Bali Tourists Urged To Prioritize Safety If Swimming In Ocean After Tragic Accident

Share The Article

Tourists in Bali are being urged to prioritize safety when swimming in the ocean around the island.

A tourist tragically lost their life this week after being swept out to sea from Batu Belig Beach. As the monsoon season approaches, more storms and strong currents will hit the island. 

Bali’s Search and Rescue Teams announced on Thursday 8th November that they had recovered the body of a 34-year-old tourist from China who had been missing for two days.

The tourist, known only by their initials XFJ, was swept away from the shoreline on the popular tourist hangout spot of Batu Belig Beach in North Kuta. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by NusaBali.com (@nusabali_com)

The Denpasar Search and Rescue Team launched an intensive two-day mission in the hope of finding XFJ alive. The Head of Operations and Alerts at Denpasar SAR, I Wayan Suwena, told reporters that fifteen personnel were deployed across a series of rubber boats and jet skis. The team covers waters from Batu Belig Beach through to Seminyak.

Suwena shared, “At 08.50 WITA, we found the target or victim still floating in the middle of the sea in front of Petitenget Beach, Seminyak with a distance of about 100 meters from the beach.” XFJ was evacuated from the water via a jet ski and taken to Sanglah Hospital, though the tourist had already been declared dead at the scene. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by NusaBali.com (@nusabali_com)

Search and Rescue teams were able to save a Ukrainian woman, MK, who was also swept out to sea at Batu Belig Beach on Tuesday afternoon.

Tragically, this is not the first incident where a tourist has lost their life after being swept out to sea by strong currents on Bali’s beaches. Tourists are reminded that not all beaches in Bali have lifeguards on duty, nor is there a flag warning system in place. 

@puanindya Best sunset swims in Bali : Melasti Beach and Nyangnyang Beach. Also honorable mention but i don’t have the footage, Mengiat Beach in Nusa Dua. Besttt ever even with high tides! #bali #sea #beach #traveltiktok ♬ som original – ☆

Beaches like Seminyak, Legian, and Kuta, as well as the private beaches in Nusa Dua and Sanur, often have lifeguards or surf rescue teams stationed at strategic posts along the coastline.

At some beaches in Uluwatu, there are flag warning systems in place and lifeguards too. However, tourists are ultimately responsible for their own safety when it comes to swimming in the sea in Bali. 

As the monsoon season approaches, and with it comes storms, tidal flooding, and stronger currents, tourists are urged to exercise caution when entering the water.

If there is not lifeguard or flag system in place, it is advisable to ask a local cafe staff member or surf instructor based on the beach whether it is safe to enter the water. If in doubt, don’t go in the water. 

There are plenty of safe beaches for swimming in Bali. Notably beaches around Uluwatu, Nusa Penida and even at times Canggu and Seminyak, have proven to be dangerous for tourists to swim. 

Earlier this year, the Regent of Klungkung placed a temporary ban on swimming at Nusa Penida’s most famous beaches after a sharp rise in the number of callouts to the local Search and Rescue teams.

Kelingking Beach is one of the most well-known beaches in the world. Thousands of tourists visit the clifftops of Kelingking Beach every week to take in the iconic view.

Many choose to embrace the challenge of walking down the dangerous cliffside pathway all the way down to the beach.

Although from the top of the cliff, the waters around Kelingking Beach look calm and crystal clear, in reality, there is a vicious undercurrent and unpredictable wave pattern that crashes into the beach.

This has been responsible for dragging dozens of tourists out into the open ocean, even when they were simply paddling on the shoreline. 

One of the best beaches that is consistently safe for swimming in Bali is Sanur Beach, and neighbouring Mertasari Beach.

Other popular swimming spots around the province include Dreamland Beach, Nusa Dua Beach and way up north at Lovina Beach.