Why Shallow Water Speeds Up Kitesurfing Instruction

Why Kitepower's first roughly 800 m knee-to-waist-deep sandy teaching area supports repeated kitesurfing practice.

One of the most common comments from people who’ve learned kitesurfing with us is: “Man, I tried this in Tarifa, on Rügen, in Greece — and after a week I still couldn’t waterstart. Here I’m riding on day two.” And then they ask why.

The answer is simple: shallow water.

What Happens When You Fall in Deep Water

Imagine learning kitesurfing at a spot with two to three metres of depth and waves. You fall off the board — which happens many times an hour. And now:

1. You swim to the board, which has drifted five metres away
2. While steering the kite with one hand so it doesn’t drop into the water
3. You reach the board and try to get it on your feet — in water where you can’t stand
4. You reposition the kite — still not standing, still treading water
5. You attempt a waterstart — and fall again
6. Repeat from step 1

This entire cycle takes three to five minutes. In an hour, you manage roughly 10–15 waterstart attempts — and you’re exhausted, because you’ve been swimming the whole time.

What Happens When You Fall in El Gouna

You fall off the board. You stand up. The water is at your knees or your waist. The board is floating a metre away. The kite is still in the air because you can hold it with one hand — you’re standing, you have stability.

1. You stand up
2. You grab the board
3. You put it on your feet — you’re standing, it’s easy
4. You reposition the kite
5. You ride

Total cycle time: 30–60 seconds. In an hour you get 30–40 waterstart attempts — two to three times more than in deep water. And you’re far less tired, because you’re not swimming.

The Maths of Learning

Kitesurfing is a sport you improve at through repetition. The more attempts you make, the faster you learn. It really is that simple.

When the actual depth and the learner’s height allow a standing reset, the shallow teaching area can provide more repetitions in the same amount of water time than a deep-water lesson. That can help progress, but there is no honest fixed multiplier or guaranteed number of days. For the hour-by-hour breakdown, see how long it takes to learn kitesurfing.

And it isn’t only about the number of attempts — it’s about the quality of learning too. When conditions permit a calm standing reset after a fall, the learner can return attention to the next controlled attempt instead of spending that time swimming back into position.

The Psychological Effect

This factor is underrated but crucial. Fear of deep water, of currents, of waves — these are real things that slow learning down. Not everyone admits it, but many people subconsciously hold back in deep water because they’re nervous.

The selected shallow-water zone can feel less intimidating because many learners can often stand when the actual water level and their height allow it. That does not eliminate fear, current, swimming or injury risk; it gives the instructor another way to choose a manageable lesson area and keep repetitions structured.

Our Lagoon in Numbers

Our base sits at the north of El Gouna, on a lagoon whose first roughly 800 m is knee-to-waist deep over sand:

• Length: 2–3 kilometres
• Width: about 1 kilometre to the reef
• Depth: roughly knee-to-waist deep in the first 800 m teaching area, with the actual level changing with tide and conditions
• Bottom: sandy, with no dangerous coral near the shore
• Waves: none — it’s a lagoon, not open sea
• Current: minimal

The shallow-water claim applies specifically to the first roughly 800 m from our beach, which is knee-to-waist deep over sand. Beyond it are separate riding and dedicated deeper foil zones. Depth changes with tide and conditions, so the team plans lessons for the actual water level. See the full picture on our spot page.

Three Zones — Organised Space

We’ve divided the lagoon into three zones:

Teaching zone — for students and instructors. You learn here without advanced riders flying around your head. Plenty of space, shallow water, and the calm you need to concentrate.

Independent rider zone — for those who ride on their own. Enough room for riding, turns and trying new things.

Wingfoil and hydrofoil zone — a separate area for foil sports, because a foil underwater and kiters on the surface aren’t the best combination.

This division isn’t just organisational — it’s a safety measure. A beginner focused on a waterstart doesn’t have the spare attention to dodge an advanced rider blasting past. And an advanced rider doesn’t want to brake for a beginner lying in the water in the middle of their line.

Comparison With Other Spots

Let’s be fair — there are other shallow-water spots in the world. Dakhla in Morocco, Lo Stagnone in Sicily, parts of Brazil. But El Gouna has a combination of advantages that’s hard to find elsewhere:

• Shallow water and consistent wind — over 300 windy days a year, measured on our own weather station
• Shallow water and warm water (around 20–30 °C depending on the season)
• Shallow water and close to Europe (a 4–5 hour flight)
• Shallow water and complete infrastructure (hotels, restaurants, a hospital)
• A first roughly 800 m shallow teaching area and a northern position whose active riding zone is selected from the live wind, depth and traffic

That last point needs a live check. The northern position can provide an open approach in the prevailing pattern, but the downwind margin, bottom, boat traffic and usable distance change with wind direction, depth and the day’s operating zones.

Who Benefits Most From Shallow Water

Complete beginners — a shallower teaching area can reduce swimming and make equipment resets more efficient when the actual depth allows standing. It does not guarantee a three-day result or any fixed learning speed.

Returning riders — a refresh in the selected teaching area can leave more coached time for technique when the actual depth allows standing. Progress still depends on current skill, wind, water and conditions.

Heavier riders — waterstarting in deep water is considerably harder for a heavier person. In shallow water you can push off the bottom to help.

People who are nervous around water — it sounds paradoxical, but they exist: they want to learn kitesurfing but are wary of deep water. In the shallows, that fear drops away.

Kids — for teaching children, shallow water is practically essential. We teach kids from around 5–6 years old and 20 kg, and small children simply can’t train safely in deep water.

Conclusion

Shallow water isn’t just a nice bonus — it’s the concrete reason people learn to ride faster in El Gouna. More attempts, less fatigue, less fear, and better conditions for concentration. Simple.

If you’re deciding where to start, choose a spot with shallow water. And if it’s going to be El Gouna, take a look at our kite courses or browse photos and videos from our spot. When you’re ready, you can book online or get in touch.