They are passionate surfers. Manon and André had recently been to the fenua. They came to explore the surfing spots, but not only. The couple are the creators of an app called Nalu Surf. Launched in July 2026, it is already used in 36 countries. Nalu Surf helps surfers of all levels locate spots according to their own skill level. “The app will catalog all the spots around the surfer and classify them according to verdicts such as ‘too strong, don’t go there,’ ‘degraded,’ to ‘go ahead, it’s for you,’” explains Manon. “The app is clearly aimed at everyone, from beginners who are on vacation and looking for spots that suit their level, because that was a problem we faced ourselves—where to surf, when to surf, depending on our level. But it is also for other people who want to track their progress and find the best spots.”
No more having to check five webcams and three different apps: Nalu Surf promises to bring everything together. “All our data come from OpenMétéo; it’s an aggregator, a bit like a funnel. It will gather data from several weather sources, and the more sources agree, the higher the reliability index.”
The user enters their own level, and it adjusts as you use the app: “You’ll be able to rate your sessions within the app, and the more you rate your sessions, the calculator will adjust to your level.” (…) “Our goal, in a few months, we hope, is to be able to incorporate an AI that will assist in our ratings; the more surfers rate their sessions and the spots where they surfed, the better we can calibrate our algorithm.”
Surf enthusiasts who act as “watchkeepers” test the app around the world and provide feedback to the developers. Manon and André were in the fenua to present the system to local riders and welcome them into the program. Héloise, a beginner surfer from New Caledonia who now lives in the United States, is one of these “watchkeepers”: “When you’re a surfer, you rely on many different sites—Surfline or Windguru. There are so many sites out there. (…) Sometimes we think the conditions will be good; we check the sites, the conditions look perfect, and when we arrive, it’s awful. (…) For me, the most interesting part is having predictions that are reliable,” she says.
The app also lets users keep a logbook: “When you’re about to surf, it’s really useful to have specific goals, regardless of your level. In the app, you can record how you felt during the session, whether the conditions felt too strong for you, and how long the session lasted. There’s a little logbook that helps you track your progress.”
Finally, Nalu Surf also aims to promote prevention. “A responsible surfer is someone who is aware of everything happening around them,” says Manon, so they have included safety gestures and the numbers for emergency assistance, as well as guidance on how to behave in the lineup and how to follow the right-of-way rules for surfers. Their trip here in Polynesia will allow them to extend this section to the prevention of wildlife and flora.
