'No wetsuit needed'-surfing trip (for beginners)

[AnSmets]

Hi!

In need for some help from experts... I'm a reporter, working on a story about people who made surfing their second passion. We're planning on taking a few of them on a trip, for a story about hobby-surfing in a magazine. I'm looking for a suitable place to travel to, but it's important that:
- beginners will survive and will be able to surf on those waves. Some people will be on moderate level, some will be more or less beginners... (but not first-timers).
- the place is not too crowded, but also not too remote
- surroundings/beaches/water are nice for the eye (since we are planning on filming/doing some photoshoots over there...)
- very important: no wetsuit needed!!!, tropical conditions.

Can anyone recommend some places, and important: the appropriate time of the year for surfing in these places?
Good to know, but not necessarily an issue: we're based in Western-Europe (Germany-Netherlands).

Thank you in advance!

Best regards,
A.

[jaffa1949]

Ansmets, a real challenge. Hobby surfers, second passion surfers! Judging a moderate level surfer is difficult.
The whole tropical belt of the world can give you white sand palm trees.
For a travel article feature the Indian Ocean presents surf mainly in the April to October. Sri Lanka presents the mellowest and safest set that could fit your criteria.

Several cautions you need to have experienced lifeguards ( surf experienced) with you a location manager who can read surf conditions.
There are no resident lifeguards and much of the population cannot swim.
Strong swimmers are still at risk if they do not understand surf conditions. The Belgian Nederland German coast do not give surf conditions of tropical island surf.
The cliche destination is Bali but I would suggest Lombok the next island could be a better destination, but here the surf risk is higher.

The Indian Ocean Islands too may have morality laws that could prejudice photo shoots of women in bikinis etc. often bathing suits are only allowed within resort beach confines.

Northern New South Wales or parts of Queensland you can get beaches that would fit your criteria, but it would be nmuch more expensive.
Northern New Zealand too has much to offer.

A few more specific might help us help you
Cheers Jaffa.

[AnSmets]

Thanks Jaffa!
So: if I understand this right, Sri Lanka would me great but lifeguards and a location manager who can read surf conditions could be problematic, as well as bikini's . Good to know.

You're not the first to recommend Sri Lanka, but you're the first to point out some of these issues so that is very helpful.
Indeed: i'ts a real challenge. And yes, judging a moderate level surfer is difficult, so I think we really need a good surfing school with liable instructors/location managers in the area. Is Sri Lanka unexperienced/underexperienced, in that matter?

We have heard of some other possibilities: what are your thoughts on Morocco (although not as 'tropical' of course...), Barbados and Costa Rica?

Thank you!

[jaffa1949]

Morocco is a favourite for an Austrian fashion photographer I know, but she favors the desert look.

Sri Lanka is is easier in surf than most of the other Indian Ocean destinations but lacks secure surf safety knowledge.
I suspect Morocco does too.

The Caribbean islands and Costa Rica may employ resort lifeguards trained in the US during their tourist season but I am not fully aware of that.
You might be able to gain some discount for product placement ( or credits from a featured hotel etc.)

April,to October is the dry season in Indonesia and the surf season, but high level water safety needed for beginners do your crew.

Would you be considering water shots ? Another level of safety there.

Do not think of Reunion, Seychelles or Mauritius shark risk is high to very high!

Costa Rica may be a fair option now .
Keep asking more advice will come

[dtc]

Just to add to jaffa - some of the places (eg Sri Lanka) do not have surf all that close to an international airport (unless you have money for a charter flight). Costa Rica I think is a bit better but still requires a drive, Lombok an internal flight and drive etc. the 'western' countries such as Australia (and probably should not forget Hawaii) offer better transport infrastructure and airports closer to the surf.

This may or may not be an issue - even in Sri Lanka it's 'only' 9-10hrs to its best spots (ie not days but still a fair amount of time).

[dtc]

Was just thinking because of another post - Hainan Island or Okinawa are options (depending on the season).

[icetime]

Morocco is a favourite for an Austrian fashion photographer I know, but she favors the desert look.

Sri Lanka is is easier in surf than most of the other Indian Ocean destinations but lacks secure surf safety knowledge.
I suspect Morocco does too.

The Caribbean islands and Costa Rica may employ resort lifeguards trained in the US during their tourist season but I am not fully aware of that.
You might be able to gain some discount for product placement ( or credits from a featured hotel etc.)

April,to October is the dry season in Indonesia and the surf season, but high level water safety needed for beginners do your crew.

Would you be considering water shots ? Another level of safety there.

Do not think of Reunion, Seychelles or Mauritius shark risk is high to very high!

