Ready to catch your first wave, or sharpen up your turns? Here are surf schools from San Diego to Ventura, what a lesson costs, what's included, and the breaks they teach at. Tap a break to see tomorrow's forecast before you book.
The original women's surf school, founded in La Jolla in 1996 by twin sisters Izzy and Coco Tihanyi. Today it teaches everyone, ages 5 and up, at La Jolla Shores.
90-min private: $160. Semi-private per person: $120 (2 people), $115 (3), $110 (4), $105 (5+). A 16% City of San Diego surcharge is added at checkout.
A 90-minute private lesson is $160. Semi-private is $105–$120 per person depending on group size. A 16% City of San Diego surcharge is added at checkout.
Are boards and wetsuits included?
A surfboard and rashguard are included. Wetsuits are a $9 rental when you arrive.
What is the minimum age?
Lessons are open to anyone 5 and up.
Will strangers join my semi-private lesson?
No. Semi-private lessons only include people from your group.
Where do lessons happen?
At La Jolla Shores. The shop is at 2160 Avenida de la Playa, La Jolla, CA 92037.
Is Surf Diva only for women?
No. It started as the first women's surf school in 1996 and has offered co-ed lessons since 2002. Women's Weekend Clinics are still offered.
What are the shop hours?
Open daily 8:30 AM to 7:30 PM. Rentals are due back by 7:00 PM.
Surfing is one part of the day at YMCA Camp Surf, a beachfront camp where kids can move between ocean activities, climbing, archery and time with their cabin or day-camp group.
Where they teach: Camp Surf beachfront, Imperial Beach; offsite water activities may be used when beach closures affect the program.
Un Mar de Colores connects young people to surfing through free community programs, ocean education and mentorship. Its Imperial Beach program focuses on local youth rather than drop-in vacation lessons.
The Imperial Beach youth program is advertised as free, including instruction and supplied surf equipment.
Where they teach: Imperial Beach Pier for the Imperial Beach program when water quality permits; other San Diego County locations vary by program.
Crown Cove Aquatic Center brings surfing into a larger water-sports program at Silver Strand State Beach. Families can explore youth camps, while individual visitors can inquire about tailored instruction.
Where they teach: Silver Strand State Beach; programs also use San Diego Bay. Confirm which side is used for each activity.
Coronado Surfing Academy offers 90-minute lessons with a board and wetsuit included. Choose individual coaching or a lesson with friends and family, with published group sizes that change the per-person rate.
90-minute lessons: one surfer $140; 2–4 surfers $110 per person; 5–9 surfers $100 per person. Board and wetsuit are included. Confirm the total when booking.
Where they teach: Coronado; confirm the beach meeting point in your booking instructions.
Beyond Surf SD combines introductory surf lessons with coaching focused on movement and technique. Founder Jake Halstead brings a competitive-surfing background to a program that also teaches first-time surfers.
The surf-class page lists sessions at $165. Coronado lessons carry an additional 16% city surcharge. Optional lesson photos are listed at $30 per person; confirm the chosen format and total.
Where they teach: Coronado for the published surf classes; confirm the beach for individual coaching.
Jamie O’Brien Surf Experience teaches at Hotel del Coronado’s beachfront, with individual, semi-private, group and children’s formats. The private lesson pairs one surfer with one instructor for 90 minutes.
Coronado Bike & Surf’s page for Jamie O’Brien Surf Experience lists group lessons at $155 per person, Ohana private-group lessons at $185 per person and individual private lessons at $309. Confirm current pricing with the operator.
Where they teach: Hotel del Coronado beachfront, Coronado.
Ocean Experience uses a step-by-step teaching approach for beginners and returning surfers. Its lesson options include individual instruction and open groups, with Ocean Beach and Mission Beach featured in the program.
The lesson overview lists open groups at $65 per hour per person and private instruction at $75 per hour per person, with a two-hour private minimum. Confirm the booking total and current availability.
Where they teach: Ocean Beach and Mission Beach; confirm the meeting beach for the reserved lesson.
San Diego Surf School offers 90-minute individual and shared lessons in Pacific Beach and Ocean Beach. Its format starts with preparation on land, then uses coached water time to work on paddling, stance and wave timing.
The lesson page lists a 90-minute private lesson at $140, a group lesson at $98 and a semi-private lesson at $108. Service fees are not included in the listed rates; confirm the checkout total.
Where they teach: Pacific Beach and Ocean Beach for the verified lesson product; confirm other advertised locations separately.
Pacific Surf School offers several ways to learn, from a first group lesson to individual coaching beyond the whitewater. The San Diego lesson page presents 90-minute formats with surf equipment included.
