Taghazout & Water Quality

[Oldie]

Hi,

In a few weeks i have on short notice a business trip to Marrakech, and ponder etxending to the weekend (2 days) to surf. However, in the Tripadvisor Forum I read a lot of issues with water quality due to sewage being sent directly to the main beach, and it was confirmed as a past issue here. Apparently there is work going on, but reports on the latter website (no sickness since May) and recent TA messages have been contradicting.

Does anyone have recent experience?

An option could be Imsouane - that looks like a nice wave, too.

[jaffa1949]

My son and I are looking at Imsouane too, digging with a few people that have inside information, will share that which is not secret!
Other world places can have sewerage issues , Bali is getting more and more due to over hotel building and cheap practices!
Will let you know

[Oldie]

I booked now in Imsouane for surfing and will just visit Tagazhout on my way to Agadir. Lets see how it goes.

[Oldie]

Imsouane it was. After a very long cartrip from Marrakech (Imsouane is a very remote spot), I arrived late afternoon at my destination and had only little time left, and it was High Tide. This means that the more popular entry into the most famous spot known as "The Bay" was too dangerous, and you have to scramble among rocks quite a bit before you get further south of the bay, which is at the lower part of the picture.

The next morning I went out in The Bay around low tide - a completely different spot, and a longboarders dream. Long peeling waves that allowed easy etry and long rides. That was perfect. Not so perfect is the entry, you need to climb down steep rocks, and actually walk through sewage that flows down freely over those rocks. And Jelly Fish everywhere - I had 5 very hurtful encounters. Many surfers wore gloves and booties for protection. But apparently the Morrocon Jellyfish are not dangerous.

In a camp in Tamraght I heard that the Water Quality Issues still exist in Taghazout, and people continously get sick even now. The problem is both Sea water and Inhouse water, which you should not drink anywhere in the country. Added to this, there is massive building work going on - really massive - hotels, appartements, roads, everything. Big concern in the community that infrastructure and environment cannot handle it. Surfing seems safe at Anchor Point, and then again in Tamraght. Anything in between should be avoided, especially Panorama as it is so close to the town. Even on the seafront in the town, you can smell sewage. It is such a pity

For a surfing only trip, I would prefer Imsouane, and bring gloves and booties, a lot of bottled water and some medicine - infrastructure is extremely limited there, and Agadir 3h away. If you plan to cook for yourself, buy the goods in Agadir already. But you can get fresh fish directly of the fishermans boats in Imsouane.

My first time in Marocco - people where extremely nice, food very good, weather is super. Marrakech was super interesting, too.

[dtc]

Was it busy tourist wise (I assume that tourism is the main industry?) Is the access infrastructure (road I guess) being upgraded to bring people in to fill all the new buildings?

[Oldie]

Overall, it was not so full, but high Season just starts. The spot in Imsouane was quite busy though. Roads are very good between Agadir and Taghazout, and there is a very good highway between Marrakech and Agadir. They are expanding the N1 north of Thagazout. The kings wants to sibstantially grow tourism on this part if the coast.

[jaffa1949]

Nice report, Oldie.
It seems the gravy train of surf tourism and hastily developed infrastructure is happening here too!.
Hmmm!
Nice surf though!

[Lebowski]

I've been to Imsouane over Xmas/New year and even though it was barely surfable (small), it was absolutely packed down the point. It's a shame as it's a beautiful place.

[Oldie]

Indeed, it was quite busy!

And to complete the story - on my way home i got sick, too..

[jaffa1949]

Wow that’s a heads up for me to take my full health pack after beating the big C, I need to be aware of exotic gastro bugs!

But Outer Indo can = Marokko perhaps!

[Oldie]

Fuerte might be a good alternative for Winter.

[TeeBee89]

My son and I are looking at Imsouane too, digging with a few people that have inside information, will share that which is not secret!
Other world places can have sewerage issues , Bali is getting more and more due to over hotel building and cheap practices!
Will let you know

Man, this: "Other world places can have sewerage issues , Bali is getting more and more due to over hotel building and cheap practices!"

It can be jarring hearing those stories from the not-so-distant past about sewage (or lack thereof) issues there, only to witness current practices and wonder despite all that 'development' why it seems to be regressing.
Great thread, confirms much of what I was reading, hearing, as well as issues not wanting to repeat health wise.