Abstract: The present embodiments relate generally to a free-floating device for the directional characterization of waves, comprising a selection of the following elements: sensors that can measure the earth's acceleration, angular velocity and magnetic field along three orthogonal axes, a GNSS tracker, an electronic module, a telecommunications module, energy capture and/or storage elements, a floating watertight container for housing the aforementioned equipment, having an optimized geometry so as to follow the slope of the surface of a water mass disturbed by waves. In addition, the information from the sensors and the GNSS tracker is managed by the electronic module and sent by the telecommunications module to a remote base station. Since the device is not anchored, it can characterize the direction of the surface waves more precisely, with improved operability and in a more economically efficient manner than current systems.