Published 90-minute rates: private $155 per person; semi-private for 2–3 people $118 per person; group for 4–5 people $98 per person; The Outside progression lesson $170 per person. Confirm location, fees and availability.
Where they teach: Pacific Beach; Mission Beach, Ocean Beach and La Jolla are also advertised. Confirm the location tied to your chosen product.
PB Surf Shop teaches from its boardwalk location in Pacific Beach. Its 90-minute private and shared-party lessons include equipment, with a separate city concession fee added to the published rate.
90-minute private-party rates: one person $140; two $125 each; three $110 each; four or more $100 each. A 16% San Diego concession fee is added. Confirm the instructor arrangement and total for your party.
Where they teach: Pacific Beach, with check-in at the boardwalk shop.
Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, Ocean Beach and La Jolla, San Diego
Aloha Surfer Girls offers women and girls a choice of individual or shared surf lessons around San Diego. Its instructors include men and women, and the program is identified with the Pacific Surf Group.
The lesson page lists 90-minute sessions at $140 per person for private instruction, $108 per person for semi-private groups of 2–3, and $98 per person for groups of 4–5. Confirm the chosen beach and final amount.
Where they teach: Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, Ocean Beach and La Jolla; confirm the exact location when booking.
Mission Bay Aquatic Center offers an introduction to surfing, a four-session course and private instruction. Its bayfront base also hosts The Watersports Camp, giving families a separate youth-program option.
Introduction to Surfing: $120 general rate or $65 for eligible UCSD/SDSU students. Private instruction: $200 general rate or $120 student rate for a two-hour minimum. Additional people and extra time cost more; confirm eligibility and total.
Where they teach: Mission Beach for ocean practice; Mission Bay for the swim assessment and introductory paddling practice.
Everyday California teaches surfing from its La Jolla Shores shop, alongside a wider ocean-adventure business. Choose a group lesson or private-party instruction, with sessions advertised for ages five and up.
90-minute group lessons start at $129 per person. Private-party rates are $159 for one person, $149 each for two, $139 each for three, $129 each for four and $119 each for five or more. Confirm the booking format and total.
Surf Education Academy combines surf instruction with ocean literacy at La Jolla Shores. Its lessons range from individual coaching to private groups, with adaptive programs available through a separate inquiry.
Published 90-minute private-group rates: one surfer $159; 2–3 surfers $135 each; four $125 each; 5–7 $115 each; 8–10 $110 each. A city surcharge applies. Confirm the final total and instructor assignment.
La Jolla Shores, Del Mar and other San Diego County locations
Fulcrum Surf offers private lessons and coaching built around the surfer’s next goal. Founder Justin Spadafora’s program includes introductory instruction, progression coaching and sessions planned for the chosen conditions.
The adult lesson page lists a one-hour private lesson at $240, including a board and wetsuit. Coaching directly with Justin is arranged by inquiry; do not assume the standard adult rate covers every coaching option.
Where they teach: La Jolla Shores or 19th Street in Del Mar for the published adult lesson; confirm other coaching locations individually.
Sea Love Surf is Amy Williamson’s personalized coaching program, combining technique with movement, breath, confidence and ocean awareness. Sessions can address a first foundation, a plateau or competitive performance.
Private coaching: 90 minutes $200 or two hours $250. Two-hour small-group coaching is listed at $150 each for three surfers or $135 each for four. Equipment arrangements are by inquiry.
Where they teach: San Diego County; specific beach selected according to student needs and conditions.
Who coaches Sea Love Surf sessions?
The program is presented by Amy Williamson.
Is the program only for women?
No. Women are central to the community, but Amy also works with male surfers and young athletes.
Where do sessions meet?
The beach is selected for the student’s needs and the conditions.
Should I assume equipment is included?
No. The services page asks clients to inquire about using equipment.
San Diego County, from Imperial Beach to Oceanside
Step Up Surf is designed for surfers who have already started and want more direction. Its mobile San Diego coaching combines ocean awareness, movement preparation and feedback that can include photo or video recording.
Where they teach: San Diego County beaches from Imperial Beach to Oceanside; location confirmed for the coaching session.
Is this a first-time surf lesson?
No. The contact page says clients should have surfed before.
Do I need my own equipment?
Yes. Its prerequisites specify a board and wetsuit.
Does coaching include a video option?
The website advertises photo or video recording as an option. Confirm the session arrangement.
Where is coaching offered?
The website describes a service area from Imperial Beach to Oceanside.
D&C Surf Academy offers beginner coaching, advanced one-to-one work and remote review of existing surf footage. The family-run San Diego business describes itself as woman- and minority-owned.
