Water Sports

Morocco has 1,835 km of Atlantic coast, from Tangier down to the Western Sahara, a year round temperate climate, and great water conditions giving options for watersport beginners to experts alike.

There are opportunities to get on the water along most of the coast, but places to hire kit or have tuition are limited. Essaouira is the focal point for such facilities, which has excellent conditions for most sports at various times of year.

The warmth of the Atlantic flow gives water temperatures ranging from around 16 deg C in winter (summer suit/ shortie temperature) to 21 deg C in late summer (board short temperature). With strong sunshine virtually all year round, sun protection is a must.

Booking with Naturally Morocco

Naturally Morocco is able to arrange all aspects of your holiday to Morocco, from flights to transfers to accommodation; however, we do not recommend pre-booking kit hire or tuition for water sports. Our experience of water sports in Morocco (as elsewhere in the world) is that favorable conditions cannot be relied on and, as there are several places to hire and arrange tuition in Essaouira, it is best to wait until you can see conditions are suitable for you.

Surfing

Morocco has solid surf in winter, with the Atlantic swell working with the light offshore winds from September to April, and small but often useable surf in the summer months.

Essaouira town beach is good for beginners and near-by Sidi Kuouki beach has more challenging waves; Taghazoute (near Agadir, south of Essaouira) boasts internationally known surf spots; Oualidia (north of Essaouira) also offers surfing opportuinities with kit hire and tuition available; Rabat further north can have good summer surfing but board hire is difficult; the far south (south of Agadir into the desert) offers surf safari possibilities for the adventurous surfer wanting to get away from everything with their own kit.

Windsurfing and Kite Surfing

Sitting between the North African Desert Low pressure and the Azores High pressure systems, Morocco feels a consistent north-easterly trade wind in the summer months, and from Essaouira southwards there are strong sea-land thermals in summer (80% of days are reported to have winds or Force 4 or more in June to August).

Essaouira town beach offers kit hire and tuition and is a great place for beginners when the wind is gentle (wind in peak summer can be strong), and decent waves in places for the more advanced. The wide beach is ideal for kite launching and tuition for novices. Those travelling with their own kit may head further south (south of Agadir into the desert) with a growing reputation on the coast at Dakhla. North of Essaouira is Oualidia, which offers windsurfing opportuinities for those wishing to learn, with kit hire and tuition available.