Bali enjoys a sub-equatorial climate and is hot and wet most of the year. Cold weather is never experienced in Bali and temperatures usually exceed 30 degrees Celsius every day of the year.

There are two seasons in Bali, the Dry Season and the Wet Season. The Dry Season runs from May to September and the Wet Season runs from October through April. In the Wet Season rain can be expected daily and during the peak months of December to February torrential downpours are not uncommon.

In the hills of Bali cooler weather is encountered. Fogs and mists keep the very high Dry Season highs at bay but visitors should still expect very hot weather no matter which part of Bali they are staying in or travelling to. Mornings and evenings in the hills are cooled by breezes but midday temperatures soar.

Closer to the coast very hot weather is encountered and sea breezes are rare. Dipping into the water is one way to cool off while on the beach in Bali. The island of Bali enjoys a very similar climate to the rest of the Indonesian archipelago. Visitors to Bali should take care with their skin and wear sunscreen, hats and protective clothing.

New arrivals need to be especially careful of the weather in Bali since heat and sun related health problems are bound to occur especially for visitors arriving from winter in other parts of the world who will be shocked by the heat and humidity. Prickly heat and sunburn are common ailments.

Sharks | Catfishes | Eels | Skates and Rays | Exotic Fish | Fish to Eat

Though there are no man eating sharks in the waters off Bali, there are plenty of inquisitive reef sharks that will interact with you, but probably never harm you. These include the Blacktip Reef Shark, and its cousin the Whitetip Reef Shark. Plenty of other similar shark species are in the water.

The Spotted Eagle Ray and the Bluespotted Stingray are just some of the species of skates and rays that swim in the waters off Bali. In fact, many swimmers have reported seeing giant manta rays. As always, exercise caution with all wild creatures but look out for the beautiful Bluespotted Ribbontail Ray especially if you have an underwater camera.

Snowflake Moray eels slither around in the waters off Bali as do the timid but pretty Zebra Moray family and the Giant Moray which really does have very sharp teeth. Less dangerous and certainly never aggressive is the Spotted Garden Eel and the Banded Snake Eel. The Many-eyed Snake Eel is just that.

Striped eel catfish share the waters off Bali with other members of the catfish family which includes the Crocodile Longtom, Houndfish, Needlefish and the Soldierfish. The Chinese Trumpetfish is never too far away just like its partner in crime the Cornetfish.

Coral Razorfish and Radial Firefish dive in the corals and weeds and reefs off the shores of Bali along with glorious Tassled Scorpionfish and the ever-hungry Redmouth Grouper and its cousin the Blacktip Grouper. Honeycomb Groupers are rarer and as always, keep a respectful distance from tropical fish and remember that most species are endangered.

Mangrove Red Snapper, Blacktail Snapper, Midnight Snapper and many species of bream mean that most of the fresh fish you eat while in Bali is super fresh, having come from the local waters that very day.