Morocco : The Surf!

With a non-stop source of Atlantic swell - and a constantly changing shoreline of points, reefs and beach breaks - you're never far from the wave that's right for you. Whether you're looking for reeling ten foot points, endless mellow six foot walls or the perfect wave to learn on, Morocco has it all, add in some near perfect weather conditions (300 days sunshine a year, average temperature Nov-Feb of 70°F (21°C), water temperature 65°F (18°C) and you've got a recipe for the ideal surf trip.

There are many surf options in the area, from the Northern most spot of the region called Immesouane, where mellow rights have protection from the afternoon wind to Tamri, a rivermouth/beachbreak that picks up even the smallest swell. This region even has spots like Boilers that are very challenging and dangerous, sucking off a submerged ship boiler and then barrels ever so close to the urchin incrusted rocks. The variety of surf in this area of Morocco is huge. There are not many places like it. The region has something for everyone, from ideal beginner waves to challenging reef ledges.

Intermediates and those new to the sport should not be put off or worried. Due to the nature of the coastline there is almost always somewhere sheltered and manageable. Hash point and Panoramas are great waves for those not looking for anything too challenging and they are right on our doorstep, to name just two. World class Anchor point for the experienced surfers is an 8 minute walk or a very quick drive in one of our jeeps.

Morocco’s coast has the most direct swell exposure to NW swells in the North Atlantic, season is late September to early April (peak Dec-Feb). This can make for an overabundance of swell at any other region but with the lined up points and sheltered spots, even the largest swells of winter can be well groomed in the area. As far as wind and tide go, the normal winter wind is Northeast, blowing offshore to moderately cross-shore. In mid to late April, the NW “Chergui” winds blowout most spots until September. Bad wind and lack of swell make these the worst months for Morocco. Tide can be an issue at the points with low to medium being the preferred tides for the area. The tides vary from 2-6 feet making them not extreme, but definitely mushing out the waves when the dead of high tides come.

Surf Forecasting

North Atlantic Swell is very consistent during the fall and winter seasons, with the bigger swells cyclical. 1-2 active weeks may sometimes be followed by 1-2 less active weeks, and vice versa. Buoy Weather provides an excellent surf and wind forecast for the region, available at this link: North Atlantic Swell

A North Atlantic 5-7 day swell model is also available at one of these links:

NAVY/FNMOC MODEL:

NOAA WAVEWATCH 3 MODEL: Significant Wave Heights: 7 day model