First of all condolences to the bereaved wife who posted below.
I think most frequent visitors know that each week many people drown on Kuta/Legian beach. I am a terrible swimmer because when I grew up in England most of us were. My husband growing up in Melbourne and surfing etc. is a good swimmer and most Aussies are. Over the years we have seen at the back of Padma Harry & Eddy brothers from Sumatra who have deck chairs surfboards etc. pull many many people from the surf literally in the nick of time. (We'ved talked about these two on this forum before. Amazing) Most seem to be from Europe or Japan. I think they are not used to "reading" the conditions and I sure as hell can't either.
So for all those like me, if you are not one hell of a strong swimmer go and swim in the hotel pool or at Sanur Beach or Lovina. Modern Englanders, perhaps things have changed since I was a kid so please don't take offence if you all swim like fish these days.
The other rule of course applies to sea or pool, don't swim alone.
Then there's the hotel pool. Kids drown silently. Brian pulled out a little girl from the hotel pool which was crowded last time we were in Bali. Her parents were in no way being irresponsible but probably, I think, had turned just for a moment to take another spoonful of lunch. The little girl 2 or 3 years old was using her ring and in the baby pool so you'd think you could look away for a second wouldn't you? The ring was a bit big and one arm her shoulder and head had slipped through. Her other arm was stuck above the ring and she couldn't get up. She couldn't call "Mummy". We'd been watching her play because she was such a cutie and Brian just stepped in and pulled her out. If we hadn't been there then I'm pretty sure the people next to us would have got her, if not Hopefully Mum or Dad would have looked up in time. If not?
Please beware of the water.