Map › Essaouira › The Lagoon (Ksob river mouth)
Spot · tier 2 · Morocco
The Lagoon (Ksob river mouth)
A small tidal lagoon where the Ksob river meets the ocean just south of Essaouira's main bay, near the village of Diabat. It offers genuine flat water that varies dramatically with tide and season, but the rideable area is tiny - locals informally cap the number of kiters allowed in at once, so it fills up fast.
flat waterfreestyleintermediate
Wind
| best months |
|
|---|---|
| quality | same steady side-shore trade wind as Essaouira Bay, slightly more sheltered by the terrain |
| direction to shore | side-shore/cross |
Water
| type | lagoon |
|---|---|
| tides | the flat-water riding area shrinks or disappears with the tide - generally best around mid-to-high tide |
| standing depth | yes in parts, shallow |
Levels
| beginner | yes |
|---|---|
| intermediate | yes |
| advanced | no |
| notes | One of the only true flat-water spots near Essaouira - good for learning and flat-water freestyle tricks |
Launch & crowd
| description | Launch from the riverbank/sand near Diabat village |
|---|---|
| vibe | can get crowded quickly given the tiny size; arrive early or off-peak |
Monthly wind statistics
Station: Essaouira (Weather Spark, ~4 km) — Same Essaouira-town station as Essaouira Bay, ~4 km south (Windfinder has no monthly table for Essaouira). Freshwater lagoon here is shallow and can be wind- and tide-dependent in a way regional averages don't capture. No Beaufort-probability data found.
| Month | Wind ≥4 Bft | Avg kn | Dir | Air °C | Water °C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | —% | 9.6 | N | 14.4 | 17.2 |
| Feb | —% | 10.3 | N | 15 | 16.7 |
| Mar | —% | 10.6 | N | 16.7 | 16.7 |
| Apr | —% | 11.4 | N | 17.8 | 17.2 |
| May | —% | 11.8 | N | 18.9 | 17.8 |
| Jun | —% | 12.3 | N | 20.6 | 18.9 |
| Jul | —% | 12.9 | N | 21.7 | 20 |
| Aug | —% | 11.9 | N | 22.2 | 20.6 |
| Sep | —% | 10.3 | N | 21.7 | 20.6 |
| Oct | —% | 9.5 | N | 20.6 | 20 |
| Nov | —% | 9.7 | N | 17.8 | 18.9 |
| Dec | —% | 9.8 | N | 15.6 | 17.8 |
Hazards
- Very small riding area leads to crowding
- River-mouth current near the entrance
- Shallow/rocky in spots at low tide
Rules
- Informal local limit of roughly half a dozen kiters in the water at a time to keep it safe and rideable
Tips
- Check the tide before heading down - the lagoon can vanish at low tide
- Diabat is the village linked to Jimi Hendrix's 1969 visit and its ruined clifftop palace, worth a look on a no-wind day
Travel basics
| getting there | A short drive or e-bike ride south of Essaouira town toward Diabat |
|---|
Nearby: Essaouira Bay (Main Beach), 2nd Beach (Ored Omar)
Sources: kitejungle.com