Costa Rica may be a fair option now .
Keep asking more advice will come

It's winter here in morocco you can't surf without a wetsuit water is like 18c currently.
By the way I'd suggest puerto rico as your next beginner surf trip, it's tropical, it's beautiful, very wild so no annoying buildings in your shots, and there are a lot of surf camps to get you started out.

[icetime]

Morocco is a favourite for an Austrian fashion photographer I know, but she favors the desert look.

Sri Lanka is is easier in surf than most of the other Indian Ocean destinations but lacks secure surf safety knowledge.
I suspect Morocco does too.

The Caribbean islands and Costa Rica may employ resort lifeguards trained in the US during their tourist season but I am not fully aware of that.
You might be able to gain some discount for product placement ( or credits from a featured hotel etc.)

April,to October is the dry season in Indonesia and the surf season, but high level water safety needed for beginners do your crew.

Would you be considering water shots ? Another level of safety there.

Do not think of Reunion, Seychelles or Mauritius shark risk is high to very high!

Costa Rica may be a fair option now .
Keep asking more advice will come

It's winter here in morocco you can't surf without a wetsuit water is like 18c currently.
By the way I'd suggest puerto rico as your next beginner surf trip, it's tropical, it's beautiful, very wild so no annoying buildings in your shots, and there are a lot of surf camps to get you started out.

I meant to say costa rica I don't know why I wrote puerto rico

[oldmansurfer]

Costa RIca? Isn't that where they have saltwater crocodiles?

[Big H]

Yes....in Puerto Rico all the crocs are nightclub based.

[SwellCabarete]

North coast of the Dominican Republic might be a suitable spot. It's definitely beginner friendly and plenty of pretty beaches and bays.

I am biased since we have a surf camp there.

Contact me via our website if you need more info.
https://www.swellsurfcamp.com

[AnSmets]

Thank you very much for your advice! Oh my, this is a tough one...

I think my list has shrinked to two or three destinations:

- Costa Rica
- Sri Lanka
- I'm hearing Barbados: anyone advice on that one??

But, some major issues. Anyone who can offer some clarity by experience?

issues Costa Rica: safety/guards (what I'm not getting: how come there are so many surf camps for beginners here while safety is a problem apparently?), distance and travel time/options from airport (anyone some advice?)
issues Sri Lanka: safety/guards (what I'm not getting: how come there are so many surf camps for beginners here while safety is a problem apparently?), problems with bikini shoots (although more sportsrelated than sexy...), distance and travel time/options from airport.

You help much needed... thank you so much!

[jaffa1949]

Ansmets, some of the camps have some trained lifeguards , but which ones and the situation is different with surf schools attached to the camps with most lesson being how to stand up in white water with the "coaches" pushing and encouraging.

The better camps often have deals with trained lifeguards as guides within the camp accompanying each boat or group to the waves.
The other "safety Technique" is to have a boat on hand sitting outside the breaking zone, so you can swim out and be picked up.

Talk frankly to any resort you think might be suitable and ask what their safety program is!
A solution is to take your own safety and surf coach. A better cost option than a drowning lawsuit.

BTW you have the basis of a storyline, The risks for novice surfers traveling to surf zone around the world! You are doing asking all the right questions before you go!

Imagine any unaware Benelux protosurfer hitting the surf zones without prior information. In about 2010 about 8 Germans drowned in one week at Kuta Bali.
So you can understand why I write to you about this!
Cheers Jaffa

[Lovelytsquared]

Im surprised no one mentioned northeast of Brazil. Nice beach everywhere, warm all year round, no suit all year round, wave all year round, no shark, plenty of beautiful people, not the biggest wave, perfect for beginners, has the highest percentage of surfer population there, hey surf champions come from there, must not be that bad. How do I know? I live here. Msg me if you need more tips

[jaffa1949]

Yes, I agree at many places there are different restrictions about surfing. Here in Australia and Hawaii the there are many surfing schools. There is no restriction on wearing a bikini as in Sri Lanka. It is really fun surfing and posing in a bikini for photographs. My friend went for surfing and clicked many pictures in her new bikini that she bought bikini-tops ,there is no such restriction and for beginners there are any camps where they guide you properly.

[Big H]

Im surprised no one mentioned northeast of Brazil. Nice beach everywhere, warm all year round, no suit all year round, wave all year round, no shark, plenty of beautiful people, not the biggest wave, perfect for beginners, has the highest percentage of surfer population there, hey surf champions come from there, must not be that bad. How do I know? I live here. Msg me if you need more tips

Just reading about Brazil the other day.....


http://www.bbc.com/news/world-radio-and-tv-19720455

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1674654/posts


During this same time, an area slaughter house was secretly dumping tons of waste down the river and out on to the beaches.......thinking this has a lot to do with their issue.