Club Med (Almadies)
- Shortboard, Advanced riders
- Best for
- Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Swell, Ocean
- Spot Type
- Moderate
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Club Med is an exposed reef break on the Dakar Almadies peninsula, producing consistent right-hand waves that tend to be smooth and carving-friendly. The wave is described as peeling overall, with occasional more hollow sections, making it a dependable option when conditions line up. Surf quality is generally good, and the break is often described as long and reliable on a proper swell. Ride length can reach into the very long range on good sets, while the spot is also characterized as handling bigger swell sets, though currents can become stronger when the ocean gets bigger. The spot is most associated with mid tide (with additional guidance that mid-to-high is commonly safer), and it’s reported to work best with offshore winds from the north-northeast. Swell directions reported as working well include southwest, with additional notes that NW/W (and northerly components) can also produce good surf. Safety is a major consideration: the reef has sharp rocks and many sea urchins, and the entry can be slippery. Booties are described as a must, and mid to high tide is generally recommended for safer entry/exit over the rocks. No lifeguard or dedicated rescue is cited for the spot, so planning around hazards and managing risk is important.
- Reliable right-hand reef waves
- Peeling, carving-friendly shape
- Long rides possible on a good swell
- Offshore N/NNE winds help
- Consistent right-hand reef break
- Good for carving with a reliable peeling shape
- Works best on offshore winds from the north-northeast and on swell from the southwest (and similar NW/W directions)
- Reef hazards: sharp rocks and abundant sea urchins
- Entry/exit can be slippery, especially around low tide
- Exposed Atlantic location
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- N
- Offshore directions
- N, NNE
- Wind Range
- 10–20 kts
- Wind Type
- Trade — North/Northeast trade winds (Alizé) with a sea-breeze/thermal component.
- Reliability
- Medium - trade winds are common in winter
- Gust Factor
- Steady
- Best Months
- November, December, January, February, March, April
- Shadow Zones
- Possible turbulence very close to the old resort buildings
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Swell, Ocean
- Beach
- Reef — Reef/rocky areas with sea urchins.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Medium
- Launch
- Small — Rocky entry from the shore near the old resort wall.
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate — Rocky entry; careful navigation needed around rocks and urchins.
Through the year
Can be crowded on weekends and when the swell is good.
July to October
By sport
What to expect for each.
A reliable right-hand reef break with smooth waves for carving, described as very consistent and often more manageable than heavier surrounding reef options. Can produce occasional hollow sections and generally holds up well.
- Wave Direction
- Right
- Optimal Swell
- SW, NW, W, N
- Swell Height
- 1.2–3 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid — Works most consistently at mid tide; one source also indicates mid-to-high tide as ideal.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed to the Atlantic.
- Wind Effect
- Best in offshore winds from north-northeast; North or Northeast offshore winds are favored.
- Bigger Swell
- Handles size well but the current can become stronger on bigger swell sets.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Described as good, consistent, and often user-friendly.
- Wave Power
- Powerful — Also described as producing more moderate power compared with other nearby breaks.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Long, peeling right-hand waves; sometimes more hollow on a good set.
- Peel Speed
- Medium — Peels smoothly overall; can occasionally form more hollow sections.
- Ride Length
- Medium — Can offer rides up to 150 meters on a good swell.
- Typical Ride Length
- 100 m
- Ride Length Details
- Long right reef break; can be up to ~150 meters on a good swell (also described with typical rides around 100 meters).
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Club Med (Almadies) in the full forecast view.
Club Med (Almadies) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 3–13 ktsGusts 19 kts
- Direction
- NNW332°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 2413 kts
- Windy days
- 1/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.9–1.8 m10s period
- Temperature
- 26–33 °C
Over the next 7 days, Club Med (Almadies) is forecast for daytime winds of 3–13 kts, peaking around 13 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 19 kts. The prevailing direction is NNW. Waves run 0.9–1.8 m with a period of about 10s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Sharp rocks
- Sea urchins
- Shallow reef at low tide
- Rocks, urchin-covered reef
- Slippery rocks during entry/exit
Rescue & support
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- No — No on-site rescue is cited for the spot; regional rescue is described as limited and community-dependent.
- Emergency Info
- Emergency numbers cited: 18 (fire/ambulance) and 17 (police). Medical emergency info includes Hôpital Principal de Dakar and SOS Médecins.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Respect the local surfers who frequent the peak.
Rules of the spot
Standard surfing etiquette applies; respect the local surfers who frequent the peak.
- Booties are highly recommended due to the abundance of sea urchins.
- Entry is over rocks which can be slippery—be careful.
- Mid to high tide is generally safer for the entry and exit over the rocks.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Dakar
- Nearest Town
- Almadies
- Parking
- Limited roadside parking available nearby.
- Access
- Located in front of the old Club Med resort in the Almadies neighborhood on the Dakar peninsula, at the most westerly point on the African continent.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- French
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Near — Numerous surf camps and hotels are located in the Ngor and Almadies area.
- Food & Drink
- Several seafood restaurants and bars within walking distance along the Almadies point.
- Equipment Rental:
- Available at nearby surf camps in Ngor and Almadies.
- Gear Storage
- Offered by most surf camps and schools for a daily or weekly fee (where available through camps/schools).
- Gear Repair
- Minor repairs available at local surf camps.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
Tranquil island accessible by boat; known for beaches, art galleries, and narrow winding paths.
Tallest statue in Africa with panoramic views of the peninsula.
Sport fishing hub in the Almadies area targeting species like marlin and sailfish.
Seafood-focused strip of restaurants and bars overlooking the ocean.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Club Med (Almadies)?
The best overall months at Club Med (Almadies) are November, December, January, February, March, April.
Which wind directions work at Club Med (Almadies)?
Club Med (Almadies) works with N winds. Offshore directions are N, NNE.
What skill level is Club Med (Almadies) suitable for?
Club Med (Almadies) suits these riding levels: Surfing: Intermediate.