I hate giving a one star review when businesses are struggling during COVID, but here's what happened... I make reservations online which was very easy. The lady who directed me to the website was also very friendly. Then the hurricane changes my plans so I call to cancel. The guy answers the phone and I initially couldn't hear him. I kindly asked him to repeat what he said and he states, "ma'am, can you hurry up? I have things to do here. What do you want." I didn't say anything rude back, just that I needed to cancel. I then mentioned to my boyfriend that this guy was rather rude so he calls the guy back and tells him that he was a little rude to me on the phone and should have better customer service. Verbatim, the guy says "you don't f**ckin know me bro. F*** you!". Absolutely rude to the both of us and we kept our composure the whole time. I'm sure this is a great business based on other reviews but this guys needs to be fired. Only gave two stars based on the website and lady I initially talked with... read more

Their website advertises that the last lesson is offered at 3:00p, but during the summer they add more later classes because the sun sets later, so be sure to call in to check! I made an appointment with them a week beforehand and got 3:30p with Kea and Troy. I was inclined to book through Big Wave Dave because they were prompt with their responses, they have very chill instructors "brudda!", and geez check out that Yelp deal! It was very easy to work with them since I had originally booked for 2 (mind you, cancellation must take place 24 hours before your lesson), but I was the only one to show up. They were flexible about not charging me for the second person. My partner not showing up made space for another girl who wanted to catch the waves. Everyone in my group pretty much came by themselves, and it turned out to be a lot of fun. Strangers encouraging other strangers. Group lessons go up to 5 people. Group sessions go up to five people. Private lessons are about $120. Our coaches helped gauge our progress and told us how to improve ourselves. They even challenged me to switch my feet 180 degrees. That was fun. They take you to their small surf shop afterward to view the photos that were taken. The pictures the cameraman captures are real good, practically HD quality. The slideshow is about $75 dollars. If you buy them with a friend, they make the price cheaper. read more

We had our Paddle Out Wedding in Waikiki and rented long boards, hired a photographer and a outrigger ride at BWD. They were very PATIENT and FLEXIBLE with time and budget. Made us feel that they are serious about this and want to make sure that everything will go as planned. The PHOTOGRAPHER was experienced, had great ideas for the photo shoot and most importantly.... SHE DID NOT MISS THE SPECIAL MOMENTS!!! They made copies of our +200 photos in to CD's so our family and guests can take them home. We had our pregnant friend, 3 year old boy and our older family member on the OUTRIGGER because they cannot surf. They seemed like they had more fun than anybody else! Captain Dave and 2 other gentlemen from BWD were also on the outrigger and we felt that my guests are very safe... My husband and I were dreaming about this Paddle Out Wedding for a while and I am very happy that we choose BWD! :-) read more

The only reason they lost a star is for all the miscommunication. They originally accepted by Groupon deal (a really good deal) but called back apologizing they made a mistake and don't accept Groupons during holidays. They met me half way and accepted a lower price than the regular holiday price, but I had to contact Groupon to refund the purchase. Our private instructor and lesson was great though! We both stood up pretty quickly and rode several waves. Our instructor even pulled my friend behind him because her arms were getting tired. They instructor's really love doing what they're doing. read more

All I have to say is that was a amazing experience! Our instructor Lee is super friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. He could get anyone to learn how to surf. I would come back 100 times if I could. If your are looking to surf you absolutely have to request for Lee! Super happy with our experience! Lee you are the man! read more

Had a great time. Chad made us feel safe and helped us paddle out bc we were too tired. I got motion sickness bc I'm a wuss... We really liked that they had photographers to capture and document the experience. read more

Everyone who is reading reviews... Please I hope you guys read between the lines between good reviews and the bad ones. @ Ten C. You're an idiot. Reading your other reviews you have written it looks like you're trying to scam for free stuff. Your "crap reviews" are kinda vague. I've been to Big Wave Dave's three times. Twice last year and once this year for a refresher. I get better every time I go. The instructors are nothing short of amazing. I've had Alika twice and he remembers who I am even he hasn't seen me in over a year. This time we had Cody and he helped us tremendously improve skills in a semi private lesson. I made every single wave without fail and was not shorted on lesson time like what was mentioned by Ms. Ten C. With the photos, I did not purchase this year because I bought them last year. I didn't find them overly too expensive to purchase. Why? Well first of all if you go to a luau or any other tourist attraction that take photos; the going price is $15-20 for one photo. They wanna charge you $60-80 for ALL your photos? You get anywhere from 20-50 in the folder depending on how much activity is going out in the water. Amusement parks charge the same for one photo. So @Ten C. Quit whining and being a complete cheap ass. These are your memories and if you've never surfed before and caught a wave, I would want a photo. They didn't force you. Did you ever think that the person who was taking your photo needs to get paid? It wasn't your instructor who took your photos. Also high end camera equipment is involved. Did you ever think of that? So people it's your choice who you want to listen to on reviews. But it sounds like Ten C. Is just cheap and wants her money back. Highly recommended instructors are Alika and Cody. They both are so attentive that last year Alika ran out from while we were packing up to save this lady who hit her head when she collided with another surfer. And on Oct 22, 2015 Cody went sprinting out while we were packing up to save this young kid from hurting himself right at shore. These are instructors who are running out to save non students. The lifeguards weren't even paying attention! read more

I tried taking surf lessons in the North Shore 2 years ago and it was a bit hard to learn. I'm a beginner and always wanted to learn how to surf. So I yelped Big Wave Dave and was pleased with the reviews. Called them up and booked an appointment. They gave me a deal when I mentioned Yelp. I got there with a friend for a semi private lesson on that Saturday morning and our surf instructor Alika assured us we would be able to surf that day. The guy was full of jokes, we hollered at the wahines while learning, and we finally learned how to surf right. It was like going to a Comedy Club and learning how to surf all in one. Had the best time. Definitely going back there to rent boards and take a lesson again with friends who want to learn. Can't beat their price and I'm finally stoked. Thanks guys! read more

