Many people come to Bali looking to get some great photographs and video footage for their memories and often for their social media too.
But is it OK to take your GoPro or Drone to a beach club in Bali and if so, what do you need to know before you do?
Our guide will help you decide what photography equipment to take to a beach club and help you use it without causing any trouble for yourself in the process.
Rule Of Thumb: Smartphones ONLY In Most Beach Clubs
Unfortunately, the majority of beach clubs here in Bali have a blanket ban on bringing any kind of camera equipment into their venues.
The only exception is that you can take a smartphone camera inside with you and while you are welcome to use your phone to make photos and videos, you may not enhance it with selfie sticks, gimbals, etc.
You must also ensure that you don’t interfere with any other guest’s enjoyment of the beach club while you take pictures/videos.
We’d recommend that you read the terms and conditions of the venue that you’re visiting ahead of time and find out what their policy is.
Most of the big name beach clubs like FINNS, Atlas, Cafe Del Mar, etc. have a ban on photography equipment. Update: FINNS has relaxed its policies and you may now take an action camera inside the venue.
(We’ve got a full guide to photography in Bali’s beach clubs for more info on this).
However, some of the lesser known spots do permit photography under certain conditions.
Is It Legal To Take Photos In Bali’s Beach Clubs?
Yes, while beach clubs are private property and they are free to set their own terms and conditions on what camera equipment you can bring into the venue – you are allowed to take photos with any equipment that they allow into the venue and there are no restrictions on this.
A beach club is a “public place” and people have no expectation of privacy under the law here in Indonesia in a public place.
This is very similar to the law in most countries in the world and it means that you can take photos freely without asking permission.
However, it’s only respectful to ask if you want to make someone else the subject of your images. It’s entirely possible that failing to do so could result in a scene and even with you being asked to leave the beach club if it’s felt that you are causing problems when taking photos.
We would also note that defamation laws in Southeast Asia are complex and it’s best never to publish any photograph that makes another person look bad. This is the case even if you are depicting a true event.
Truth is not an absolute defense against defamation here, unlike in most Western countries and you really don’t want to ruin your holiday by being trapped in a civil suit in Indonesia as you won’t be allowed to leave the country until it’s resolved.
Is It Possible To Take A Go-Pro Or A Drone Into A Beach Club With A Ban?
Most beach clubs carry out security checks on the door, and if you are found to have any forbidden photography equipment on you – you will be asked to leave it with security.
While the majority of security forces here in Bali are honest and your equipment is likely to be kept safely and securely, it’s worth noting that if it’s lost or damaged in a beach club’s care, they won’t accept any liability for your gear.
If you do manage to sneak any equipment past security and you are caught using it inside a venue, you may well be expelled from that venue immediately, be asked to delete any footage you have already made and you may also end up forfeiting any deposit against a minimum spend that you’ve made.
In short, don’t sneak cameras into beach clubs.
Yes, It Is Possible To Use Drones/Action Cameras In Beach Clubs
However, yes, it is possible to take a Go-Pro or Drone into a beach club. The way to get your gear in without causing any problems is simply to ask the venue.
If you ask nicely and have a reasonable social media following, the venue may allow you to bring your kit in and use it under the supervision of their marketing team or security.
They may attach restrictions on how the footage is used, etc. which you will have to agree to in writing before you enter the venue.
We would note that it’s a good idea to adhere to any agreements that you may make with a beach club in Indonesia as not doing so could result in legal action.
About Using Drones In Bali’s Beach Clubs
Until fairly recently, using a drone in Bali was legal for everyone. However, late last year, the regulatory environment changed dramatically.
Now, you need a license for any drone that weighs more than 250g and licenses are only granted to Indonesian nationals.
That means for all intents and purposes, apart from very small drones like the DJI Neo, using a drone in Bali as a foreigner is a criminal offense.
Unfortunately, the new rules have not been clearly published and it is difficult to understand what the penalties are for infringing them.
That means, we’d recommend that you don’t fly a drone unless it’s under that 250g limit (and that includes the weight of the batteries).
