Soma Bay

A huge, shallow lagoon about 45 km south of Hurghada. The mountains behind it speed the wind up, so it blows a few knots harder than in Hurghada itself.

ShallowFlatChop

Working wind (blowing from)

Season

JFMAMJJASOND

PrimePossibleOff

Typical wind

18–28 kn

Water

Flat, Chop

ShallowFlatChop

Level

Beginner–advanced

Directions

Google Maps ↗Yandex ↗

26.8000, 33.9400

Wind directions at Soma Bay

Wind from	Angle to the beach	Verdict
N	Side-shore	Best
NE	Side-onshore	Works
E	Onshore	Doesn't work
SE	Side-onshore	Doesn't work
S	Side-shore	Doesn't work
SW	Side-offshore	Doesn't work, offshore
W	Offshore	Doesn't work, offshore
NW	Side-offshore	Works

Wind

A north-westerly that runs cross-shore to cross-offshore, depending on which part of the lagoon you are in. Average wind is around 22 kn from May to October, with 25–30 kn in the afternoon, especially in September. Kites between 7 and 12 m cover most days, and the windiest stretch runs from March to November.

Water & level

A vast shallow lagoon with a sandy bottom, flat in the sheltered parts and choppy in the open water. There is no tide to speak of. Some coral heads sit in places, so watch your feet when you walk back to the launch.

Launch & rules

Launch from the sand in front of the kite centres. Beginners use their own teaching zones, and advanced riders have to stay clear of them. Because the wind can blow offshore, a rescue boat is part of the setup at the schools.

Watch out

Cross-offshore wind in the outer lagoon, shallow coral patches, crowded weekends in the windy months and teaching zones that you must not cut through.

Forecast: 5 models side by side

Wind and gusts every 3 hours from five weather models, refreshed every hour. When the models agree, trust it; when they disagree, check the live stations before you drive.

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