of the province’s most popular beaches.

Over the weekend in Seminyak and in Nusa Penida, tourists had to be rescued from the ocean, and two people lost their lives. 

At Seminyak Beach on Sunday, 3rd August 2025, a local father lost his life while trying to save the life of his young son, who had been swept away by the current.

On Monday, 4th August, Bali’s Search and Rescue Teams confirmed that they had recovered the body of 47-year-old Gusti Agung Anom from the waters off Seseh Beach. 

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Nyoman Sidakarya, the Head of Denpasar Search and Rescue, told reporters, “We received a report of the incident on Sunday night at around 8:40 p.m. WITA. A team was immediately deployed to the scene.” He confirmed that Anom had been on the beach with his three children, and the family had been bathing in the shallow waters of Seminyak Beach.

As one child went deeper into the water, Anom followed them out to bring them closer to shore, but he was then pulled out by the tide himself. All three children made it safely back to the beach. While much of Seminyak Beach is considered safe to swim, there is often a rip current present near the centre of the beach that must be observed. 

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Search and Rescue teams conducted an intensive search of the waters off Seminyak Beach through to Canggu and Seseh on jet skis and rubber boats. Sidakarya told reporters, “The team has been conducting a sweep since last night.” He confirmed, “Not long after, we received information that a man’s body was found floating in the waters of Seseh, Badung, by the Kedonganan Water Police.”

Over in Nusa Penida, another tragedy was recorded by Bali Search and Rescue and police teams over the weekend. Reports have confirmed that two foreign tourists were swept away by waves while swimming in the Diamond Beach. 

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Diamond Beach in Nusa Penida, much like Kelingking Beach, is deemed a no-swim zone. Yet, every month, dozens of visitors break these rules, often ending in tragedy. Bali Search and Rescue teams confirmed that while one tourist was successfully saved from the water, the other died by drowning. 

Speaking to reporters once again, Sidakarya explained, “According to the information we received, one person was rescued using a throw rope. At the time, the waves were high and the current was quite strong. The other victim was carried further out to sea.”

He confirmed that upon receiving the report, officers from the Denpasar Search and Rescue Office immediately deployed four personnel from the Nusa Penida SAR Standby Unit via Sampalan Harbor to deploy a Rigid Inflatable Boat.

Sidakarya explained, “The victim was seen floating after being lost. The water rescue team attempted to approach but was unable to reach him due to the increasingly high waves.”

Speaking separately, the Nusa Penida Police Chief, AKP I Ketut Kesuma Jaya, stated that the evacuation process was hampered by extreme terrain and high waves, requiring land transportation. After the victim was successfully evacuated from the cliff at 4:05 p.m. WITA, the body was immediately taken to the Nusa Medica Clinic by ambulance. He added, “The victim is believed to have arrived alone and was swept away by the current.” 

AKP Jaya concluded, “We urge tourists, both local and international, to always pay attention to weather information and wave conditions. Do not force yourself to swim when conditions are unsafe.”

The Bali Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency has issued warnings to the public for the coming days. Wave and weather forecasts show potential for extreme winds of up to 46 km/hr and high waves of up to 6m off the coast of Bali, between 5th and 8th August. 

The Head of the Metrology Operational Working Group for the BMKG, Wayan Musteana, told reporters, “The cause is monsoon activity, namely the current difference in air pressure between the Australian and Asian continents.”