Basic Rules For Flying Drones In Bali’s Beach Clubs
If you meet the weight requirements or have decided to risk it anyway, you also need to ensure that you meet the legal requirements for drone operators in Bali when filming at a beach club.
Namely:
- You must be, at least, 18 years of age
- Your flight must be under 150 meters/500 feet from the ground
- You must keep the drone, at least, 30 meters away from any people or vehicles
- Your drone must not fly within 500 meters of any “forbidden area” such as a military installation
- You may not fly a drone within 15 kilometers of an airport (this effectively rules out the use of drones in Kuta, Canggu, Seminyak, Jimbaran, Uluwatu and Nusa Dua)
- You may not use more than one drone at a time
- You must not be under the influence of drugs or alcohol while flying your drone
- The drone must not fly faster than 161 kilometers per hour
- You must be operating the drone from a fixed point (that means you must be stood on land – not in a moving boat, car, plane, etc.)
- You must not fly the drone at night
- Your drone must be within your sight at all times, if you use an FPV drone, that means you will need a copilot
And while it’s not a legal requirement, don’t fly a drone over a temple in Bali – if you don’t have permission from the temple’s priests to do so, you can get into a lot of trouble.
And recently, officials in Bali have warned people to seek permission before flying a drone anywhere on the island. It’s going to make things much harder for casual drone users going forward.
Any drone operations that will infringe any of these rules require an additional license! However, as they won’t give foreign nationals a drone license at all, for now, you’re not likely to get these additional licenses either.
If You Use A Drone – Make Sure You’re Insured
We have to stress that insurance is not optional if you choose to fly a drone at a beach club, even if the beach club has invited you to do so.
If your drone is lost or damaged, the beach club will have no liability for your equipment. If your drone damages anything or anyone else – you will be liable for that.
Without insurance, you could end up footing a huge bill for damages.
Other Things To Know About Using A Drone At Bali’s Beach Clubs
There aren’t a lot more things to know but you might want to:
- Keep your batteries carefully – lithium batteries can explode in the sun very easily, keep them out of the sun, in the shade and never leave them in a parked car.
- Think about using a screen hood – it will make it easy for you to see the screen in bright sunlight
- Think about bringing ND-filters – if you want to shoot in Bali’s daylight hours, sunlight here is very bright, ND-filters are like shades for your drone’s lenses and can ensure you get the right exposure
- Do a full visual check of the sky before you fly – don’t just look for drones or aircraft also keep an eye out for kites, which are super popular in Bali
- Bring a landing pad – it’s better to keep drones out of the soil and away from anything that can get damaged in a beach club, having a landing pad will keep your drone safe
- Always run a pre-flight check – make sure your drone and any parts are in good working condition and replace anything that needs replacing, check the settings (particularly any return to base/home settings) and recheck them if you have done a firmware update as part of setting up your drone
We would note that it’s very possible that if you are allowed by a beach club to use your drone that they ask you to arrive before their other guests so that you shoot in safe conditions with fewer people in the venue than usual.
Action Camera Usage In Bali’s Beach Clubs
As long as you have permission from the venue to use the camera and it’s used openly (not hidden or disguised) then you should have no real issues using action cameras here on the island.
They are entirely legal to purchase and use in Indonesia and there are no particular conditions at a beach club that will make using one difficult.
We would recommend that if you have waterproof housing that you use it as there is a very real risk of an action camera getting wet at a beach club.
Final Thoughts On Can I Use My GoPro or Drone at Bali Beach Clubs?
Most beach clubs will not allow you to take photographic or videographic equipment into their venue without written permission in advance of visiting.
Please don’t turn up on the day seeking permission, you almost certainly won’t get it unless you are Kim Kardashian (and you’re not because if you were, you wouldn’t be reading this).
You need to agree terms before you arrive and the venue needs to notify the appropriate people to help you bring your equipment and ensure you use it without disturbing their other guests.
However, if you are allowed to bring your drone and/or GoPro inside, we hope that the tips above will help you get the most out of your day at Bali beach club.
