Exploring the Ancient Roots of Surfing in Morocco

Hi everyone, I’m Diana from Wave Finder Morocco, and I’d love to share the story of how surfing began and grew along Morocco’s Atlantic coast. It’s a story woven with salt water, sunlight, and curiosity. One where locals and travelers met by the ocean and found a shared language through waves.

Photo by Jarno Colijn - Unsplash

1. The Early Days

Modern surfing arrived in Morocco much later than in Hawaii or California, but once it did, it found the perfect home.The first boards appeared around the early 1960s, when American servicemen stationed near Mehdia Beach, close to Kenitra, started surfing during their time off duty. Those early scenes of soldiers gliding along Atlantic waves marked the quiet beginning of something that would soon transform the Moroccan coast.

A few years later, in the late 1960s and early 1970s, groups of European and American surfers began to explore Morocco’s long Atlantic stretch, searching for new, uncrowded breaks. They followed the same routes as backpackers and artists of the time, drawn by the mystique of North Africa, and by whispers of world-class right-hand waves near a little fishing village called Taghazout.

Back then, Taghazout was a quiet place of stone houses, camels, fishermen, and dusty tracks leading to the sea. When those first surfers paddled out at Anchor Point, Killer Point, or Panoramas, they couldn’t have imagined they were discovering spots that would one day appear in surf films and travel magazines.

Their boards and stories stayed behind, and soon the locals began to take an interest. That spark would grow into the heart of Moroccan surf culture.

Photo by Louis Hansel - Unsplash

2. Why Surfers Fell in Love with Morocco

So, what made those early surfers stay?

First, the waves. Morocco’s Atlantic coast is blessed with long, consistent swells that travel unbroken from the North Atlantic. The coastline around Agadir, Taghazout, and Imsouane offers an incredible variety: from mellow sand-bottom beach breaks to perfectly peeling right-hand point breaks that can run for hundreds of meters. For surfers used to cold waters and crowded lineups, it was paradise.

Then came the climate. Even in winter, the Moroccan sun warms both water and soul. Add to that the dramatic landscapes (red cliffs, arid hills, and the smell of the ocean mixed with spices from the souks) and it was easy to fall under the country’s spell.

But what truly made Morocco unforgettable was its people. The warmth of Berber hospitality, the rhythm of mint tea shared after surf sessions, and the slower, grounded pace of life created a feeling that went far beyond the waves. Travelers arrived chasing surf, but they stayed because of how Morocco made them feel.

And of course, location mattered. Close enough to Europe for easy access, yet different enough to feel like another world, Morocco quickly became the most exotic surf destination just a few hours away from home.

3. How Surf Culture Took Root

As the 1970s and 1980s rolled in, the surf scene started to grow quietly but steadily. Locals began repairing and reshaping boards left behind by visitors, passing them between friends, and experimenting with the sport. Surfing became a shared curiosity between cultures, and before long, young Moroccans were paddling out confidently at their home breaks.

By the 1990s, Taghazout was transforming. What began as a handful of travelers camping by the beach had become a small surf community. Families opened their homes to guests, the first surf camps appeared, and visitors began coming specifically for surf holidays.

Then came the early 2000s and the Plan Azur, a national initiative to promote sustainable coastal tourism. Taghazout Bay was designated as a development area, giving rise to new surf schools, small hotels, and surf businesses that provided opportunities for locals. Surfing became part of the local economy and identity.

During this time, Morocco began to appear in international surf media. Films like The Endless Summer II featured its long, flawless right-handers, and magazines described it as “Europe’s winter escape.” Surf brands organized trips, professional surfers visited, and the word spread.

The movement wasn’t only foreign. Moroccan surfers began to make names for themselves: shaping boards, coaching, competing, and showing the world that this coast had its own surf talent. Names like Ramzi Boukhiam, who would go on to represent Morocco internationally, symbolized that new generation.

4. Surfing in Morocco Today

Today, Morocco stands among the most beloved surf destinations in the world. From Imsouane, famous for its endless rides, to Tamraght and Essaouira, where surf meets art and wind, the coastline offers something for every surfer’s dream.

The culture has evolved, blending surf, yoga, and Moroccan lifestyle into an experience that feels both adventurous and grounding. Many travelers now come not only to surf but to reconnect with nature, slow down, and experience Moroccan hospitality up close.

Surf tourism has also opened new opportunities for coastal communities: surf schools, accommodations, guiding, and local crafts have created livelihoods. Yet the awareness of sustainability is growing too. Communities and surf schools are increasingly focusing on beach cleanups, ocean education, and eco-conscious tourism to protect what makes this coast so special.

The surf scene is alive and thriving, but it remains deeply connected to its roots: a mix of passion, nature and community.

Our surf instructor Hakim

5. A Few Reminders We’d Love to Share

• Respect the local lineup and the flow of the waves.

• Choose surf schools and accommodations that are locally owned and community-focused.

• Keep the beaches clean and help protect the coastline.

• Slow down, embrace the culture, share mint tea, and remember that surfing here is about more than the ride, it’s about connection.

  
  

6. A Wave That Keeps Growing

Every time you paddle out in Morocco, you’re part of this story. From the adventurous travelers of the 60s to the new generation of Moroccan surfers shaping their future, the ocean continues to connect us all.

At Wave Finder Morocco, we’re proud to share these waves, this culture, and this spirit with everyone who joins us. Come surf with us, breathe with us, and feel the energy that started it all.

See you in the water.

— Diana

References

1. History of Surfing in Morocco and Africa – Waverick

2. How Surfing Emerged in Morocco – All Ride Surfer

3. Surfing in Morocco: A Local’s Guide to Our Magical Waves – Bewildered in Morocco

4. Surf in Morocco: Catch the Perfect Wave – Iberostar Inspiration Guide

5. Surfing in Morocco – Wikipedia