Island hopping is one of the most adventurous and fantastic activities in Bali, and if recent reports shook your confidence, keep reading.
We’ve taken boats between Bali and Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Penida and the Gili islands multiple times in the past 5+ years and had no issues, so we are here to share how you can plan a safe trip and visit popular beaches.
Latest Accidents: Are Things That Bad?
Recent reports from tourists raised concerns about the safety of boating in Bali. Marine transport incidents became more often as the popularity of the islands grew and more and more tourists started travelling by boat, which led to more companies emerging.
It is true that a few past rainy seasons (November to April) Bali boat and ferry operators ran into some issues: a ferry between Java and Bali sank, boats heading to or from Nusa Lembongan were sinking, a few capsized, and so on.
To be fair, the boat safety accidents in Bali and Indonesia in general are not new. Since 2015, boats have caught fire, capsized, exploded, and sunk. However, these stories very, very rarely lead to casualties.
To put these numbers into perspective, we also need to consider the real risk of an accident.
Looking at daily schedules, we can estimate that there are minimum 100 boats circulating between islands on a daily basis, which leads to a couple of thousand boat trips per month, while there are just 3-4 reports per year, max.
Safety standards can be different in every country, and it is important to do your homework before travelling.
Are Bali Boats Safe? Common Routes
Let’s explore different routes and their safety or potential danger.
Ferries To Lombok
Travelling with your bike or car, you will have to use a ferry. It is usually a slow, few-hour trip on a big boat. Usually, they don’t run strictly on time, but are quite reliable.
What makes this route dangerous? Between Bali and Lombok lies the Lombok Strait, with depth from 790 to 1400 meters (one of the deepest in the world) and incredibly strong currents bringing waters from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean.
We can’t remember any cases of a ferry sinking between Bali and Lombok.
Fast Boats To Nusa and Gili Islands
Fast boats to Nusa Ceningan, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Penida usually sail from Sanur or Senengan (premium and private boats). Waters around Penida can be quite deep and rough.
Commercial and private boats to Gili Air, Gili Meno, and Gili T usually leave from Padang Bai, or, rarely, Amed.
Sanur harbour is very modern with ACs in the waiting lounges. Senengan is even fancier, while Padang Bai stays the simplest, a bit chaotic port.
Bad weather affects these boats the most, as they are much lighter than ferries and go at a very high speed. Choppy, rough seas can be scary, especially if it is your first boat trip.
However, we still think they are pretty safe and are sort of adventure activities, especially if you sit on the top deck and enjoy the views, and light jumps on the waves.
Boat Taxi In Bali
Due to the heavy traffic in South Bali, there is a boat taxi – GoBoat running from Canggu to Uluwatu or Jimbaran. A one-way ticket is about 255,000 IDR per person (25,5 AUD).
It has been running for two years and also had one sinking accident (September 2023) that went viral. No casualties. When it happened, the company simply closed the comments, and now you won’t even find mention of it anywhere in the official accounts.
The waters around Uluwatu are pretty rough; thus, only experienced surfers take their chances here, so check the weather conditions before using the boat taxi.
That being said, water taxis make a few runs daily, and since 2023, no accidents have been reported.
Safety Tips & Travel Advice For You To Safely Reach Your Destination
Most of the time when things get bad, passengers reported that a boat lacked life jackets, there was no communication with the ground, or no rescue boats were coming. So you need to be extra diligent in choosing the boat and checking its safety equipment.
Insurance
Your personal Travel insurance that includes both medical treatment and electronics. If you’re not certain about your coverage, contact your travel insurer beforehand.
Even if local authorities or fast boat operators are willing to compensate, the sum will be so minimal that it won’t cover a damaged phone or laptop. That said, also pack the valuables you have to take in waterproof bags.
Ask if the boat and passengers are insured. Based on Instruksi Presiden (Inpres) No. 5 Tahun 2005, boat operators that carry goods and travellers must be insured.
Those same regulations also make it clear that the boat itself should be insured. However, it doesn’t specify speed boats specifically, so some travel agents skip it.
It gets a bit tricky when you are going on a snorkelling boat that is just one of the local fishermen’s fishing boats, because in that case, it is unlikely to be insured or even registered.
Boat Registration
Some operators may tell you that they are registered with ASDP Indonesia Ferry, but this is a commercial enterprise, not a regulatory institution, and such registration will carry very little value if something happens.
What the boat should have is the registration with the Ministry of Transportation of Indonesia (Kementerian Perhubungan), and it should be inspected and have a number issued by BKI – Biro Klasifikasi Indonesia.
For ex., boats from Eka Jaya have IDs and trackers so you can even go online and find real-time data about the boat. It increases credibility and boat safety by a lot!
Technically, you should be able to check the information about the boat through the Vessel Registration System (“SPKE” — Sistem Pendaftaran Kapal Elektronik) and Cari Data Kapal by the Ministry of Transportation. In practice, you won’t be able to do so.
Be advised that if the boat company is not locally owned, it is more likely not to have all the paperwork, since, by law, boat operators must be Indonesian.
Additionally, international safety standards require large boats to be registered within the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), but in practice, very few fast boats will have it, as they simply are too small to pass the threshold.
