Ocean Experience Surf School

My son has been in Ocean Experience Surf School in their various holiday skate camps and most recently two weeks of the surf/​skate combo summer camps. He really loves the program and gets lots of great feedback on how to continue to improve. He likes the diversity of having both activities in one day and the staff is very cool and he told me daily how much he enjoyed the camp. I highly recommend this camp for anyone with a child who wants to learn to surf and skate.

This is my second time coming here and I loved it just as much as my first experience! The instructors are all so nice and willing to help. Very approachable too, so I never felt intimidated whenever I wanted to ask a questions or ask for help. Plus, they are very very cheery too and obviously enjoy their job as surf instructors! Also, they make sure to focus on the fundamentals before going into the water, which is nice because I felt very comfortable surfing prior to going into the water and didn’t feel confused or just thrown into it at all.
When actually surfing, the instructors made sure to pay attention to all the students in the class and give everyone tips in order to ride a wave successfully!
¹⁰⁄₁₀ would recommend to anyone who is visiting San Diego and wants to surf!

It was tough! I wish there were more instructors, as I needed more help than was available. Also, I wish there was an option to reschedule if the waves are too big for beginners. It is hard to learn in one lesson, I wish you could purchase more lessons for less money.

Got a three-​hour surfing groupon for my friend who was visiting (never surfed ever) and I (suck at surfing — tried a few times).
The shop was not easy to find since the name is not actually Ocean Experience Surf School but it is part of a surf shop — a small sign indicates the surf school but was difficult to catch while driving. We called and finally found it (Opposite the Harp!).
Everyone is very chill and friendly! Our instructors were Ryan and a girl from San Luis Obispo, both chill and helpful. Ryan was good about introductions and to understand everyone’s background (surfing, board sports) before we began the class, and to kind of break the ice and get everyone comfortable with each other. It was a small class of just six so very cosy.
We started a land training, which was not easy (quite the workout!) but very useful (as we saw later). Instructors were encouraging and there to correct you, guiding you through the steps. Ryan was good at telling us what the difference would be when we are surfing compared to land training, helping us understanding the mechanics etc. It was a GREAT workout too! My friend and I considered getting the tools they were using just for workout purposes and perhaps to help us with surfing down the road!
After the land training, we went out to the water at dog beach in OB. The waves were perfect, not too big and enough time between each waves for us to prepare ourselves. At first, Ryan and the girl just helped us by pushing us to catch the waves, getting us to try to stand up. It was super useful to not worry about catching the waves. They were good about telling us exactly when the waves were coming in (how many seconds etc) and what to do (get on your board, come back a little etc). After awhile, some people got the hang of it and caught their own waves! It was mighty fun! FIRST TIME I EVER STOOD UP! WOOHOOO! It felt great. Everyone should try surfing at least once.
We weren’t really taught how to catch a wave properly though. Kind of important when you don’t have them to push you into it… That was more an instinctive thing that people did. I caught some and had a great time! My friend had trouble standing up but still had a wonderful time! I love the dogs too!
Overall, a great place to begin your surfing adventure!

Wife and I took a lesson.
Chris? and Jamal were great teachers. The dry land training for the first hour and a half is essential. ONce in the water, I actually was able to catch a few waves. The group could have been a little smaller. I think there were about 12 people in our group. That being said, they did a great job.
Included in your lesson is wet suit rental and board for the remainder of the day.
Would have given 5 stars if group was half the size and my board wasn’t so beat up.

Purchased two groupons for my boyfriend and I to try our hand at surfing (his second time, my first time) after his pleading with me that it would be super fun.
The shop/​store was well maintained and the guy at the counter was friendly and helpful and had our waivers all ready to be signed. After our group was all accounted for (about 10 of us) we all got fitted into wet suits and headed down to the water.
This next part was very impressive: we spent over an hour on land working on balance training. We started out sitting in a very camp-​like circle (mostly because the instructors had just finished doing a kids’ surf camp) and our instructors explained what they do and why they do it. We then began our balancing on wooden indo boards to practice gliding. Then we had squishy half-​circle inflated things placed under the indo-​board to try to work on positions and standing up. Once we’d gotten enough of that, rollers were placed under our boards and we tried our best to balance and possibly go down to a diamond position without falling off to simulate water movement. It was tough! I felt like I got a full yoga workout without even going into the water.
Once we got down to the beach, we each practiced positions twice on an actual surfboard, then headed with our individual boards into the water. It took me a while to get the hang of the waves and motions and kept getting hit by waves and going underwater which I wasn’t used to, but eventually I was able to catch a few waves (even just kneeling on the board) and actually stood up once for about 4 seconds, which I was super proud of. Everyone in the group was really nice and we’d all clap or give thumbs up or ‘woo hoos!’ to each other when someone actually made it standing on top of their boards. The instructors were also in the water helping to guide and push all of us on our boards. My arms are still tired from doing this 3 days ago but it was worth it. Not sure I’d love it as a hobby, but I’m glad my boyfriend convinced me to step out of my comfort zone and give it a try! The instructors are very serious about what they do and seem to have fun doing it. I’d definitely recommend them for surfing lessons.

