Impossibles is located very close to the surf camp and was named appropriately as most waves are impossibly fast. It is all about knowing where to sit in the lineup and wave selection. At Uluwatu, if the wave has a short line, then it is best avoided as it will be a short ride. The opposite is true at Impossibles. You are looking for the waves with a short line that taper significantly, as these are the best ones. It is not unusual to take off close to Padang Padang and ride as far as the warungs at Bingin. Many guests at the surf camp come back from a session here and say, “I had the longest ride of my life”. Most waves will close out or be too fast at some point, but the ones that go to Bingin, start off at double-triple overhead and can be ridden to knee-high. It’s a long paddle back, and you only need two great rides to make an epic session. Is two waves a good session? If you question this, then that means you have never experienced the speed and length of a good ride here.
Unlike Uluwatu, there is no current out the back, so instead of constantly paddling, you just need to be patient and wait for the right wave. There are regularly long periods with no waves breaking and then low and behold a 20-wave set rolls in. You will see many magazine cover photos of Impossibles with lines stacked to the horizon and a succession of perfect waves rolling in.
On the biggest days, it can be worthwhile to paddle out in the channel at Padang Padang to save the risk of getting pounded by a set which will sweep you to Bingin. There is no current on the outside but a strong current on the inside and a dangerously sharp reef.
Plenty of water at high tide and zero chance of hitting the reef. Be careful getting in and out of the water at low tide as the reef is finger-shaped with unexpected shallow parts designed perfectly to flay you. Riding the whitewater in on your belly exposes you to the risk that your fins get jammed on the reef, and you go face-first over the board. Because this wave requires a big swell and local knowledge to get those kilometre-long rides, it is best to surf with a local top guide or read our Ultimate Guide to Surfing Impossibles.