Where they teach: San Diego; exact beach is not specified on the verified website.
Can beginners receive coaching?
Yes. Beginner formats include individual and group instruction.
What does advanced coaching require?
The surfer must be able to paddle outside independently.
Is remote review offered?
Yes. Existing footage is discussed in a Zoom meeting.
San Diego County; location arranged for the session
Enjoy The Ride Surf School separates introductory lessons from intermediate coaching, with the aim of helping students catch waves more independently. Its San Diego sessions use supplied foam boards and wetsuits.
Where they teach: San Diego County; confirm the beach for the booked session.
Are there separate beginner and intermediate options?
Yes. The website distinguishes beginner lessons from intermediate coaching.
Is equipment advertised as included?
The booking page lists 3/2mm wetsuits and different-size foam boards.
Where does the school teach?
It advertises instruction around San Diego; confirm the session’s specific beach.
Are kids’ lessons advertised?
Yes. Ask the school about age suitability and the appropriate format.
A first pop-up and a better turn need different kinds of feedback. Progressive Surf Academy builds its North County lessons around the surfer, offering private instruction alongside group sessions and coaching for people ready to refine their technique.
The private-lesson page lists $165 for two hours for both beginner and intermediate/advanced instruction. Equipment is included. Confirm the final booking terms with the academy.
Where they teach: Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar and Carlsbad. The academy selects a location around ability and conditions.
Encinitas and Solana Beach, North County San Diego
Cal Coast Adventures brings the board and wetsuit to your North County beach lesson. Its Encinitas offering includes solo, partner and small-family formats, with the meeting beach selected according to conditions and the season.
Published rates are $115 for one person, $95 per person for two, and $85 per person for three or four. Ask for a quote for larger groups. The standard lesson is 90 minutes and includes a board and wetsuit.
Where they teach: Fletcher Cove, Grandview Surf Beach and Swamis are listed lesson locations, selected according to season and conditions. Custom North County locations are available by inquiry.
Encinitas, Cardiff, Carlsbad, Oceanside and La Jolla
Encinitas Surf Lessons centers its instruction on learning to surf more independently. Private and small-group bookings let you build a session around your own goals, whether you are starting from scratch or returning to the water with a particular skill to improve.
The homepage lists private lessons at $145 for 90 minutes or $170 for two hours. Two-surfer totals are $232 for 90 minutes or $289 for two hours. Other group sizes and multi-lesson packages are also listed.
Where they teach: Published areas include Carlsbad, Oceanside, La Jolla, D Street Beach in Encinitas and Pipes Beach in Cardiff. Confirm the specific meeting point.
Leucadia Surf School teaches at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas, with a focus on the basics of catching whitewater and standing on a softboard. Its menu includes small-group lessons, private sessions and an intermediate paddle-out option.
The school lists small-group/semi-private lessons at $120 per person, one-person private lessons at $190, private lessons for two at $290, and intermediate paddle-out lessons at $190. Beginner lessons are listed as two hours.
Where they teach: Moonlight Beach, Encinitas. The website serves customers from surrounding cities but identifies Moonlight Beach as its lesson location.
Eli Howard Surf School pairs year-round surf lessons with children’s camps at Moonlight Beach. Founded by two Leucadia brothers, the school offers several ways to get in the water, from a private class to a shared group session.
The pricing page lists two-hour group lessons at $75, with a minimum of two students, and private two-hour lessons at $120. Solo group bookings may revert to an $85 rate. Confirm all totals by phone; the semi-private pricing is inconsistent on the page.
Where they teach: Moonlight Beach in Encinitas is the homepage’s listed location for classes and morning camps. Confirm the beach for the specific program you reserve.
Moonlight Beach Surf Camps brings together the Little Groms and Big Groms programs associated with Concept Surf Shop. Age-specific camps, school-break sessions and individual lessons offer several entry points into surfing at the same Encinitas beach.
Where they teach: Moonlight Beach, Encinitas. Concept Surf Shop is the information and reservation contact, not automatically the camp drop-off point.
Buenas Olas Surf School combines a clear progression approach with multilingual instruction at Moonlight Beach. Its youth camps introduce surfing and ocean awareness, while separate lessons provide another way to work toward personal goals.
Where they teach: Moonlight Beach, Encinitas, north of the main lifeguard tower. The provider identifies a light-blue tent for camp check-in.
Sea Revelations offers adult surf coaching with a structured training emphasis. Its Encinitas camp description combines ocean sessions with pool work, video review and theory, giving surfers several ways to examine the same skills.
