Cape Town will always have great surf. It is in the unique position in having two coasts, east and west, providing very different waves. From the big waves of the Atlantic coast at places like Crayfish Factory, Sentinel and Misty Cliffs, to the small fun waves at Muizenberg on the opposite Indian coast. Whether you're a short board shredder or a serious soul longboarder, you will definitely find a wave to your liking.

The variety of beautiful, very surfable spots in this area is amazing. Take a place like Llandudno. With its sky blue crystal clear water and pristine beach. Make a day out of it, sit on the beach with the hundreds of stunning women that seem to tan for a living they're there so often, have a surf and then later go to La Med for sundowners.

Another amazing place to surf is Koel Bay. Situated on the Indian Ocean coast with its warm water, Koel Bay rates as one of the most popular spots on this side of the coast.

Guys like Glen Row of Explocean Surf Boards (021 - 4392944), and Dean Geraghty of Town and Country (021 5105495) have earned the right to shape for Capetonians, indulge yourself, instead of bringing your stick here and risk dinging it on the plane, have one custom made.

The Peninsula is also host to a number of board shapers, so if you are coming from abroad to surf our coast, it will be quite a good idea to check out some of our local shapers.

Cape Town does not have a shark problem. Some oversize Johnny Boys have been spotted from airplanes and helicopters, but as far as attacks go, Cape Town is probably the safest surfing destination in South Africa. The only price that you pay for this comfort is the fairly low water temperature. It's a fact; Lurkers do not like cold water. What I mean by cold, is about 13 C or 57 F.So bring your suit along, on the odd occasion, you will however get a baggy surf at places like Muizenberg, Strand and Koel Bay on the Indian Coast, but these days are few and far between.

There are many surf reports in this area. Just phone up one of them and you will get a full update of what the waves are doing all around the coast. One of the most useful reports is one done by Tich Paul of Lifestyles Surf Shop which covers the entire peninsula. He updates his report every time the waves change enough to en - discourage you from going to a certain place. The number is 082- 2346340. We are also in the process of instituting a surf report on our web site, Southern Africa Places, which will enable you to find out what the surf is doing before you leave.

There are regular wind reports and swell reports supplied by the Weather Bureau for those of you who like to make your own deductions about the surfability of certain spots.

Picking up surf gear and clothing is not a problem. We have shops that stock all the well-known brand names, local and imported. There is a wetsuit factory in Town, which produces one of South Africa's foremost wetsuits. Shapers I have already mentioned.

Those of you who are not stand-ups need not feel left out. Many of the surf spots in and around Cape Town are actually more suited to bodyboarding than to surfing. A lot of the waves are really steep and fast, which makes the take-off for surfers extremely tricky. These spots are mostly surfed by bodyboarders as well as the odd really hot surfer that is willing to give the closeout sections a go.

Capetonians are not particularly hung up with the bickering between surfers and bodyboarders. On the odd occasion, you will find a jerk giving a bodyboarder some grief, but in general, we are pretty mature about that sort of crap. If you surf like a lemon and get in the way, you will be bitched no matter what your wave craft.

All in all, surfing in the Peninsula is good. No matter what your skill level or what you ride, you will find a wave that is ideally suited to you. Make a day out of it and sit on the beach or pop in for a quickie. No matter what your decision, Cape Town is a great place to play.