Imsouane Bay surf guide: the wave, the tide and who it suits
What Imsouane Bay actually does with a swell, which tide it needs, and the surfer it suits. Checked against published surf references and our own sessions on 20 September 2026.
Wave type
long mellow bay
Level
Beginner / progression
Best for
Long mellow right when the drive is intentional
Access
Long mellow bay mission · 85 min
Ideal wave height
0.6–2.1 m
Ideal swell period
8–17 s
Offshore wind
65°–150°
Wind to avoid
240°–335°
What kind of wave is Imsouane Bay?
Imsouane Bay is a long point wave peeling into a bay over sand. When it lines up, a ride at Imsouane Bay runs about 600 to 800 metres. Imsouane Bay needs a swell from WNW–N (290°–350°) at 0.6–2.1 m and 8–17 s to switch on. The wind decides as much as the swell: Imsouane Bay holds its shape from the ENE–SSE sector (65°–150°) and goes ragged once it swings onshore. Imsouane's bay holds one of the longest rides in Africa: on the right swell a single wave can carry you several hundred metres from the point to the beach.
What tide does Imsouane Bay work on?
Imsouane Bay works best from low to mid tide. The inside of Imsouane Bay has rock in it, so low water is when the last third of the ride becomes the part to think about. You get into Imsouane Bay off the beach and walk out.
Who should surf Imsouane Bay, and how busy is it?
Imsouane Bay suits beginners and intermediates. Imsouane Bay is one of the most crowded waves on this coast the moment a swell shows, and first light is the difference between fifteen surfers and sixty. At Imsouane Bay the things to watch are scattered rock plates in the sand and the long paddle back after a long ride. If Imsouane Bay is too big, too crowded or simply wrong on the day, Imsouane Cathedral is the nearest useful swap, and a guided session from our own desk puts a local in the water with you rather than sending you out cold.
Spot facts checked against published surf references and our own sessions, 20 September 2026. The live numbers above update continuously.
Imsouane Bay surf forecast — quick questions
Can a beginner surf Imsouane Bay?
Yes. Imsouane Bay breaks over sand and is about as forgiving as this coast gets, which is why first lessons happen here. There is nothing softer nearby to fall back on, so on a big day the honest move is to wait it out or go with an instructor.
How cold is the water at Imsouane Bay, and what wetsuit do I need?
The sea off Imsouane Bay runs about 17–19 °C from December to March and 21–23 °C in late summer. That is the figure for this whole stretch of coast rather than a reading taken at the spot, so plan on a 4/3 mm wetsuit in winter and a 3/2 mm or a springsuit in September. Today's measured sea temperature is in the live board above this guide.
From the forecast to the water
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