Which Bali beaches are actually good for swimming (and which ones disappoint tourists)?

Bali's waves aren't always like the surf videos suggest — on calm days the sea can be almost flat, so those dramatic wave-jumping shots are more the exception than the rule.

Many south Bali beaches have very shallow water near shore, making proper swimming difficult — it's worth checking beach depth before visiting.

Nusa Dua beach disappoints a lot of visitors — strong wind, cold water, so-so sand, and big crowds. It compares especially poorly if you've already been to the Gili Islands.

Melasti beach gets extremely crowded around sunset — arrive early if you want uncrowded sunset photos.

It's best to avoid beaches on the very southern tip of the island — that side gets the strongest wind. Even at Melasti, late afternoon around 5pm can still be brutally hot in direct sun.

Right after arrival, the first beach you try might disappoint enough that even an easygoing kid refuses to swim — be prepared that your first impression of the nearest beach may not be great.