Where they teach: Grandview Beach in Encinitas is the published adult camp location. Confirm additional training venues with the provider.
San Diego Surf Academy and Adventures offers private instruction with a longer first lesson and shorter follow-up sessions. Its published lesson menu also includes packages for surfers who want to return and build on what they have practiced.
The lesson page lists a private session at $150 and each additional person at $120. Private packages are $400 for three lessons, $740 for six and $1,000 for nine. Confirm package inclusions and which session lengths apply.
Where they teach: Encinitas is identified in the provider’s website title. A specific teaching beach was not established; obtain the meeting point when booking.
SoCal Surf Lessons uses Carlsbad’s Tower 30 as its published meeting reference. Private and group sessions include boards and wetsuits, with different durations and instructor arrangements for solo surfers, families and larger parties.
One-person private lessons are listed at $140 for 90 minutes or $185 for two hours. Two-person lessons are $90 per person for 90 minutes or $125 per person for two hours. Larger-group pricing varies with group size and instructor arrangement.
Where they teach: Lifeguard Tower 30 in Carlsbad is the listed contact/meeting landmark. Confirm exact check-in instructions for your reservation.
Surfin Fire offers several routes into North County surfing, from private lessons to summer camps and shared outings. Its main website separates Carlsbad/Encinitas registration from the linked Oceanside program, making the location an important first booking decision.
Where they teach: Stone Steps in Leucadia/Encinitas and the Oceanside Pier area are named on the main site. Confirm the beach through the location-specific program you book.
Whitlock Surf Experience combines Oceanside surf lessons with youth camps and coaching options. The lesson program covers more than standing up, introducing wave selection and etiquette alongside the mechanics of riding a board.
Where they teach: Oceanside is the published program base. The exact teaching beach should be confirmed with the provider.
North County Surf Academy offers Oceanside surf lessons alongside a separate advanced-coaching format. Founder Duran Barr’s academy publishes both an introductory session and training that combines in-water feedback with video analysis.
The private one-to-one lesson is listed at $179 for 90 minutes. The advanced coaching session is $249 for two hours and includes in-water coaching and video analysis. Confirm the booking total and current availability.
Where they teach: The private one-to-one lesson lists Oceanside Harbor Parking Lot 10. Advanced coaching uses a location chosen according to conditions. Confirm the exact meeting instructions.
Oceanside Surf School identifies Tyson Street Park, south of the pier, as its teaching base. Its booking menu offers lessons for one or several surfers, plus packages for students planning to return.
Published lesson totals are $150 for one person, $280 for two, $399 for three and $499 for four. One-person 90-minute packages are listed at $399 for three lessons and $599 for five. Confirm the duration and total for your selected booking.
Where they teach: Tyson Street Park, south of Oceanside Pier. The provider uses Tower 5 and 208 South The Strand as meeting references.
Surf Ride’s Oceanside camp blends surf instruction with ocean education, beach activities and conservation. The program is based at North Jetty in the harbor area and groups campers by their surfing ability for water sessions.
Where they teach: North Jetty at Oceanside Harbor Beach. Confirm the current lifeguard tower: the webpage names Tower 16, while the linked 2025 packet names Tower 18.
Southern California; camps in Encinitas and Huntington Beach
Wavehuggers combines Southern California surf instruction with an ocean-conservation focus. Its lesson footprint spans three counties, while its camp page identifies Encinitas and Huntington Beach as distinct youth-program locations.
Where they teach: Lessons are listed across Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties. Youth camps are published for Encinitas and Huntington Beach; exact check-in details depend on the booking.
Luna Surf Experiences organizes surf coaching around a repeatable progression plan. Its Surf Track combines water sessions or video analysis with ongoing support, while the Integrated Track adds training intended to support movement and recovery between surfs.
The assessment is listed at $199. Surf Track packages are $849 for five sessions, $1,599 for ten and $2,799 for twenty. Integrated packages are $999, $1,899 and $3,400 respectively. The provider lists travel fees for Orange County and Los Angeles.
Where they teach: Coaching is offered in San Diego, Orange County and Los Angeles. Confirm the beach for each session; published OC and LA travel fees apply.
Sea State offers women’s surf coaching that connects technical feedback with confidence and community. Private sessions are available across San Diego and Orange County, while its small-group format focuses on surfers progressing on midlengths, fishes and shortboards.
The private coaching pack is listed at $750 for four sessions with filming each time, with an option to pay $375 monthly for two months. Ask about current single-session and group rates before booking.
Where they teach: Private coaching is offered in San Diego and Orange County. The provider describes a range from Bolsa Chica to Sunset Cliffs; confirm the chosen beach and access for each session.
