San Diego Surf School | San Diego Surf Lessons

My buddy Devin and I went down for a weekend for the surf retreat. Tate was our instructor and we could not be luckier than getting to work with that guy. He was super chill and did not make a beginner like me feel bad. He was encouraging and helpful. If you are in town, this is the surf school that you need to try.

The whole experience was so easy and fun. All the staff were really friendly and helpful. Tate was an awesome instructor, I did a solo lesson and it was my first time surfing. We only spent about 10 minutes on the sand before getting out in the water for the whole rest of the time. He helped me catch a lot of waves and was really fun and supportive. Highly recommend!

Spectacular surf lessons ! The instructor Jon S. was patient a d supportive and really allowed us to thrive and get better , our twin 13 year old daughters had renewed confidence we will book again when in San Diego. Everyone we encountered was friendly, professional and helpful.

This is a MUST for your San Diego vacation or to get a skillful entry to surfing. Our group included 43 year olds (2), a 14yo and a 10yo. All of us stood up, caught tons of waves, and had a terrific group of instructors! Many thanks to Lily, Max, Zach, and Cannon!! We will do this again when we are back! From start to finish, it was amazing and we are exhausted!

My son had a great time learning to surf. Tanner was an awesome instructor making him feel comfortable surfing! It is a well run business and we will definitely be back for more lessons!

I had an incredible experience learning to surf with Ken and Ben. From the moment the lesson started, it was clear that these two genuinely love what they do—and that passion is contagious. This wasn’t just a job for them; you could feel how much they wanted to share their love for the sport and help me succeed. Both Ken and Ben were patient, encouraging, and incredibly knowledgeable. They explained everything clearly, kept the energy positive, and created an environment where I felt both supported and challenged in the best way. I learned a ton in just one session—far more than I expected—and it’s entirely because of how skilled they are as teachers. If you’re looking for instructors who are truly invested in your progress, who take pride in their work, and who make the entire experience unforgettable, Ken and Ben are exceptional. I can’t recommend them highly enough. This was hands down one of the best lessons I’ve taken in any sport.

We were in San Diego for vacation with my 6 teenagers, all new to surfing. We scheduled a 90 minute lesson and it was fabulous. Every kid but one was standing up, riding waves by the end of the lesson. The instructor, James, was incredible! If you want to learn to surf 🏄‍♀️ book a lesson here! So much fun!!!

Zac was fantastic! I visited the Sunshine Coast last year with another surf school and unfortunately didn’t have a great experience but Zac really put a good name not only for the school but for the entire state. He put safety first but also made sure you had a great time. Highly recommend this school and him! The team also at the shop are amazing!

My son and his friend (age 14, 13) took a semi-private lesson. This was their first ever surf lesson. Here is what they said: Tanner lived up to the considerable hype. It was very fun. We got up more than we thought we would be able to. He was super nice and was able to figure out how to help us very quickly. He was a good teacher, engaging. Clearly very very good at what he does. The highlight of the trip.

I had the most terrifying experience that a mother (who loves her child) could ever imagine on August 12, 2025. It took me roughly six months to post this review for multiple reasons: First, the owner was truly apologetic and I appreciated his professionalism. Second, I didn't want to bash the business based one employee's negligence. However, after several months, I'm still having panic attacks whenever I think of that day. In August of 2025, my daughter took her first surf lesson with San Diego Surf School--I stayed with her the entire time. I even walked up/down the sand with the camp as they moved from one part of the water to the next. Toward the end of the lesson, my daughter (six years old at the time) was the only student with the instructor: A White Australian male named Griffin. At the end of the lesson, I noticed that the camp counselors were taking down their booth/meeting location, as Griffin and my daughter walked toward us. Griffin was in front of my daughter. I turned to clean up my area. When I turn back, I saw my daughter's instructor (Griffin), but not my daughter. I asked Griffin where my daughter was, and he shrugged and said, "I don't know." I was terrified, angry and scared. No one knew where my daughter was...and Griffin wore a stoic expression on his face and didn't seem to care at all that my daughter was missing. My encounter with the employee Griffin was hurtful–on top of being very afraid. I was hurt and angry when we were disregarded by Griffin. Once my daughter found us, he didn't address my child or myself by apologizing or asking how she was feeling. She/we deserved more than that. He simply walked away... Perhaps because he was simply an employee, he didn't care about how his actions would impact the business. My post may not impact him at all--which is one of the reasons I was hesitant to share it. I was also too shaken to be rational. Truthfully, some of the other counselors were concerned. Eventually, my daughter came walking toward me, crying hysterically. How did my daughter get left behind? Griffin walked ahead of her, quickly. Due to the multiple White males all wearing red shirts, she had no idea who she was supposed to follow--plus, the landmark of the booth that read "San Diego Surf School" was already taken down. After being reunited with my daughter, I drove to the office of the surf school. To be clear, my daughter didn't wander off–she was left. Prior to the end if camp, I saw her running to catch up with him on another occasion, as he carried the surf boards (right before lunch). I fault myself for not telling him at that point not to walk in front of children without constantly looking back at them. I truly didn't know that he would do it again... At the end of camp, it happened again–he walked ahead of her, and she was left behind...LOST! Because the tent was taken down more than 30 minutes before camp ended, she didn't have a landmark to return to. I was there, but she frantically walked past me (my back was to her, as I was packing up our beach items). She was looking for the familiar tent with the name/logo on it, but it was gone. In no way do I want to "hurt" this business, but for any future customers, please learn from what I endured. The company ensured me that from now on they would: 1. The camp counselors would NOT walk in front of children (unless there is a staff member who is also behind the children). 2. Counselors would return a child directly to the parent–never assume that a child (especially a six-year-old) will find their way back. 3. Do a safety training with the kids and the staff–tell the children what to do or who to seek for help should they get left behind (which, again, I hope won't happen again). 4. Do not dismantle the tent with your business name on it. Both the children and parents should always know where to meet. So many things went wrong today that I literally felt nauseated. Our entire family was distressed--knowing that she was lost due to being left behind by a negligent employee.