Signed up for lessons for my 2 girls. First time surfing. Got the groupon deal and found the experience worth the money. The girls loved it. The instructors were great and worked with my girls in the ocean. first half of lesson is on the grass teaching how to balance and get on a board. 2^nd half is in the ocean. It was a bit crowded with little kids and people, but we went on a Saturday, what would you expect? I’d recommend this place.

Unsecure! Went for a surf lesson. The instructors left out basic details of how to gain speed on the board or avoid other surfers, so there was a low success rate and multiple collisions. Worst, when I returned to the store, my designer sunglasses were missing; apparently no one is actually keeping watch of your belongings behind the counter. I guess I’m just happy no one lifted my car keys too…

WOW. I have to admit, I am very tough at rating businesses. But this school was THE most amazing and fun time that my friends and I have had in San Diego. We live in Arizona and visit often, so we know most of San Diego… but happened to purchase this lesson on Groupon after we figured, «what the heck».
We got there on time and they were friendly and helpful to direct us to the bathroom, lockers and changing area. Travis and Chase were the coolest instructors ever! They went over a brief description of what we would be doing, got fitted with wet suits and headed to an area to start the lesson down the way on Indo boards. This was not only fun but entertaining. It was challenging for us to try to accomplish each task as they get harder. But-​this was all for a purpose. To simulate how it will feel out in the water on your surfboard. Balance is key. Travis mentioned that looking down makes you lose your balance, so when we all looked up and focused on something, it got easier.
After that, we headed to dog beach and put our wet suits on under a tent with equipment. We left our things and cover ups under the tent and headed out for the beach. WOW. What an exhilarating experience!!! Travis and Chase’s main goal was to help us try to catch a wave in. They would take our group out and tell us what to do to help us improve. When we asked them specific questions, they answered with knowledgable experience and we seemed to get better! I caught my wave the first time and the people in the group shortly thereafter.
Chase made sure to take pictures for us while we were out in the ocean as well as when we trained on the Indo boards so that we had proof to show our friends! I bought a waterproof case for my phone and a few others had waterproof camera. We have INSANE pictures of us to frame!!!
After some of the group got tuckered out and rested by the shoreline, Travis asked to borrow my board really quick while I rested to take my boyfriend out and help him catch a wave on his own. Success!!! I have many pictures of him on his own wave!!!
Finally, we headed back and they let us shower back at the school and rest before we headed out. This was one of THE most amazing experiences ever. I’ve taken snowboard and ski classes and this surpassed ALL of them.
DON’T:
Bring a towel to the beach. You won’t need it.
DO:
Bring a LARGE bottled water to the beach-​you will need it
Bring a waterproof camera or phone
Bring sunscreen-​it was overcast but we still got a little red
Park in the back of the school:$ 5 for 2 – 9 hours, cash only
Wear a suit and coverup;they provide wet suits for you

I’m torn on the school, but leaning towards the negative. We signed up our kids, 12 and 9 for a lesson during our week long visit. Robert, the owner starteded out with a great opening speech on safety and the agenda for the class, and their philosophies, which I appreciated, but was totally over the heads of the 4 kids in the class, they were pretty well glazed over shortly after Robert started his mini lecture. There was alot of foundational training on Indo boards in the grass which helped and is certainly critical training. Once everyone headed into the water, a class of eight total, 4 of them were kids, 3 parents, 1 solo adult, with 3 instructors, this is were I lost faith in the school.
Of the three instructors, we lost one entering the water, no clue where he went. So once we actualy moved into the area where safety is of greatest concern with 4 kids, they shrunk the instructor pool down to 2. I moved into the water a little just to watch my own kids if nothing else, and gang, I’m neither a good swimmer, nor a surfer, so I was about worthless in this situation.
The 2 instructors that were left were so spread out that the other parents that came to attend the school were focused on their kids, one instructor did help my youngest, but my 12 year old was left to his own devices the entire time. 12 year olds tend to think they know everything, but it was clear that he was frustrated and was not successful at all during the class period. I tried reaching out to the coaches but they weren’t interested in talking. So, end of the class, I had one that loved it, the other that didn’t and left discouraged. I’m a mountain guy and have instructed skiing to kids; this experience was nothing short of putting a first time student on a pair of skis at the top of the mountain and saying good luck. That turns a kid away from a great sport from that point on. When you have lots of kids, you have to have enough instructors to focus on safety and instruction. I don’t think they were focused on either very well with two instructors in the water when it mattered most.

