Tamarin Bay, a hidden treasure of a cove.

Magic Seaweed is the oldest and most popular free online long-range surf forecast. They filled us in on the rich history of surfing in Mauritius:

“Mauritius has gained an exotic image in the heart of surfers thanks to 1974’s Forgotten Island of Santosha. The film focused largely on Tamarin Bay, a perfect wave that became a symbol of escapism. The spot had been surfed since the early 1960s, but the epic 8-10ft swell featured in the film captured the attention of the surfing world.”

Locals to Mauritius have been surfing for a very long time, but this did lead to a reputation for localism. During the 1980s and 1990s, white Mauritians controlled the wave at Tamarin. Now, however, the waters of Mauritius are open to all, as locals and visitors alike enjoy the incredible swells side-by-side.

As much as Mauritius is a beautiful destination for those looking for the luxury holiday of their dreams, it is clear that the island also holds itself as one of the top must-see surfing destinations the world has to offer.

Mauritius has a few excellent waves on it, with the jewel in the crown being Tamarin Bay (my favourite spot). But it comes with two problems – it is very inconsistent and doesn’t break for months at a time, and when it does break, it gets crowded and the local crew rule the lineup with unbridled aggression, sending all visitors in.

One Eyes is another great wave and more consistent that Tamarin, but the locals can also be a presence here. It is best to surf most of the spots during the week, and give it a bit of a wide berth on the weekend when the locals gather.Further down the same One Eyes reef is another reef pass called Passe de L‘Ambulante and it is an excellent wave that is usually empty.

Further south there is a wealth of exciting options, but the prevailing wind is southeast and blows the whole coastline out for the majority of the year.

This wind is great for kite-boarding or downwind paddling, but not perfect for surfers. Get lucky with a northerly wind and you’ll be amazed at how many proper waves exist in the south and suddenly appear in the offshore.

Some are close to shore; others are out beyond the fringing reef. One of them is an incredible A-Frame barrel hidden in plain sight, one of the best waves on the island, and it is nearly always empty. If you find it, you will have to puzzle a way to get out there.

Clue: hire a boat from the tiny beach hidden behind the big rocky outcrop, and make sure you negotiate a pick-up, otherwise you’ll be stuck outside of a very far reef with no way back except for paddling into a giant river mouth 2 km’s west of the spot.

There are waves in the north as well, along the western seaboard. They need quite a bit of swell to get in there, but there is one very good and long left-hand reef as well as two right-handers, in close vicinity to each other, with one getting quite big at times but staying epic as it gets bigger.

The surf aspect of a trip to Mauritius definitely needs a bit of a zen approach. You might get waves, but you have a very good chance of getting skunked.You might get great waves, but you have a good chance of getting chased out the water by bristling locals, you might get howling trades for the whole time, you might score perfect waves in the south, or you might end up chilling by a resort pool, listening to a man playing a banjo while you sip on cocktails, which isn’t that bad at all.

The beach of Tamarin Bay is just past the village of Black River, on the west coast of Mauritius. Tamarin Beach offers one of the best spots of Mauritius for surfing and bodyboarding, genuine and authentic this mythical place is unavoidable for surfing since the 70s first introduced by the Australians who were living on the west coast of the island at the time.

Surf breaks attracts the desires of many local surfers but is jealously guarded by surfers from the west, the right to surf this spot is a privilege even among the locals.

Tamarin Bay is a very authentic beach, local families like to come and enjoy the beach for a relaxing break or for a walk on the beach even during the week. The beach may be crowded on weekends and holidays.

Swimming is not recommended especially for children and inexperienced swimmers because there of unpredictable currents and big waves that break on the shore.

The now-popular Tamarin Bay lies on the south-west coast of Mauritius, but until the 1960s it was relatively unknown. Surfed only by locals and the most hard core Australian surfers, Tamarin Bay was a hidden treasure of a cove.

Tamarin Bay is certainly a spot for more experienced surfers, but there is a local surf school for children or first-timers that are keen to learn surfing during their holiday to Mauritius

Unlike the northern side of the island, this area of Mauritius has not seen the same level of development that you would expect of a tourist destination. Instead Tamarin Bay has maintained the authentic and unique vibe that makes it perfectly suited to a surfing community.

The climate of Mauritius makes it an alluring destination for those searching for sunshine without the risk of extreme weather. Unlike other countries that experience the monsoon season, Mauritius does not experience heavy periods of rain. Instead, the rain is spread over the course of the year, with moderate rainfall occurring during the evenings. Further still, there is a very low risk of cyclones in Mauritius, despite having one of the highest temperature averages in the world. Fortunately for anyone following our guide to surfing in Mauritius, the east coast does tend to be a drier area than the west.

South-westerly swells can occur all year round, but during the Southern Hemisphere’s winter period they become more frequent and can vary in size from 2-10ft.

The summer season in Mauritius can be characterised by north-easterly tropical storms, but they are much less common than in other similar Southern Hemisphere countries. You can experience waves of 4ft on average during the summer period, but for the most significant tides you should head to the shallow spots.