One of the most common comments from people who’ve learned kitesurfing with us is: “Man, I tried this in Tarifa / on Ruegen / in Greece and after a week I couldn’t even 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 per hour). And now:
- You swim to the board, which has drifted five metres away
- While steering the kite with one hand so it doesn’t drop into the water
- You reach the board, put it on your feet — in water where you can’t stand
- You reposition the kite — still not standing, still treading water
- You attempt a waterstart — and fall again
- Repeat from step 1
This entire cycle takes 3–5 minutes. In an hour, you manage about 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 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.
- You stand up
- You grab the board
- You put it on your feet — you’re standing, it’s easy
- You reposition the kite
- You ride
Total cycle time: 30–60 seconds. In an hour, you get 30–40 waterstart attempts. Double to triple compared to deep water. And you’re not as tired because you’re not swimming.
The Maths of Learning
Kitesurfing is a sport where you improve through repetition. The more attempts you make, the faster you learn. It’s really that simple.
In shallow water, you get two to three times more attempts in the same amount of water time. That means you learn two to three times faster. What takes a week elsewhere, you can manage in three days in El Gouna.
And it’s not just about the number of attempts. It’s also about the quality of learning. When you’re swimming and fighting the water after every fall, your brain is in “survival mode.” When you calmly stand up after a fall, your brain is in “learning mode.” The difference is enormous.
The Psychological Effect
This factor is underestimated but crucial. Fear of deep water, of currents, of waves — these are real things that slow down learning. Not everyone admits it, but many people subconsciously hold back in deep water because they’re afraid.
In shallow water, the fear disappears. You know you can stand up at any time. You know a current won’t carry you away. You know you won’t be swimming twenty minutes back to shore. And without fear, you learn significantly faster — that’s not just a feeling, that’s neuroscience.
Our Lagoon in Numbers
The lagoon in the north of El Gouna, where we’ve had our base since 2016:
- Length: 2–3 kilometres
- Width: about 1 kilometre
- Depth: from 40 centimetres to chest height on an adult
- Bottom: sandy, no dangerous coral near the shore
- Waves: none (it’s a lagoon, not open sea)
- Current: minimal
It’s essentially a giant natural pool with warm water and consistent wind. Better learning conditions don’t exist.
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, peace to concentrate.
Independent rider zone — for those with certification who ride on their own. Enough room for riding, turns, trying new things.
Wingfoil/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 focusing on a waterstart doesn’t have the capacity to dodge an advanced rider blasting past at 40 km/h. And an advanced rider doesn’t want to slow down because of 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
- Shallow water and warm water (20–30 °C depending on season)
- Shallow water and close to Europe (4–5 hours by plane)
- Shallow water and complete infrastructure (hotels, restaurants, hospital)
- Shallow water and unlimited upwind space (we’re the last base on the lagoon)
That last point is important. Our position in the north of the lagoon means that when you ride downwind, you have kilometres of empty water ahead of you. No rocks, no boats, no end of the lagoon 200 metres away.
Who Benefits Most from Shallow Water
Complete beginners — absolutely. Shallow water is the difference between “I’ll learn in 3 days” and “I’ll learn in a week” (or won’t learn at all and give up).
Returning riders — refreshing in shallow water goes significantly faster. The body remembers, and because you’re not swimming, you can focus on technique.
Heavier riders — waterstarting in deep water is considerably harder for a heavier person. In shallow water, they can push off the bottom to help.
People who are nervous around water — sounds paradoxical, but they exist. They want to learn kitesurfing but are apprehensive about deep water. In the shallows, that fear drops away.
Kids — for teaching children, shallow water is practically essential. Small children can’t safely train in deep water.
Conclusion
Shallow water isn’t just a nice bonus — it’s the factual reason why people learn to ride faster in El Gouna. More attempts, less fatigue, less fear, better conditions for concentration. Simple.
If you’re considering where to start learning, choose a spot with shallow water. And if it’s going to be El Gouna, check out our kite courses or take a look at photos and videos from our spot.