I purchased a deal for the paddleboarding lesson, and I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed myself. The instructor was not only incredibly knowledgeable but ensured that all participants had a good understanding of the basics before getting into the water.
I would definitely recommend them to all, and will eventually be taking surfing lessons through them.

Wonderful! Had a truly amazing group intro-​to-​surf lesson today. The class starts out with a lecture, then moves to the balance boards and pop-​up practicing, and then moves to the water. Roger is a truly talented instructor with a gift for being thorough and informative while keeping things fun and entertaining. I have an appreciation for details and experience teaching a sport and was truly impressed by my lesson today. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable and the beach we walked to was simply marvelous for beginning surfers. The staff members in the water with us were patient, attentive, and encouraging. The friends I brought with me for the lesson had a great time as well. I am looking forward to the next experience I have with this company. They even have a hot outdoor shower you can use to rinse off the sand and salt water. :)
David

My fiancé and each purchased the Groupon $ 29 special for the SUP (stand up paddle-​boarding) because I’d been dying to try it. It was certainly a bit of a drive for us (nothing new living up in Carlsbad) and only a few days to a week or so after purchasing the Groupon the man called to set it up for Saturday at 10:30A. He received the confirmation email and it had all the info on it… unfortunately for us I didn’t realize the address was different from the one on the printed Groupon, so were early for once, but at the wrong place. By the time we located the correct spot they were just getting started.
We started with 20 – 30 mins of instruction and practice on land before heading into the bay. There was a head guy who taught and two other guys who dealt with the paperwork and eventually went out on the water with our group of 15 or so.
I was immediately hooked; so much so that I came home and started searching for SUP’s. Too bad they START at $ 500. Crap! Carlsbad lagoon rents them for like $ 30/​hour. Ugh.
Anyways, although they took us out for over 2 ½ miles and about 1 ½ hour of actual paddling (maybe a bit much for a new group?) I loved every minute of it. We had perfect sunny weather and the water was perfect. We really had a blast… but more so at the beginning when we could hang and (of course as my fiancé tried to knock me over by running into me) than the second half where we were ferociously paddling (in a relaxed manner of sorts) to keep up with the trail. I’m not sure how I ended up at the back of the line but for some reason that’s pretty much where I stayed.
The only sketchy part is that the bay is super busy on a Saturday; so in addition to the regular boats and such there was also an amateur sailing class going on that you had to be able to dodge/​paddle around the seemingly non-​ending stream of people aiming for you!
All in all we had a great time (I did at least) and I’d love to find a way to really get into SUP’ing. Makes me feel like I’ve finally arrived as a San Diegan.

I’m very impressed by these guys. I brought my nephew and his friend who were visiting from Indiana who had never even been in the ocean before. Before the lesson began the instructors were positive, supportive and enthusiastic which really came through in the lesson. By the end of it these kids didn’t want to go home. I would recommend this to family, couples and individual alike. Dax and Dave are awesome! Very impressed by their attitude and the value of the experience.

I too got the Living Social deal for a group lesson. Mark was my instructor, and I can’t say enough good things about what a great surfing instructor he is and how he made the learning experience fantastic. He’s deeply knowledgeable about surfing on every level, including a valuable insight in local surfing spots and surf etiquette. He’s enthusiastic and highly engaged, and a great teacher of surfing fundamentals. I’ve no previous experience with Ocean Experience, but with Mark as an instructor, you cant go wrong.

Not impressed with their surf lessons. We bought the Living Social deal for 2 kids and there were 13 people in the class. There were 3 instructors, but 2 of them did absolutely nothing. I have pictures of them playing around on the indo boards, doing push-​ups on the boards, and just ignoring the students. It’s as if the class was for them, not the actual students.
In the water, I again have pictures of two out of 3 instructors just standing there as the young kids are struggling to get on the boards. Waste of time and money, we’ll go with Surf Diva in La Jolla next time given their reputation.
Another thing to keep in mind, the lessons took place on Dog Beach… there were dog fights, dog crap, and the possessions of those in the water getting peed on while they were in the water surfing… not fun for anyone! OB isn’t exactly known for the best dog owners, so come at your own risk! We were very disappointed and both kids mentioned that they did not enjoy the «lessons.» There are many surfing schools in San Diego, this is one I would definitely avoid!

Great company! The surf lesson was extensive, the instructors were awesome, and they let us use the surf board for the rest of the day free of charge! Would definitely come back to these guys!