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Right in the heart of the Indian Ocean, this intense island offers a wealth of surfing spots and has seen the rise of several French champions: Jérémy Flores, Johanne Defay, Alice Lemoigne, Maxime Huscenot, Ophélie Ah-Kouen...
With lots of lefts, it's a kind of goofy paradise. Some spots are world-renowned. Such is the case of the emblematic left of Saint Leu, which hosted one of the stages of the Rip Curl Pro competition before the 2000s, for the World Surf League (formerly ASP Association of Surfing Pros).
Unfortunately, successive tragic attacks by tiger and bulldog sharks have severely impacted surfing on Réunion Island over the last decade.
But surfing on Reunion Island is far from being a thing of the past. There are now a number of risk-reducing surfing facilities in the West of the island.
And we're going to try and show all the enthusiasts who want to get out on the water how to do it in the best possible conditions.
At the time of writing, June 2021, the practice of nautical activities using the driving force of waves (surfing, bodyboarding, bodysurfing, longboarding, paddle boarding) is authorized by prefectoral decree n°216 of February 06 -article 2- only in lagoons and ZONEX (Zones d'Experimentation Opérationnelles), under the conditions set out in a municipal decree.
Arrêté préfectoral : http://www.reunion.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/2020-208.pdf
There are two ways to surf on Reunion Island within the legal framework imposed by the prefecture:
*Swimming is not affected by these measures and remains prohibited outside lagoons and protected areas.
Practice outside ZONEX zones is prohibited by the prefecture, and any offender is liable to prosecution and the risk of interaction with a targeted shark (tiger or bulldog).
There's no such thing as zero risk, on Réunion Island or anywhere else. Surfing remains a sport which, if badly practiced, can be dangerous. There are rules well known within the surfing community that must be respected when surfing on spots that can prove risky (in Australia, Hawaii...).
On Reunion Island, it's even more important to respect them. Here are the 7 rules to follow to reduce the risk of encountering a shark on Reunion Island:
Respecting these rules means enjoying your session, limiting the risks to yourself, and guaranteeing even more favorable days for surfing on Reunion Island.
The scheme was set up by the Ligue Réunionnaise de Surf and Région Réunion.
They are deployed on weekdays between 11am and 3pm, and on weekends between 9am and 3pm, and only if conditions permit!
First of all, he ensures that the weather conditions, the chosen spot and the visibility are all favorable to ensure your safety when you take to the water.
Secondly, it aims to establish a safety protocol, by observing, alerting and evacuating surf spots, to enable surfers to practice with less risk.
Safe surfing
Lack of visibility or end of session: Get out of the water
Hazard warning: Get out of the water
Thanks to the commitment of the VRR teams, you can once again enjoy your session with peace of mind, so a big thank you to them!
>> Subscribe to the vigiesrequin Instagram account to follow their daily deployment https://www.instagram.com/vigiesrequin/?hl=en
>> Normal deployment times (conditions permitting):
>> Usual deployment spots (conditions permitting):
To enter, a word of advice: aim for the Shark Vigil sign every time.
And as a general rule, avoid rowing at depth on Reunion Island, as you have to be careful of the coral.
Family-friendly, suitable for beginners, but beware of sea urchins, enter along the rocks to the left (sandy area). We offer boards on the SEALOCKER app on this spot in partnership with RIDINBOX (Aloha store). Schools also offer lessons.
Intermediate level. You have a choice of 2 peaks, a right-hand one which ends up with little bottom, and a left-hand one which is easier to take and has a little more bottom (but watch out for the rocks to the left of the peak!). To enter, watch out for sea urchins and coral, go between the 2 peaks.
Intermediate level, running to the right, so enter from the left at the VRR sign. Don't go too far left either, or you'll find yourself trapped in a maze of coral. Watch out for the coral "potatoes" when you row and miss your take-off.
Intermediate to advanced level. Not recommended for beginners. Go out through the pass to the net. But be careful not to pass in front of the fishermen (in the middle of the pass) after the net. Even if it's tempting to take the current to reach the spot, you're over 20m deep. You should therefore quickly reach the supervised area by skirting the corals on your right. Be careful of the coral for rowing.
To join the VRR scheme, you'll need to register with the FFS, fill in a moral commitment contract and an information sheet, and pay the annual fee of 50 euros. For further information, visit https://www.surfingreunion.com/vrr/
At the end of March 2021, the mayor of Saint Leu authorized the creation of 5 ZONEX on his commune for surfing, bodyboarding, bodysurfing, longboarding and paddle-boarding. These new experimental zones are managed by the Leu Tropical Surf Team association, affiliated to the French Surfing Federation.
>> Read the article Réunion la 1ère
The spots concerned by this municipal by-law for the creation of experimental zones are:
The rules of caution are similar to those that need to be adapted for practice in the protected areas of VRRs. Practice is only authorized if the secure session is open.
