Huge Waves and Multiple Deaths Force Ban on Bali Boat Transfers

Originally posted on SURFER | By Dashel Pierson | Last updated Aug 9, 2025 3:29 PM ET

Nusa Dua, with its soft white sand beaches, azure waters, and upscale resorts, is a popular destination for the hordes of tourists flocking to Bali. It lies in the southern part of Bali, a peninsula of sorts, and often requires a boat transfer to get there.

But recently, there’s been a torrent of ferry boats capsizing – some due to large waves slamming the vessels – and occasionally, tragically, resulting in death.

And so, Balinese officials have put a temporary ban on all boat ferries traversing through the crossing. Over 100 boat services have put on hiatus from the harbors going out to Nusa Dua, serving as a precaution for more potential catastrophes.

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A spokesman for one of the main boat operators out of the area, GoBoat, spoke to the Bali Sun about the situation:

“At GoBoat, we adhere to strict SOPs [Standard Operating Procedures] which have been designed and tested to keep our guests and staff safe from conditions such as the current situation.

“This time of year brings some heavy swells, and we’re expecting to have patchy service for August. Weather permitting, we might resume service Saturday afternoon, but this is also subject to potential condition changes. Safety is our highest priority. People’s lives are in our hands, and this responsibility is unmatched.”

Chief of Meteorological Operations at the Center for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics in Denpasar, Wayan Musteana, added: “The weather is sunny and cloudy with a high wave height of 2-4 meters. For the southern waters of Bali, based on the BMKG wave model, shows that there is an increase in the height of sea waves in the southern waters of Bali, which reaches 4 meters [13 feet] or a high wave category.”

The ban remains only temporary; expect things to get back to normal soon.

This article first appeared on SURFER and was syndicated with permission.

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