Kitesurfing Seahorse Bay Egypt

Welcome to paradise!

 

If you’re a kitesurfer familiar with kitesurfing in Egypt, then I’m sure you’ve heard about El Gouna. But have you ever heard of Seahorse Bay? Seahorse Bay is a small area situated between El Gouna and Hurghada. To be honest, I was sceptical about the location at first. Before we got there, we weren’t sure how the wind would be there compared to El Gouna, where we had been previously. We also weren’t sure about the launch spot and if there would be any sea urchins.

The moment we arrived there I realised I could not have dreamt up a better spot. The small hotel where we stayed was right at the water’s edge where a cross-onshore wind blows, we had our own private beach to launch from and it was not crowded at all. In fact, we were the only ones in the hotel who kitesurfed, so in front of our private beach we were often the only ones kitesurfing there. Next to the hotel is a kite centre where a few beginners and riders staying there would launch from. With these riders and other riders from further downwind included, there were never more than 10 people in the water! There were also no sea urchins at all and the bottom of the sea is covered in sand and sometimes tiny rocks which you can easily walk over. At the very deep sections there are sometimes bigger rocks and coral but it is very easy to identify where these sections are.

When & Where to go

Both times that I have been to Egypt, I visited during July and August and though these are the hottest months of the year, they are also the windiest! June and September are also great times of the year for kitesurfing. The temperature during these months are between 30 – 40 degrees Celsius/86 – 104 degrees Fahrenheit and the water is slightly cooler. So yes, it’s very hot! But the wind definitely cools you down. We noticed that on some days the wind would blow in the morning, die down at lunch time and then pick up again late afternoon. And then on other days it would just blow all day long! We also had a few days of very little wind, which was a great opportunity to do other activities like shopping or snorkeling. As I mentioned, the spot where we were situated (Seahorse Bay) is right between El Gouna and Hurghada. I would go back to this exact spot over and over again, which is exactly what I plan on doing! I want to bring all my friends, family and anyone who kitesurfs along with me. It’s a spot you need to experience at least once in your life. Sure, there are no waves, which I know some of you may miss. But other than that, this spot has everything. It is also close enough to El Gouna to get a taxi/uber/bus there to enjoy some nightlife, dinner and shopping. And close to Hurghada where the airport is and where you can enjoy some historical tours and an outdoor market.

Wind

Now to the topic everyone cares about. Wind! Coming from Cape Town’s storm winds, the wind in Egypt felt really light to us. I was mainly on a 9m and 12m and Neil was mainly on a 12m and 14m, though at times he could have been on a 16m since he often used his 14m with 5m line extensions. The wind forecast is very accurate (check out the Windguru forecast for Seahorse Bay) The wind was usually an average of 15 knots, but felt slightly softer when the tide was going out.

Freedom to play

What I loved most about kitesurfing here is the freedom I felt. I felt like I had the entire Red Sea as my playground. I could have fun in the shallow waters or practice tricks in the deeper water. Sometimes I would just sit or lay back and admire all the different shades of blue water. I could go as far upwind as I liked and I could venture downwind and admire all the resorts and water parks along the coast. The one time we went upwind halfway to El Gouna and found a spot with a lot of other riders, rode there for a while and then made our way back to Seahorse Bay. The tides do not affect the spot too much but of course high tide is ideal. At low tide the beginners/riders doing lessons do not go out since you need to walk far out in very shallow water to reach the deeper water. The wind blows most of the day though, so it’s very easy to choose exactly which conditions you want to go out in. The benefit of going at low tide is that you will be one of the only ones out, and you will feel like you are kitesurfing in your own private swimming pool!

What to pack

• Sunscreen: of course! The sun is hotter than you can imagine, so make sure to pack SPF50+ waterproof sunscreen, and lots of it.
• Mosquito repellent: we noticed a few mosquitoes lingering around at night, so we were glad we brought some repellent.
• Booties? I saw some riders wearing booties but I don’t think it is necessary unless you are an absolute beginner or have sensitive feet.
• Wetsuit vs bikini/board shorts:  I also noticed that all the beginners wore wetsuits, some of them even full wetsuits! I personally think it is way too hot for a full wetsuit. On one occasion I wore my short wetsuit and though it did help keep me cool, I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary. I spent most of the time in a swimsuit, often with a rash vest and shorts over to help keep my skin out of the sun.
• Wetsleeve: I can’t travel to a kite destination without my wetsleeve! See more below…

Wetsleeve

With temperatures sometimes reaching 40 degrees Celsius/104 Fahrenheit and water temperatures of 30/86 degrees, just walking onto the beach is enough to dehydrate you and the water doesn’t cool you down! The Wetsleeve is a wearable hydration sleeve which is worn on your arm and it really helped me to kitesurf in those temperatures. I would fill the sleeve with water/energy drink and put it in the freezer before my session. You won’t believe how refreshing it was during my session to be able to enjoy an icy cool drink! It also doesn’t get in the way of doing tricks and you won’t even realise it is there.

Shop the Wetsleeve HERE

For more information, check out my blog: Wearable Hydration with Wetsleeve

Hotel Sweet Home 

Sweet Home is the place to stay! It’s the closest I’ve ever stayed to a kite launch spot and also the most convenient! It is also the only place to stay if you really want to get the most out of your kitesurfing experience. There are plenty of other resorts lining the coast, but Sweet Home is the only one where you will have your own large private launch spot and where you can walk just a few steps to the beach. Some of the nearby kitesurfing spots and launch spots have obstructions like boats, jetties and snorkelers, but Sweet Home is the only spot right in front of a completely unobstructed beach and sea.

We went with the fully inclusive option which is great if you want to kitesurf as much as possible without worrying about where you are going to go for your next meal. Each room also has a fully stocked mini-bar so you can get your chocolate fix before your session or enjoy a beer on your private deck afterwards. If you are traveling with family, you can rest assured that they will be taken well care of while you are on the water. Your non-kitesurfing loved ones can enjoy a cocktail or fresh juice while relaxing at the pool – and there is a view of the kitesurfing spot so they can check on you 😉 Other non-kitesurfing activities available are horse riding on the beach, snorkeling, camel and quad bike riding. For more information on this spot check out my blog: Hotel Sweet Home Egypt

This is truly one of the best kitesurfing locations I have ever been to (I think it may even outrank my #1 spot – Shark Bay in Langebaan!) I can’t wait to go back and I hope you have the opportunity to go too.

 

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