If you’re thinking of holidaying in Cyprus, your mind is probably already awash with dreams of the beach, but there’s more exciting things to be found on Cyprus’s coast than sunbathing and sandcastles.

Take your eyes away from the sand and look towards the sea, where you’ll find a wealth of fantastic surfing opportunities to suit all levels of skill.

Beginners should head for the gentle Venus Beach, found on the coastal road leading west out of Paphos. The waves of Venus Beach are frequent and bottomed by flat rocks and sand, so there’s little danger from falling off your board. Swells begin working at less than a meter and hold up to two, with short lengths which are perfect for body boarding.

For intermediate surfers Helios Beach is the usual port of call, with swell sizes that pick up at a meter and hold to as much as four meters, while lengths range from 50 to 300 meters. There are life guards on duty and relatively few hazards at Helios Beach, it’s the perfect place to go if your group has a mixed bag of abilities.

Cripplers is found on Cyprus’s west coast and if it wasn’t clear from the name it’s the most difficult surf spot on the island. With an exposed reef break that provides devilishly difficult and infrequent surf opportunities, swells start working at two meters, holding up to two and a half.

Sharp rocks and coral are rife here, so if you’re not a skilled surfer attempting Cripplers is inadvisable, but if you still feel up to the challenge take along a friend or surf instructor.

No matter what your level of skill, Cyprus promises to provide surf to suit you, so next time you’re planning a holiday there be sure to pack your board!