Last week, a guest walked down to the beach wearing a full cotton t-shirt, denim shorts, and a big smile. Twenty minutes into the lesson, her shirt weighed twice as much as it should, her shorts were dragging her down in the water, and the sun had already started turning her shoulders red.
She still caught her first wave that day, and laughed the whole way in. But I could see her struggling with things that had nothing to do with surfing.
I’ve been teaching surf lessons at Kuta Beach for years, and I still see this every single week. Most beginners spend so much energy thinking about the waves that they forget to think about what they’re wearing. The good news? Getting it right is simple and it makes a bigger difference than most people expect.
Here’s exactly what I recommend to every student before they step into the water.
☀️ 1. Rash Guard — The One Thing You Cannot Skip
If there’s one item I always tell my students to wear, it’s a rash guard. Not because it looks good (though it does), but because Kuta Beach will burn you alive if you’re not careful.
The sun here is not like the sun back home. Even on a cloudy day, the UV reflects off the water and hits you from every angle. I’ve seen students get badly sunburned in a 45-minute session arms, neck, the back of their legs. It’s painful, it ruins the rest of your Bali trip, and it’s completely avoidable.
A rash guard protects you from sunburn and also prevents the rash you get from lying on a surfboard for an hour that wax and fiberglass is rough on bare skin. Long-sleeve is better than short-sleeve for full sun protection, especially in the middle of the day.
Good news: At Krisna Surf Lesson, we provide rash guards for all our students. You don’t need to buy one just for your lesson. But if you’re planning to surf more than once during your trip, it’s worth picking one up at the shops near Kuta Beach — you can find decent ones for around IDR 100,000–200,000.
🩳 2. Boardshorts or a Swimsuit — Keep It Simple
For the bottom half, the rule is simple: wear something designed for water.
For men: boardshorts are perfect. They’re light, dry fast, and give you full range of motion when you’re paddling and popping up. Avoid anything with a zipper or metal buttons these scratch the board and your stomach.
For women: a one-piece swimsuit or bikini both work well. If you wear a bikini, I’d recommend a rash guard on top so the ties don’t come undone while you’re paddling. It happens more than people expect, and mid-wave is not the moment to find out.
The most important thing: no cotton. Cotton shorts, board shorts with a cotton lining, cotton t-shirts — they all absorb water and become heavy and uncomfortable very quickly. I’ve seen students give up early in their lesson simply because their clothes were dragging them down.
🌊 3. Sunscreen — Apply Before You Leave Your Hotel
This is the one I always have to remind people about. Most students arrive at the beach and then start applying sunscreen right before getting in the water — which means it washes off in the first wave.
Apply sunscreen at least 20–30 minutes before you come down to the beach. Let it absorb into your skin first.
At Kuta Beach, I recommend:
- SPF 50+ minimum — the tropical sun is intense year-round
- Reef-safe formula — we’re surfing in the ocean, and the reef ecosystem matters
- Waterproof — regular sunscreen is gone within minutes in the surf
Don’t forget the back of your neck, the tops of your feet, and your ears. These are the spots everyone misses and regrets later.
🧴 4. Do You Need Surf Shoes or a Wetsuit?
Short answer: no, not at Kuta Beach.
Unlike spots like Uluwatu or Padang Padang, Kuta has a sandy bottom — no sharp reef, no rocks. You can walk in and out barefoot without any issues. This is actually one of the reasons I always recommend Kuta as the best place for beginners in Bali. It’s forgiving.
As for wetsuits — the water temperature at Kuta sits around 27–29°C year-round. You won’t need one for warmth. Some beginners feel more confident wearing one because it adds a little buoyancy, and we do have them available if you’d like to try. But for most people, it’s not necessary.
🦶 5. What to Leave at Your Hotel
Every week I see students arriving with a huge bag of gear they don’t need. Here’s what you can safely leave behind:
- Your surfboard — we provide everything
- Your rash guard — we have them at the lesson
- Fins, leash, wax — all included
- Flip flops — you won’t need them on the sand
What you should bring:
- A towel
- A change of dry clothes
- Some water or a coconut for after
- Sunscreen (already applied!)
That’s it. Keep it light — the best part of surfing is how simple it is once you’re in the water.
👉 See full lesson details here:
Surf Lesson in Kuta Bali for Beginners
🌊 One Last Thing
After years of teaching here, the students who enjoy their first lesson the most aren’t the ones with the best gear. They’re the ones who arrive relaxed, dressed comfortably, and ready to have fun.
Don’t overthink it. Wear your swimwear, put on sunscreen, and let the ocean do the rest.
If you have any questions before your lesson — what to wear, what to bring, what to expect — just send me a message on WhatsApp. I’m happy to help before you even arrive at the beach.
👉 Book your surf lesson at Kuta Beach
Krisna Surf Lesson — Private surf lessons for beginners at Kuta Beach, Bali. Check our lesson prices here.