When to charter a boat in Bali

Every season works for a private day; each trades calm water, clear visibility, crowds and price differently.

Season by season

Season	Months	Sea and visibility	Crowds
Dry	Months May–September	Sea and visibility Calmest, 25–30 m	Crowds Busiest
Shoulder	Months April, October, November	Sea and visibility Settling, improving	Crowds 20–30% fewer
Wet	Months December–March	Sea and visibility More variable, 10–15 m	Crowds Quietest

Christmas and New Year bring a short surge in the wet season.

Consistent sun, 28–30 °C and the smoothest crossings. Manta sightings are most consistent. Popular anchorages are busier.

April is drying out and calming; October and November bring brief afternoon showers. Fewer boats and better value.

Afternoon downpours and choppier exposed coasts, but sheltered bays stay calm. The quietest and best-value months.

Travelling in	Book ahead
July and August (peak)	9–12 months
April, October, November	3–6 months
December to March, outside the holidays	1–3 months

Nyepi: Bali’s Day of Silence, usually March or April, closes the island and the airport for a day.
Galungan and Kuningan: Twice-yearly festivals worth seeing, though some local services slow down.
Moon phases: Currents run strongest at full and new moon, which matters for drift dives.
Surf: The west coast works best in the dry season, the east coast in the wet.

Tell us when you are travelling. We will tell you honestly what the sea is likely to do and which route suits it.