Independent Surfer separates beginner lessons from filming and video coaching for more experienced surfers. Its California program lets you choose immediate feedback in the water or a closer look at your own footage after the session.
Oceanside base prices list solo private lessons at $100 for one hour or $150 for two hours. Solo filming/video coaching is $150 for one hour or $175 for two hours. Ask for the applicable location total and shared-session quote.
Where they teach: California services are advertised from Encinitas to Huntington Beach. Listed prices are base prices for Oceanside; confirm the chosen break and any location-related charges.
Summer Soul Surf Camp places youth surfing within a wider beach program at San Onofre Surf Beach. Its activities combine ocean safety and surf instruction with fitness and time outdoors, serving families in the San Clemente and South Orange County area.
Where they teach: San Onofre Surf Beach, south of San Clemente. The provider’s San Clemente mailing address is not the camp check-in location.
Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Manhattan Beach and Malibu
Santa Monica Surf School was started by Santa Monica native Nick Ostrogovich and teaches private lessons, group lessons and summer kids camps. It describes itself as the only surf school in Los Angeles certified by the International Surfing Association.
Group lesson: $85. Private lessons: $130 (1 person), $210 (2), $290 (3), $360 (4), $400 (5). Summer camp weeks are listed at $425 ($85 per day). Surfboard and wetsuit are included.
Where they teach: Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Manhattan Beach and Malibu are listed lesson areas. Confirm the meeting beach when you book.
Kapowui teaches year-round on the border of Santa Monica and Venice, with every lesson including a surfboard, wetsuit and instructor. It says it is an ISA-certified member and one of the few LA County permitted, licensed and insured surf schools.
Where they teach: Lessons meet on the Santa Monica / Venice border. Venice Beach lessons run June through September.
Badass Surf School, or BASS, is run by surf therapist and coach Jake McNulty. It focuses on teaching you to read and ride waves from the first lesson, and runs surf therapy and a Venice Beach summer camp for ages 4–17.
Summer camp weeks start at $435 for the first surfer ($250 per additional surfer) or $540 for longer days ($300 per additional surfer). Lesson bundles are also offered; check the site for current lesson rates.
Where they teach: Venice Beach. Summer camp meets in Venice.
Cali Surf School was started by two friends and teaches surf, stand-up paddle and swim lessons at several Los Angeles and Orange County beaches. Instructors Alex and Houtan both have lifeguard backgrounds.
Where they teach: Several LA and Orange County beaches, including Santa Monica. SUP lessons use Marina del Rey Harbor or Santa Monica State Beach.
GoSurfing is a licensed and insured surf instruction company at the Manhattan Beach Pier, founded in 2020 by Manhattan Beach native Tommy Ostendorf. It's a branch of BeachSports, a South Bay youth summer camp company running since 1995.
Adapted private instruction (60 minutes, board and wetsuit included): $100 for one person, or $425 for a 5-lesson package. The school says adapted lessons cost the same as its standard private lessons.
Where they teach: Manhattan Beach Pier, north side.
Surf Academy offers private and semi-private lessons for all ages, week-long camps for kids 5–8 and 9–17, and surf trips. It's run by Marion Clark and Jamie Marcellus, who has taught there since 1999.
Where they teach: Los Angeles beaches. Confirm the meeting beach when you book.
Let's Go Surf School teaches private and group lessons at Bolsa Chica State Beach next to Lifeguard Tower 16, for ages 8 and up, with no more than 3 students per instructor.
2-hour lessons: $150 (1 person), $280 (2), $360 (3), $480 (4). Surfboard, wetsuit, leash and sunblock are included.
Where they teach: Bolsa Chica State Beach, Lifeguard Tower 16, Huntington Beach.
Orange County Surf Coaching runs learn-to-surf lessons and high-performance coaching in Huntington Beach, led by competitive coach Christian Saenz. It also offers camps, parties and pro photo and video.
1.5-hour lessons: $160 private; $120 per person for 2; $105 per person for 3; $95 per person for 6. Packages: 4 lessons $320, 8 lessons $640. Board and wetsuit included. Photo packages from $50–$75 per person.
Learn To Rip Surf Lessons offers private and group lessons, surf coaching and board rentals at Oceanside Harbor. Coach John brings more than 25 years as a surf instructor, coach, professional surfer and contest judge.
2-hour lesson: $150 (1 person), $130 each (2), $110 each (3+). 1-hour lesson: $100 (1), $90 each (2), $80 each (3+). Soft-top board and wetsuit included. $50 deposit to book.