Destinations · Roundup

Where to Go in April: Best Watersports Bases

by Yannick SchrothAug 5, 20267 min read

Surfer riding a massive ocean wave in Bali, capturing the th

Photo: Nick Wehrli via Pexels (free licence).

April flips Indonesia into dry season, which is the single biggest change in the watersports calendar: Bali, the Gilis and Komodo all improve at once, while Morocco and southern Europe start their long wind and surf windows. Every pick below is a base we have a full guide for, and the reason it works in April comes from that guide's own season notes. Seasons shift year to year, so treat these as planning windows and confirm conditions before you book.
This is a summary; the guides hold the verified figures.

How we chose

April is a transition, so a place that was excellent in March may already be closing, and the list reflects that rather than smoothing it over. April is the month the map flips. South-east Asia's dry season begins in Indonesia while the Andaman side winds down, and Europe becomes usable again for the first time since autumn. Every base here is included because its own guide names April as part of its working window, not because the weather is generally nice, and where a place is marginal we say so rather than padding the list to a round number.

8°50′S 115°05′E · Surf

Uluwatu, Bali

The dry season, roughly April to October, is the surf machine: southeast trades groom the reef breaks from dawn.

Dry season startsRead the guide → 8°20′S 115°41′E · Diving

Amed, Bali

Diveable year-round, but the drier season roughly April to November brings calmer water and better visibility.

Calmer, clearerRead the guide → 8°21′S 116°03′E · Diving

Gili Islands

The drier season runs roughly April to October, generally the best for diving visibility and island living.

Best visibilityRead the guide → 8°29′S 119°53′E · Diving

Labuan Bajo (Komodo)

April to November is the sweet spot: calmer seas, best visibility and access to the full range of Komodo sites.

Sweet spot opensRead the guide → 5°54′N 102°43′E · Diving

Perhentian Islands

Diving runs roughly April to October here, with warm water and mostly gentle sites.

In seasonRead the guide → 23°43′N 15°57′W · Kitesurfing

Dakhla

The strongest, most reliable wind season is generally April to September.

Strongest windRead the guide → 37°06′N 8°40′W · Surf & coasteering

Lagos, Algarve

The sweet spot for a nomad stay is roughly April to October, before the July and August crush.

Season opensRead the guide → 4°27′S 81°17′W · Surf

Lobitos

Peak season is April to October, when southwest groundswells wrap into the points as long, barrelling lefts.

Peak swellRead the guide →

Also good in April

Nusa Penida and Canggu, both entering the April to October dry season.
Marsa Alam, still inside its October to May dive window.
Puerto Escondido, as the April to October south-swell season begins.

FAQ

Is April a good time for Bali?

Yes. Bali's dry season runs roughly April to October and it changes everything: offshore mornings and clean surf at Uluwatu and Canggu, calmer water and better visibility for diving at Amed, the Gilis and Nusa Penida. It is also the busier, pricier half of the year.

Where is the wind best in April?

Dakhla, where the strongest and most reliable season generally runs April to September on a huge flat lagoon. El Gouna's strong wind window also opens around March and runs to November.

Sources

Every entry above is drawn from our own destination guide for that place, and the claims here are the ones those guides already verify: Uluwatu, Bali, Amed, Bali, Gili Islands, Labuan Bajo (Komodo), Perhentian Islands, Dakhla, Lagos, the Algarve, Lobitos.

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