There are 3 main types of tides – Low tide, High Tide, Mid tide, and its really important for you to understand which tide is best to surf for your surfing skill level. If you’re a beginner at surfing, then knowing the basics about tides and breaks types will help you understand how surfing works.
Tides not only affect the wave size, shape and consistency, but also impact surf conditions depending on weather, wind, location and type of break. There are many surf spots in Taghazout Bay with beach and point breaks, and also some with reef breaks. You may choose a spot depending on your surf level and the tide that suits your surfing skills.
Different types of tides
- Low Tide
Low tide occurs when the moon is at the farthest distance from a given location, and this causes the water to be at the lowest level. The beach is wider during low tide as the tide exposes more of the sandbar or rocks that are normally not visible during high tide.
Beach breaks are not ideal for surfing during low tides, as the shallow waves closeout more often on sandy bottom making it unpredictable and inconsistent. Reef breaks are better to surf during low tide, as the wave breaks over shallow reef allowing you to catch the wave.
Low tide is a good time to enjoy beach activities like volleyball, football, etc. - High Tide
High tide occurs when the moon is closest in distance causing the strongest gravitational pull for the water level to reach its highest point. The beach is more narrow as the water is closer to the shore exposing less of the sandbar and reef.
If you’re a novice, an hour or so before peak high tide is usually the best time to surf beach breaks, as the waves can be mellow and break gradually over shallow sandbars. Max high tide can be less ideal if the beach slope is steep causing waves to peak quickly and break on-shore. High tide can also make it difficult for beginners to paddle out past the steep breaks. Reef breaks are rarely working during high tide as the water covers the reef completely. - Mid Tide
Mid tide is the time exactly between the low tide and high tide. It is ideal for surfing as the water level is neither too low nor too high.
If you’re a beginner, this can be the best time to surf as the water level, wave consistency and overall surf conditions are high favourable. Beach breaks are neither too strong nor closing out. Intermediate surfers can enjoy reef breaks if the reef is not too shallow.
If you’re a beginner wanting to learn surfing, our Taghazout surf camp has some of the best packages including lessons with qualified and experienced surf instructors who can teach all about the tides and waves. Surfing with us is not just fun but also a great learning experience.
Best tides to surf for beginners
The best tide to surf for beginners is low to mid tide. During this phase, waves break more gently and closer to the shore making surf conditions easier for beginners. Low to mid tide waves also offer longer rides at an easier pace for beginners to enjoy.
On the other hand, high tide waves are faster and more steep thereby making surfing slightly more challenging. Of course, beginners can enjoy these conditions too, if they want to focus on improving their surf skills.
When you surf with us, our instructors and guides give you the best local information about the daily surf conditions in Taghazout Bay.
