Hi guys,
I know aussie people only go to the ocean shores when you come in europe, far away overseas from your sweet australian breaks.

You’re probably going to laugh a bit as well as the whole surfer world has been doing for the last twenty years – I’ve been practicing and addicted to this sport : surfing.

I’m from the Mediterranean French coast, Marseille (200 kms west from Cannes), I can assure you we do have waves and good surf spots… I am a Mediterranean surfer!

Well, believe it or not, my city is surrounded by a multitude of surf spots, turning on as soon as the wind blows from any direction strongly…which happens quite often. The fact the Mediterranean sea is a (semi) closed sea doesn’t give us that many long period swells along the year though.

The main season is autumn, the water is still warm (it never goes under 10°C in the winter time anyway) and the main wind streams are from the South (longest Fetch area we can have here). There are waves from border to border, from Spain to Italy (got waves also in those countries, Sardinia is probably the best Mediterranean surf spot).

I surf from 50 kms North-West from the city to 100 kms East depending on the wind and thus, the waves forecast I can do with all I know from the region and the internet forecast.

Unfortunately, we mainly surf small windy waves but sometimes have the chance to get a South swell, 2 to 4 times a year, that can last for 12 days in a raw and every spot goes insane, we can finally surf our head to overhead waves.

So, think about it when you come to France, there are so many different coasts, there’s not only Hossegor, pine trees, sand dunes and the Eiffel tower. Plenty of surf shops to provide you have some boards… spots are all in the Stormrider guide Europe but the best way to go there is to know somebody who knows…

Good surf guys, hope you’ll give it a try some time.
Dede.

About Dede Nafi

Dede Nafi is a surfer, environmentalist, graffiti artist and a skater from Marseille, France. A lover of dutch funk, James Brown, and the Ocean.