Learning to Surf in Morocco: 5 Tips for Beginners

Last Updated on 21st July 2025 by Jessie

Thinking about learning to surf in Morocco? These 5 essential tips for beginners cover everything from choosing the right beach to staying safe and having fun.

If you’re planning on learning to surf in Morocco, the central coast is the place to go. There are plenty of small shorebreaks with a bit of oomph behind them, perfect for beginners. The sun shines most days of the year. And the villages of Taghazout, Tamraght and Imsouane are littered with surf camps and board rental stores, so all you have to do is get yourself there.

You can check into a surf camp for a week or two, and dedicate the long languid days to catching waves. Or if you’re really keen, you can join the annual migration to Morocco for the winter months and properly hone your skills.

But no matter how perfect the conditions are, surfing is still a tricky sport to master. It takes time, patience and a whole lot of humility. The learning curve is steep. Here are my top tips for beginner surfers, to soften your entry. And lessen the chance that you’ll crack a sad after an hour falling in the white wash and write off surfing forever.

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5 Tips for Beginner Surfers

1. Watch and learn

Before you even get into your wetty, you need to spend a good amount of time just observing the surf. You want to get the lay of the sea: watch the waves and get a good understanding of where and how they break.

Observe other surfers to see how they time their movements: when do they paddle, when do they wait, where do they sit in the lineup, which waves do they go for and why?

You’re not going to comprehend all of the logistics of surfing in one sitting. Or even through months of daily surf patrol. But although you might not ‘get it’ logically, by paying attention to the behaviours of competent surfers, your brain begins to retain all the little details, so you can mimic them later.

It means that when you do get into the surf, you’re not going out there blind.

2. Understand surfers’ etiquette

For your benefit and for the benefit of other surfers (which is also your benefit, because it will save you from getting rinsed by the locals when you inevitably snake someone), you want to understand the basic principles of surf etiquette.

The basic surfers code of conduct is as follows:

1. Right of way.

The surfer closest to the peak has the right of way. This means that they have priority over the wave, so if they choose to take it, it’s all theirs.

2. Don’t drop in.

If someone’s already on a wave, don’t start paddling onto it. It’s one of the easiest ways to get hurt or make enemies. If you accidentally catch someone else’s wave, get out of their way as soon as possible.

3. Don’t snake.

This is when someone else is closer to the peak and you paddle around them to steal their position. It’s a slippery move.

4. Paddle wide.

When paddling back towards the lineup, take a wide arc so you’re not in the way of others’ rides. Keep plenty of distance to keep everyone safe.

5. Take turns.

Be generous, share the waves and wait your turn. Surfing has a bad rep as a selfish sport, but if you’re gracious and respect the rotation it can also be one of the easiest ways to form bonds with the local community.

5. Respect.

Give respect to gain respect. As always, be mindful of your surroundings. Show respect to your fellow surfers, to the local community and to the natural environment. Tread lightly, and leave a positive impact wherever you go.

6. Communicate.

If you’re paddling for a wave, let others know your intentions. Clearly let them know whether you’re going to go left or right, so they can move accordingly.

3. Choose the appropriate playing field

When learning to surf, you’ve got to know your limitations. At the beginning, that’s probably going to mean a lot of time spent trying to pop up in the whitewash. And as a grown adult, that can be incredibly humbling. But we all have to start somewhere.

On the plus side, the easier the surf setting, the easier it is to make progress. And that’s super motivating. The small wins you make in the beginning will make it far more likely that you stick with it.

If you go too big too soon and wipe out hard, the fear can set in. You can spook yourself out of getting back in the water.

As you do progress, take baby steps. Move a little further back towards the lineup each time, building confidence as you go. Surfing requires loads of patience.

Check out the full guide to surf spots on Morocco’s central coast to find your perfect break.

And see this month-by-month breakdown of the best times to surf in Morocco.

4. Get surf fit

As a beginner surfer, a lot of the movements are going to feel pretty foreign to your body. Learning the ins and outs of surfing is hard enough without having a body that won’t respond the way you want it to in the surf.

Surfing requires a lot of paddling, and if you’ve got spaghetti arms it’s going to feel like a little like you’re running in a dream (exerting loads of effort and going nowhere.)

Incorporating a little out of water training can go along way. Focus on push-ups and other exercises that build your arm and core strength. Practice yoga to increase your flexibility and joint mobility.

If you’re in the Tamraght area, check out these gyms and yoga studios to enhance your surf practice.

5. Get a lesson

You don’t necessarily have to pay for a lesson with a professional surf instructor; a friend with a little more surfing expertise will do. But your learning journey will be considerably easier if you have someone showing you the ropes.

There are so many important (albeit, simple) things to know. Like where to position yourself on the board; how to paddle effectively; which waves have the most potential; and the best way to pop up.

I suppose you could eventually figure it all out on your own, but a few tips and tweaks from a pal will super speed your progress.

Plus, you want the foundational elements down pat before you progress to bigger waves. It’s better to spend a little extra time nailing the basics, rather than trying to unlearn bad habits later on.

Learning to surf is humbling. It takes time, effort, and getting comfortable with falling. But I think we could all do with a little practice in humility.

Enjoy your time.

More tips:

• Surfing – Moroccan Travel Essentials
• Best Surf Camps Tamraght
• Best Surf Camps Taghazout
• Best Surf Camps Mirleft
• Digital Nomad Hotspots in Morocco

For more Maroc info and a little less of my own opinions, I’ve created a travel wisdom-sharing hub over on Facebook. Join the group here.