>> Opening times extend from (conditions permitting):
>> Follow the Tropical Surf Team's Facebook account to find out when the Water Patrons are deployed.
>> In terms of signage, a colored flame depicting a surfer will indicate your location:
However, if you want to practice within this new system and try your hand at the mythical Gauche de Saint Leu, you'll need to be equipped with PPE: Personal Protective Equipment. And as the name suggests, this equipment only protects you, not your buddy! So make sure that everyone is equipped with well-maintained PPE.
In addition, you'll need to obtain the approval of the Leu Tropical Surf Team, be a member of the Fédération Française de Surf, and of course respect the rules in paragraph #2 and the protocols in force at ZONEX.
The shark is an animal with more senses than man, and among these is the ability to detect minute electrical signals emitted by its prey.
Anatomically, the sensory organs involved are called the ampullae of Lorenzini. They are located on the snout and around the eyes, and are also sensitive to the earth's magnetic fields, which they use as a navigational tool during migration.
EPI are electric repellents. Their principle is to create an electric field between 2 electrodes positioned on the board or surfer, which is amplified by the salinity of the water, in order to disrupt the shark's sense of direction and act as a repellent.
>> EPI repellent demonstration
We present the 4 most widely used PPE models in the world. For installation and maintenance, we strongly advise you to follow the manufacturer's instructions, and even better, have them installed by a specialized shaper in La Réunion.
>> Installing your Shark Shield
Source:
- https://ocean-guardian.com/collections/surf
- https://ocean-guardian.com/products/freedom-surf
Several studies have been carried out since 2003 on old and new versions of PPE. These studies were carried out on the Great White Shark between 2003 and 2018 internationally, then on the Bulldog Shark in New Caledonia by the Centre de Sécurité Requin de la Réunion.
I highly recommend their YouTube channel, Centre de Sécurité Requin de la Réunion. In particular, they have produced a very detailed 3-part video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btzDO-ncHVs
*Note that the performance of the Shark Shield-equipped mini-surf was impacted by the period over which it was tested.
These various studies highlight several very interesting points:
In addition, the Centre de Sécurité Requin (Shark Safety Center) hypothesized that the bulldog sharks would become accustomed to the 18-day test. It should be remembered that these tests were carried out under extreme conditions (equivalent, for example, to a surfer getting into the water for 15 minutes in the presence of around 30 stimulated 2 to 3m bulldog sharks). The most determined of them showed a form of habituation from the 8th day onwards.
Copper and salt water don't mix. Your PPE is bound to oxidize and rust. And the performance of poorly maintained PPE can drop by 30% to 100% (remember to keep the battery charged at all times, and make sure that the electrodes are not oxidized). 30% for a distance of 50cm isn't much!
So make sure that the battery is always fully charged and that the electrodes are not oxidized. It's also advisable to have your device checked by a professional at least every 6 months (Mickey Rat in Saint Leu, for example).
Here are a few recommendations for keeping your equipment well maintained:
Once again, better than words, a video!
The Shark Safety Center explains how to maintain your PPE, and the videos are very clear, so there's no excuse for not taking care of your equipment and your safety ;)
>> Caring for your Shark Shield
>> Maintaining your E-Shark Force and No Shark
A big thank you to the Centre de Sécurité Requin (Shark Safety Centre) for their awareness-raising, research and information activities, which enable us to take to the water in complete safety! To conclude on the subject of PPE, I'll leave you with the Centre's recommendations in pictures:
Don't let this article dissuade you from taking to the water on Reunion Island - quite the contrary. It's clear that surfing on Reunion Island has been tragically affected over the last 10 years, and the risk still exists, both on Reunion Island and in other countries around the world (Hawaii, Australia, South Africa...).
The aim of this article is not to get into the debates and controversies of the last 10 years, but to give you all the information you need to get out on the water in Réunion Island, with maximum safety guaranteed.
For beginners, several surf schools have started giving lessons again since May 2021 on the Pointe des Trois Bassins spot. For experienced surfers, look after your equipment, and even if it's tempting, go surfing in the right place, in the right conditions and in the right time slot: in Réunion Island, safe surfing = surfing for a long time!
What's more, we offer boards for hire on the Trois Bassins spot, in accordance with the prefecture's information protocol, and in partnership with RIDINBOX, Réunion Island's board sports specialist.
We hope it will be an opportunity for some to discover surfing in Réunion Island, and for others to try out new models, while living their passion to the full.
Many thanks again to the Vigie Requin Renforcée, the Leu Tropical Surf Team and the Centre de Sécurité Requin for allowing us to continue to practice and enjoy the island's magnificent spots.
We wish you safe and enjoyable sessions on Reunion Island!
see you soon 🤙
- Nicolas Farolfi - CEO, Sealocker