Safety Equipment
The most important ones are, hands down, life jackets. And there should be enough for every single person on board, plus they should be in great condition, not torn or lacking in floating!
A boat should have a reliable (and working) communication system, a transponder, and a dedicated MMSI number that allows radio connection and location of the boat in case of emergency.
As there was a boat that caught fire in the past, check that there is a fire extinguisher and it is not expired.
If you get seasick, take a pill (like Dramamine) 30 to 60 minutes before boarding and avoid travelling when the swell is big (overhead or anything bigger than 1.5 m). Boats rarely have medication like that available for passengers.
Boat Crew
Technically, every single person on the boat should be trained and licensed; however, while some companies invest time and money in their team education, other operators simply hire untrained crew members.
Each crew member should be able to give proper instructions and know how to contact land and speak at least basic English. What happened during a few tragic situations with boats was often due to an unprofessional team.
Listen To The Safety Instructions
To be honest, many crews will skip it, out of laziness or thinking that it isn’t necessary, but you should know what to do.
If there was no briefing, either Google or use basic guidelines: locate the life jackets, stay seated while the boat is moving, and keep your personal belongings in a waterproof bag under your seat. If you’re sitting inside the boat, know where the emergency exit is.
Boat Capacity
Tourism made Bali’s neighbouring islands very popular, and some operators can ignore the total capacity of a boat.
So if you think that a boat is too full, or if you see that some people are cramped on the seat, ask the crew about it (expect them to say that there is no problem) or talk to the harbour security.
Choose Reputable Operators
Pick established boats with reviews and recommendations over fast boat services operating just to make some quick money.
Dig for recent accidents that mention operators and go with one that has existed for years and still operates with no issues.
Pay attention to their policies, how they communicate and answer the questions if you contact them beforehand via WhatsApp (what we highly recommend to ask all the questions!).
Bonus, if the boat you’re taking actually has a tracker that you can monitor online.
Follow Official Warnings VS Operators’ Suggestions
As boating is a business, many operators will still go out in the ocean even when the weather isn’t ideal.
It is best to rely on the official warnings from BMKG, Indonesia’s Meteorology Agency, on Twitter (X) and check swell and weather conditions on apps and sites like Windy.com or MagicSeaweed.
Keep the number of local police (110) and rescuers in the event of an emergency (+62 361 752 222).
Buy Tickets Online
Buy online to keep the records. If something happens, bank statements and ticket PDFs will support the claim.
Keep your plans open, as a good provider will always adjust departure time to the weather. It is best to cancel the trip due to rough seas.
So, when buying online or offline, make sure to ask about the refund policy or if it is possible to change the date.
If You Can Afford It, Go With Private Charters
Private boats and yachts are usually more up to maintenance standards as their operators have more money to keep them in top-notch conditions.
Another point towards private boats is that disembarking the boats in many island destinations happens over shallow waters and sandy beaches. Sometimes (happened in Sanur and Lembongan), docked boats get hit by waves and start losing balance and sink while passengers are still trying to get off the boat.
If travelling on a ferry, do not stay in your car. The ferry will be packed, and cars and bikes are often squeezed tightly. If the ferry sinks, you will be trapped.
Do Your Own Research
Reviews will be useful; however, due to a strong defamation law in Indonesia, many travellers or media do not leave honest reviews, or are directly asked not to name companies they’ve used.
Use international platforms like Reddit to research first-hand experiences.
Last, but not least, if you just don’t feel good about it, you can always choose to fly from Bali to Lombok if you’re visiting the Gili islands.
FAQs
Are Bali Ferries Safe?
Bali ferries are generally safe, and many locals and tourists use them every day. Accidents do still happen because of rough seas or safety problems, so it’s good to double-check the weather and keep an eye on a life jacket.
Is It Safe To Go In The Sea In Bali?
Yes, it is generally safe to go to sea in Bali by boat if you use reputable operators and go when sea conditions are calm. Pay attention to the seasons: rainy seasons and storms (November to April) and windy months like July or August are the least suitable for boat trips or swimming.
Is The Boat To Nusa Lembongan Safe?
Yes, if you go with a trusted company that complies with all the safety requirements and hasn’t had any accidents in the past. The ride is under 1 hour, so pick a day with clear skies and small or no waves, and go!
Why Did The Bali Ferry Sink?
A ferry coming from Java to Bali sank in 2025. Survivors claim it was due to strong waves; the official investigation is still ongoing. Indonesia’s Transportation Safety Committee only said that the water came into the engine room through an open
Why Are Australians Being Warned Not To Go To Bali?
The Australian government usually updates their recommendations if something happens with Australian tourists visiting Bali or if there are heavy rains. Volcano activity on other Indonesian islands often interferes with flights, as well.
There was a woman thrown overboard and drowned during a boat trip around Nusa Penida, and recent flooding and heavy rainfall in Bali, so the authorities are trying to warn people to use a bit more caution.
Final Thoughts On Bali’s Boat Safety
Prioritise boat safety and common sense while travelling by boat in Bali to make sure nothing ruins your holiday!
Even if the safety and maintenance standards are not up to date with some of the tour operators, you’re personally responsible for your health and safety, so plan on checking the weather, boat safety, and the route before travelling, and you’ll be totally fine!
