Great Surfing Waves

How does a reef create great surfing waves?

The tide is a force of nature, the result of the moon’s gravitational pull. Waves break in the open seas as well as just offshore, and for very different reasons. It’s often thanks to undersea reefs that coastal waves get their shape. So it’s little surprise that the favored surf spots are often in regions that have coral reefs.

A coral reef is a living organism. Thanks to nutrient rich waters and a unique structure, this skeletal formation supports its’ own ecosystem. Here you’ll find anemones,  starfish, moray eels and a myriad of smaller brightly colored creatures. Above the surface, what is created is called a reef break. These are the picture perfect waves that break from one side to another.

It’s the reef that helps shape the wave. And reefs come in all stages of evolutionary development.  Coral reefs grow at just half an inch per year, and the largest (the Great Barrier Reef) is 2,000km long!  Now, many of these can be surfed safely, although it’s strongly advised that you take surfing lessons first and are in good all-round health – surfing is hard work and reef breaks can be difficult for beginners.

Famous reef breaks are found in the Pacific, thanks to its warmer waters. The most dramatic are off Hawaii, Australia, South Africa and Fiji. Surfers need to know which way the wave is breaking, and where any undersea hazards lie. They also study barometers and fishing forecasts, all the while keeping a watchful eye on weather forecasts.

You don’t need a coral reef to surf, though. Nor do you need to be a surf dude to get in the water and enjoy one of the world’s fastest growing sports. Surfing lessons provide the perfect introduction, perhaps you know someone who could do with a break?