Massawa
Massawa represents the absolute frontier of Red Sea surfing—an ancient port city in Eritrea where winter monsoon winds occasionally generate short-period swells along the African coast. The waves are small and inconsistent, but the setting is extraordinary: Italian colonial architecture, coral reefs, and the sense of surfing somewhere completely off the radar. Access is challenging due to Eritrea's isolation, but for adventurous travelers who find themselves in this historic port, the Red Sea occasionally provides unexpected waves.
Massawa surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
Today's ConditionsToday's Conditions
Find FlightsLocation & Conditions
Hourly Forecast, Tide & Strike Windows
Tide times today
Strike Score Breakdown
Plan Your Strike
Return flights to ASM, departing today with a 5-day trip window.
Search Flights on SkyscannerLocation & Conditions
Know when Africa is about to fire
Get the best strike windows in Africa — and worldwide — in your inbox every Monday & Thursday. Live Strike Scores, the swell behind them, zero fluff.
Get the full Massawa trip window
Pro unlocks the 10-day forecast window, unlimited alerts, and custom spot tracking that help turn a good-looking surf report into a better travel decision.
10-day window
See the trip window before flights get expensive.
Unlimited alerts
Let the app watch your score threshold for you.
Custom spots
Track the breaks that actually matter to your travel plans.
Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- NE (50°)
- Direction range
- 20° - 80°
- Size range
- 0.5m - 1.5m
- Ideal size
- 1m - 1.3m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 8s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- W (270°)
- Offshore range
- 230° - 310°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- all
- Optimal range
- 0.2m - 1m
Water temp
26°C
Wetsuit
Boardshorts / Rashguard
Difficulty
3/10
Crowd level
1/10
Access: 2hr drive from Asmara. Historic port city.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is Massawa?
Massawa is a beach break in Northern Red Sea, Eritrea, with peaks that run both left and right.
What swell works best at Massawa?
Massawa picks up swell from the NNE round to the E, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the NE. It starts working at around 0.5m and handles up to about 1.5m, with the sweet spot around 1 to 1.3m. Period matters too: aim for 8s or longer, as anything under 6s tends to be weak. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
What wind is offshore at Massawa?
A W wind is dead offshore at Massawa, and anything from the SW round to the NW keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 5am to 10am. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
What tide is best at Massawa?
Massawa has a preferred tide range, roughly 0.2m to 1m on the local chart.
When is the best time of year to surf Massawa?
The most reliable run of swell at Massawa comes Nov to Feb. There's a second window in Mar and Oct too. NE monsoon creates short-period wind swells in Red Sea.
How cold is the water at Massawa?
The water at Massawa averages around 26°C, so boardshorts or a rashguard will do. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
Is Massawa good for beginners?
Yes, it's one of the friendlier waves around, rated 3/10 for difficulty. The lineup is usually quiet (crowd 1/10). Very remote. Limited infrastructure. Coral reefs.
How do I get to Massawa?
The nearest airport on our list is ASM, then it's roughly a 2-hour drive. 2hr drive from Asmara. Historic port city.
Best Season
Peak: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb
Secondary: Oct, Mar
NE monsoon creates short-period wind swells in Red Sea.