Surf Coach in Bali Use ISL for Special Needs Clients

Bima Sakti is a surfer and instructor who uses international sign language to train his clients who are deaf or unable to speak.

Bima Surf teaching surfers with special needs Credit: Supplied/Bima Surf

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Surf Coach in Bali Use ISL for Special Needs Clients

SBS Indonesian

10:11Indonesian

Bali boasts many beaches renowned among surfers, both domestic and international. Some of the most popular beaches are Batu Bolong Beach, Bingin Beach, Padang-padang Beach, Balangan Beach, and many more.

Indonesian citizen Bima Sakti is a surfer and instructor for those with hearing or speech impairments. He uses international sign language to train his clients.

His career as a surf instructor using international sign language began with an incident six years ago while he was surfing in Seminyak, Bali.

Bima Sakti, surfer instructor in Bali Credit: Bima Surf

"I bumped into another surfer and broke my board. I was furious. It turned out he couldn't hear, so I felt bad," said the 29-year-old from West Sumatra, who has lived in Bali for almost a decade.

Since then, he has been determined to learn International Sign Language, ultimately deciding to become a surfing instructor for deaf and mute clients in 2019.

According to Bima, at the time, there were no surf instructors who could use International Sign Language.

"At that time, I often asked deaf and mute people if they had ever tried surfing, and they said no because no one could teach them using sign language," said Bima, who is known through his Instagram account @bimasurfbali.

Student caching her first wave Credit: Bima Surf

"So my motivation is to give deaf and mute people the opportunity to experience surfing."

Since its inception, Bima Surf School has helped more than 200 deaf and mute clients experience surfing in Bali.

Ade Mardiyati

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