Is the Alboran Sea rough? What to expect on the crossing
Sometimes, mostly from January to April. In modelled data the average daily peak wave height is about 2.0 m in February and about 1.0 m in July. The ferries from Spain to Melilla and Nador take about 6 to 7.5 hours.
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Sea · Spain and Morocco · Reputation among passengers: mixed: commonly reported as uncomfortable in the wrong conditions.
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
Roughness summarises typical reported conditions for this crossing, not a forecast for any given sailing.
Open water, roughest from winter to spring
In the Nausea Index table of the 128 sea crossings we cover, the Alboran Sea is rated manageable, one of 84 in that band, with 44 rated higher. Full table: the roughest sea crossings, ranked.
Key facts
- The Alboran Sea is a sea, and passenger reports place it in the moderate roughness band.
- The mechanism behind that reputation: Open water, roughest from winter to spring.
- Conditions are reported roughest in January, February, March and April.
- The calmest months are usually June, July, August, September and October.
- It is also known as Mar de Alborán.
Why does the Alboran Sea get rough?
The Alboran Sea is the westernmost part of the Mediterranean, between the Iberian Peninsula and north Africa, with the Strait of Gibraltar at its west end. It is deep rather than shallow, averaging 445 m and reaching 1,500 m. Surface currents, influenced by the prevailing winds, flow eastward and bring water in from the Atlantic.
When is the Alboran Sea roughest?
Modelled wave heights are highest from January to April, with February the peak, and lowest from June to October. May, November and December sit in between. No published monthly sea state for the Alboran Sea was found, so this pattern is a model estimate.
| Roughest water in Jan | Roughest water in Feb | Roughest water in Mar | Roughest water in Apr | Roughest water in May | Roughest water in Jun | Roughest water in Jul | Roughest water in Aug | Roughest water in Sep | Roughest water in Oct | Roughest water in Nov | Roughest water in Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rough | Rough | Rough | Rough | Mixed | Calm | Calm | Calm | Calm | Calm | Mixed | Mixed |
Typical seasonal pattern, not a forecast. Any month can deliver a calm crossing or a bad one. Check the marine forecast for your sailing date. Select a month to see every sea and ferry crossing ranked for it.
Month bands: Dizzout sea-state data for Alboran Sea, built from the reports and sources listed at the foot of this page. Free to cite with a link to this page.
Where to be on board
Front to back
- Bow (front)Avoid
- MidshipBest
- Stern (aft)OK
The crossing: About 6 to 7.5 hours
Roughest stretch: Mid-sea, away from both coasts
Sit low and near the middle of the ship, in a cabin if you can. The crossings last 6 to 7.5 hours.
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The crossings that cross it
| Route | Typical duration | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Almería to Melilla | About 6 hours | Baleària lists 5 weekly sailings. |
| Motril to Melilla | About 7 hours | Baleària lists 3 weekly departures. |
| Almería to Nador | About 7 hours 25 minutes | Baleària lists up to 2 departures a week. |
| Málaga to Melilla | About 6 hours 30 minutes | Baleària's page names the ship Rusadir. |
What helps on this crossing
- Book a cabin so you can lie flat. Baleària's Almería to Nador page lists cabins, and the crossings last 6 to 7.5 hours.
- Travel between June and October if you can. Modelled wave heights are lowest in those months.
- Use the terraces, which Baleària says have sea views, and look at the horizon rather than a screen.
- Dizzout, a drug-free sound therapy app for passengers: it works with any headphones once nausea starts, with relief in about 90 seconds.
For the full toolkit see the seasickness guide, or what to do once it has already started. For what the trials actually say about the oldest trick on that list, see the verdict on looking at the horizon. If the rocking follows you ashore afterwards, that is land sickness, which is normal, and it passes.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Alboran Sea rough in February?
February is the roughest month in modelled data, with the daily peak wave height averaging about 2.0 m at the grid cell on the Almería to Melilla route. January, March and April are close behind. The model is coarse, so conditions on the day can differ.
Is the Alboran Sea rough in July?
July is one of the calmest months in the same data, with the daily peak wave height averaging about 1.0 m. June, August, September and October are also calm, at about 1.0 to 1.3 m. A calm month is not a calm crossing, so check the forecast for the day you sail.
How long are the ferries from Spain to Melilla and Nador?
Baleària lists about 6 hours from Almería to Melilla, about 7 hours from Motril to Melilla, about 6 hours 30 minutes from Málaga to Melilla and 7 hours 25 minutes from Almería to Nador. It lists 5 weekly sailings from Almería to Melilla, 3 weekly departures from Motril to Melilla and up to 2 departures a week from Almería to Nador.
Other crossings
Sources & further reading
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alboran_Sea
- https://www.balearia.com/en/routes-timetables/ferry-almeria-melilla
- https://www.balearia.com/en/routes-timetables/ferry-motril-melilla
- https://www.balearia.com/en/routes-timetables/ferry-almeria-nador
- https://www.balearia.com/en/routes-timetables/ferry-malaga-melilla
- https://open-meteo.com/en/docs/marine-weather-api
- https://marine-api.open-meteo.com/v1/marine?latitude=36.0&longitude=-3.0&start_date=2015-01-01&end_date=2024-12-31&daily=wave_height_max&models=era5_ocean&timezone=GMT
Sea conditions described here are typical patterns drawn from published marine and operator information as of July 2026, not a forecast: conditions on any given sailing depend on the weather that day, and any month can deliver a calm crossing or a bad one. Route and operator names are trademarks of their respective owners; Dizzout is not affiliated with or endorsed by them. Seasickness sensitivity varies from person to person; this page is informational and not medical advice.