Top Surf Destinations For the Month of March

We're about to begin the great seasonal shift for the northern hemisphere. Winter is about to give way to spring, winding down the swell season as swells being to slow down and the top half of the globe is ready to calm down. That doesn't mean the waves will stop – it just means there's less likelihood for giant surf out of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

Spring is still a great time to be a surfer, the days are getting longer, the water is heating back up, and we still get some of that swell, which makes a bee-line for shore, just not as brutish as the depths of winter.

Throughout March, there are lots of places that can tickle your surfing fancy, the southern hemisphere is starting to wake up as the emphasis for good surf shifts from this half to the other one. Here's the top bets of where to surf in March.

Taghazout, Morocco

The ancient kingdom or Morocco has long been a melding pot of trade-routes and beautifully chaotic souks. It's a sort of cross-roads for the world, and right in the heart of all that, is an absolutely stunning coastline which spans more than 3,000 kilometers. There are probably more world-class waves per surf zone that just about anywhere else on the planet across this west African country. March is a great month to visit Morocco as there's still swell in the North Atlantic, and the right-hand pointbreaks do not need a lot to get cooking. You can always head to Taghazout then head further north, or south, to find waves of equal standing as the fabled Anchor Point, with one tenth the crowd-size.

Chicama, Peru

One of the longest waves in the world, Chicama is a left-hand marvel that can run for a couple of kilometers. With the southern hemisphere starting to spin up in March, more south swells will start to filter up to Peru, setting off Chicama for an early-season swell run. Chicama actually works best on a south west swell, so you'll be wanting to keep an eye out for storms in the South Pacific, which have the potential to send mid-to-large sized swells to South America.

While March is before the deeper storms of winter in the southern hemisphere, it's still an active month for weather activity. Plus, you get the bonus of skipping the crowds of Chicama, who may be waiting to strike when the swell season gets spinning. During March, you will also get lighter winds – statistically anyway. Just make sure you surf in the morning before the wind comes up.

Southern Atolls, Maldives

The Maldives are usually sat on the top of any surfer's bucket list – and for great reason. Warm water, brilliant waves and the opportunity to get lost for a while amongst other sun-kissed travelers. But why go to the Maldives in March? Well, the Indian Ocean has begun to stir, driving swells across the bottom half of the world and fanning them out to large swathes of that part of the globe. These swells are not giant, like what you get in winter, but offer playful swell to the southern atolls of the Maldives. Waves like Castaways, Blue Bowls and Tiger Stripes will start to shine in March. Plus the water is 84F, you can surf from morning til dark and beat the hubbub of the later season.

East Coast, Australia

March marks the early start of the swell season for Australia's east coast. Spots like Snapper Rocks will start to spring to life, as most of the coastline laps up swells out of the southern ocean. During major cyclones, you can connect barrels from Snapper all the way to Kirra. But there's more to the east coast than the Goldie. Head a bit further north to the Sunshine Coast and Noosa heads. Drive south to the more mellow waves of Byron Bay – and then head further down to Victoria and the iconic Bells Beach. Wherever you chose to end up, March can be a fabulous month to experience what the east coast has for you. Expect all kinds of waves across this diverse coastline.

Bali, Indonesia

March acts as a weather transitional period for Bali, the wet season – which runs from October to March – is coming to an end, which means the rains will finally easy up after traditionaly heavy rainfall throughout January. As with most spots on this list, the southern half of the globe is about to get an adrenaline shot in March, ramping up for the start of the surf season. Spots like Keramas could see great consistency across the month – as swells begin to wrap around to the east side of Bali.

Because March is technically a shoulder month between seasons, the water may still be relatively quiet, compared to the height of the southern hemisphere swell season. Expect waves to be smaller and more manageable, without the chaos of the busty season. Bonus, there's a few festivals in March across Bali too, with the Balinese New Year taking part in the middle of the month and Nyepi Day the day after – which is an island-wide slow down encouraging moments of reflection. March can be a real mix of great surf and cultural exploration, if you choose to make the mission.