About Essaouira Surf Lessons
Local IKO- and ISA-certified instructors sharing fifteen years of Atlantic expertise — surf, kitesurf, and wingfoil on the beach where we grew up.
Meet Our Expert Instructors
Our coaching team lives in Essaouira year-round. Every instructor holds international certifications, speaks multiple languages, and teaches with the patience that comes from thousands of sessions in this bay.
El Mehdi
Founder & Head Surf Instructor | IKO Level 3 · ISA Certified
18+ years experience
Arabic · French · English · Spanish
Born and raised in Essaouira, El Mehdi grew up on these Atlantic peaks before coaching became his profession. He believes every surfer learns faster when feedback is calm, specific, and tied to real wave conditions in the bay. His sessions balance safety, stoke, and measurable progression.
Salman
Lead Kitesurf Instructor | IKO Level 2 Certified
14+ years experience
Arabic · French · English
Salman discovered kitesurfing when the Alizés transformed Essaouira into a global wind destination. He specialises in structured IKO progression — kite control first, board later — and guides intermediate riders on downwind trips toward Sidi Kaouki with clear safety protocols.
Sam
Kitesurf & Surf Coach | IKO Instructor
9+ years experience
Spanish · French · English · Arabic
Sam joined the team after competing in European surf events and transitioning into wingfoil on Essaouira's flat-water mornings, with a focus on body position, wing handling, and confidence building for students who want to combine surf holidays with foiling skills.
Our Certifications & Standards
IKO — International Kiteboarding Organization
IKOAs an IKO-affiliated training centre, our kitesurf and wingfoil pathways follow globally recognised skill standards. Students receive structured levels, safety modules, and an IKO card when competencies are met — accepted at partner schools worldwide for rental and advanced coaching.
ISA — International Surfing Association
ISASurf instruction aligns with ISA teaching principles: ocean awareness, equipment fit, paddle technique, and etiquette in shared peaks. Our head coaches maintain ISA-aligned certification so beginners and intermediates learn on a proven progression framework.
Safety protocols
Pre-session briefings cover wind, tide, and hazard zones. Teaching areas are marked in the bay; radio helmets are used for kite lessons; rescue cover and depower drills are standard. We do not run lessons in unsafe wind or swell combinations.
Insurance coverage
Essaouira Surf Lessons carries professional liability insurance for supervised lessons and school operations. We recommend personal travel insurance that includes watersports for rentals and downwind trips.
Our Track Record
500+
Students Trained
More than five hundred students have completed surf, kitesurf, or wingfoil programmes with us — from first-time holiday riders to returning guests who book advanced coaching each season.
15+
Years Experience
Since 2009 we have refined our methods on the same coastline, adapting to new equipment, IKO updates, and the growth of Essaouira as a world wind destination while keeping small-group teaching at the core.
Languages we teach in
Arabic · French · English · Spanish
Our Story Since 2009
What began as friends teaching on Essaouira beach became a full watersports school — without losing the local character that makes lessons here different from factory resorts.
Founded on Essaouira beach
El Mehdi and early partners launch surf lessons from the main bay, focusing on safe beginner sessions for travellers discovering Morocco's coast.
IKO training centre status
Formal IKO affiliation brings standardised kitesurf levels and international recognition for students who want a portable certification.
Kitesurf programme expansion
Duotone and North Kiteboarding partnerships upgrade the fleet; downwind routes to Sidi Kaouki become signature experiences for intermediate riders.
Wingfoil coaching added
Wingfoil lessons join surf and kite — morning flat water in the bay proves ideal for foil progression alongside Atlantic swell days.
500+ students milestone
Multilingual team expansion and beachfront base improvements — compressors, rinsing stations, and dedicated storage for returning guests.
Our Mission
We believe that the ocean has the power to transform. Our mission is to provide high-quality, accessible instruction in surfing, kitesurfing, and wingfoiling, ensuring every student leaves with more than just a new skill—they leave with a connection to the sea.