Meia Praia.

Meia Praia is a wide, sandy beach break stretching east of Lagos, producing a-frame peaks that bowl up with surprising punch when a solid S swell fills in. The wave is well-covered by water and breaks with a fast, hollow character - particularly at the eastern end, which intercepts more swell energy and goes offshore on a W wind. On big southern storms the beach can light up with short, sharp beach peaks in the 0.9-2.4m range. The best conditions arrive on a SE wind swell rather than a distant groundswell, and mid to high tide keeps the sand banks from going too shallow. The eastern section is the more performance-oriented end; the western stretch toward Lagos is gentler and serves as a legitimate beginner zone, used by several surf schools operating out of the area. Access is straightforward along the beach road with free car parking available. Summer turns Meia Praia into a full tourist operation - surf schools, surf shops, crowds in and out of the water. Off-season it quietens considerably and the banks can be excellent. No localism to speak of, but the volume of inexperienced water users in July and August demands awareness on set waves.