San Diego Surf School

Surf instruction is organized around progressive skill themes rather than unstructured beach time. Published camp plans begin with safety, rip-current awareness, pop-up technique, and riding waves toward shore. Later instruction introduces surf etiquette, 180- and 360-degree turns, stalling and speeding up, reading ocean conditions, grab-rail turns, duck diving or turtle rolls, and pumping the board for speed. A final review and surf contest bring the week’s skills together.

The school publishes one-, two-, three-, and five-day camp options, plus morning, midday, sunset, and full-day time formats. Morning and midday instruction provides a three-hour block, while the sunset option is shorter and the full-day format extends through the afternoon. Published camp materials also describe a short break within the longer morning and midday instruction blocks. The 3:1 surfer-to-instructor ratio supports individual feedback as campers practice at their own level.

Multi-day programs also include group challenges such as surf relays, capture the flag, surfboard roulette, and tandem surf activities. Surfboards and wetsuits are provided, so the instructional focus stays on technique, ocean awareness, and repeated practice in the water. The program is designed for ages 5–17 and is offered for beginner, intermediate, and advanced surfers. Across the formats, children return to the same core progression while receiving coaching matched to the skills being practiced that day.

Published camp information includes snacks as part of the camp experience. Families are also instructed to send campers with water and either lunch or a snack, depending on the length and timing of the booked session. Official camp materials also list pizza during multi-day camp weeks. Families should follow the food and packing instructions included with their specific booking, especially for longer sessions that extend across the midday meal period.

Ocean safety is built into the published surf curriculum, including instruction on rip currents, surf etiquette, and changing ocean conditions. The camp uses a 3:1 surfer-to-instructor ratio. Official instructor information says instructors are CPR and lifeguard certified, and the school also highlights water-safety and first-aid training.

No swim test is required. The FAQ says campers who are not strong swimmers stay in shallow water next to an instructor. Families check in at the designated beach meeting point before the session, and campers under 18 must be registered by a legal guardian with the required release form completed.

Surf instruction is delivered in small groups using a published 3:1 surfer-to-instructor ratio. The school states that its instructors are CPR and lifeguard certified. Camp coaching covers both water safety and surf technique, with instruction adjusted across beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. The program’s small-group format gives instructors repeated opportunities to coach individual surfers during water practice.

Families receive meeting and location details as part of the booking process and are directed to the designated beach check-in point before camp. The school maintains a public parent contact channel for registration and camp questions. Families should use the instructions associated with their specific booking for arrival details and any session-specific updates.

Campers should arrive early for beach check-in; official guidance asks families to plan roughly 20 to 30 minutes before the scheduled start. The meeting point is marked by an orange tent at the assigned surf location. Campers should bring a swimsuit, sunscreen, towel, water, and the food needed for their session. Public parking, restrooms, and showers are available near the camp locations. A legal guardian must register campers under 18 and complete the required release form.