While Devil’s Rock Morocco is most popularly known for its clean, consistent waves, a deeper glimpse into its past reveals an ancient air of mystery surrounding the powers of the rock. 

Today, the massive rock hosts a nonstop flow of activity.

Fishermen are seen casting their lines off from the point around the clock, surfers jump from the cliff to skip the paddle out and join the lineup. Local women shell and cook oysters in the afternoon, rock-scramblers and wanderers watch the sunset and waves breaking from above.

There are a handful of local legends about how the name ‘Devil’s Rock’ came to be.

According to one local, the crumbling walls and steps on the rock are ruins from an ancient castle built by a king from the Netherlands.

The king’s presence was not exactly welcome by the local people, so at this time, the rock was known as ‘Imourane Ahjareef’ – ‘Imourane’ meaning ‘rude’ in the local Berber tongue, ‘ahjareef’ meaning ‘rock.’

It is unclear exactly when the spot came to be known as Devils’ Rock.

Some say it got this name because of the ghostly shadow of a massive man that can be seen wandering the rock only at night.

Others say the name came from when a couple of drunken sailors were sitting up on the rock, and mistook the distant flash of a lighthouse as an evil spirit or devil.

Some locals say there are still mysterious lights with unknown forces seen flashing at the rock from time to time.

There is also a local tradition of using the power of Devils’ Rock to bring a woman a husband.

Each September, there is a festival in which women bathe in a hole of the rock where the waves wash through. It is said that if she stays in the hole for the washing of seven waves, a husband will soon come to her.

Some say that this power stems from the ancient story of two past lovers who used the rock as a secret meeting point at night. 

The magic of Devils’ Rock can still be felt in every which way today, whether its’ getting ready to make the jump to surf under the blazing Moroccan sun, or soaking in the warm ocean breeze and full moon beams radiating off the sea.

Devil’s Rock regularly features in surf forecasts on Magic Seaweed, worth checking before your session.

Devil’s Rock is just steps from Original Surf Morocco, our surf camp in Tamraght. It’s where most of our guests catch their first waves. Check out our surf lessons in Agadir if you want to learn here.