I took advantage of this deal back in May of 2013. WELL WORTH IT. My boyfriend and I chose a time that was pretty early in the morning and it worked perfectly - we were the only ones there! The instructor was hilarious, VERY patient, and taught us in a way that was easy to understand. I don't know how it will work as a group setting, but I can't imagine it would be bad. While the CD was expensive (includes photos, video, and music) - it's worth having high-quality photos as memories from the highly experienced photographer we had. Just remember you may be on camera when surfing - judging by my ugly expressions - I forgot that part. From other reviews, it sounds like photographers may be different each time - before your session, you'll want to ask the price, what kind of photos you'll be getting, and the experience of the photographer to judge for yourself if you want to pay. read more

I would highly recommend Big Wave Dave for surf lessons! We used the groupon and did a group surf lesson, and everyone loved it. The photo package is definitely worth it, we got a ton of photos that are really once in a lifetime. My only disappointment was that there was no video, as I had been hoping for that, but the photographer didn't do it that day for some reason. The lesson was thorough, and I felt confident when I went out. Having never surfed before, it was helpful learning on the land first, and not all in the water. The instructors helped us know which waves to catch, and we're super kind. Alika was SO awesome and friendly. I would definitely recommend this so any of my friends. It is actually way easier than you think! I was so scared to try and surf but it ended up being super fun, and I am so so glad that I did it. 10/10 for Big Wave Dave! read more

This was my first surf lesson so I don't have anything to compare to. I took a private lesson with Cody. He was super encouraging and taught me how to stand up out in the water, while stabilizing my board over his. Thought we would do that on land but I'm glad he got me right out in the water and not waste time to over think the whole thing considering I'm a little terrified of open water. One paddle out and I was pretty tired, resulting in a very sore body for a few days after, so have Ibuprofen at hand. You go pretty far out but it's only waist deep. I ended up buying the pictures which also had 2 videos. Probably over priced but what the heck, I looked like an ant with my husband taking pictures. Glad I bit the bullet and checked that off my bucket list. Hawaii really took me out of my comfort zone but so worth it! Thank you BWD! read more

Big Wave Dave - Beach Equipment Rentals Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Had a great time and our last wave was the best. Thanks Dave. John Rich Kerrville, Texas read more

We had never gone surfing before and I had purchased a groupon for an outrigger ride and group surf lesson. The ride on the outrigger was awesome- especially if you wanted the feel of surfing without actually doing it. Alika, our instructor, spent a bunch of time with us and gave us some awesome tips regarding surfing. He was super personable and you could tell he loved his job! Thanks for getting us up on our boards. Only negative: the photos were a bit overpriced. read more

This guy is legit. Real Aloha. He has good boards, even shortboards and although I ripped fins out of a board and damaged it he was fair with the repairs and let me take another out while the 1st board was being repaired. Tiny place is a little hidden but worth the search. Fair prices and just a great Hawaii guide. Thanks Dave. Philip read more

I took a surfing lesson with instructor named Aliki. This place was very professional and prompt from the time I made reservation on the phone the day before the lesson to the time I chose my surfing picture. Great thanks to Aliki -clear instructions , and he would often grab my board and bring me to a position by directing to a good waive- so I save my time and strength to actually ride waives and not just carry the board in the water. I surfed 8-9 times and due to my instructors help was able to stand on the board and have fun. Not bad for first time surf. Thanks to Rachel and Chris for helping me with photos and booking. At all times I felt like I was in a good hangs. 5 stars to you guys and keep doing GREAT JOB, read more

Alika was amazing! I would recommend Big Wave Dave Surf Co and Alika, we had such a good time! Photos by Maui at the end were amazing! We were so happy we were caught on camera, didn't even realize that pictures were happening, definitely a great add on. If I could give it more stars I would! Leah on the phone was super friendly and accommodating for our last minute request. :) Actually, everyone we met here was super cool! Rented boards a second day, best deal around, $5 an hour! Compare that to the hotels that charge $40 an hour or more. Third time here, rented two boards for one son and myself, my other son took a lesson from Derek this time. Derek had him doing tricks, starting on the wave backwards and jumping forward, what great memories! By far, our favorite time on Oahu My boys are now confident to tackle waves in Nor Cal. So stoked my boys have a love of surfing that will continue to grow. Although my plan was to go to Maui the next time we visit the islands, we may make a stop at Big Wave Dave's just to catch some waves! Mahalo Big Wave Dave's! Jill.Cole and Carson read more

These guys are amazing - took a surf lesson after trying and failing to surf for years and Chris got me tuned up on the basics, and gave me a rec for what turned out to be an amazing hike up one of the local ridges. Highly recommend - my only regret is that I got back from the hike too late the next day to rent a board and go out again. read more

I'm so glad we took lessons here. Period. Mickey got all 5 of us standing on a surf board and 4 out of the 5 of us have NEVER tried it before. We all caught about 6 to 8 waves plus more maybe. We all stood on our boards for the majority of the waves! We could have caught more waves but we -- wee students -- got tired... lol but our instructor didn't get tired - and was eager to get us to catch as many waves as possible. :) Mickey's super cool -- surfer type of laid back -- and he gives you humorous nicknames like "the bird" and "hollywood." :) We also did the canoe ride because it was included... oh gosh, it's so much FUN! I thought a canoe ride would be boring - cause I'm from the northwest and I thought lakes - but this type of wave catching canoe thrill ride. Try it :) And Mickey's crazy good - I mean, who surfs on their head like it's nothing. read more

BIG DAVE WAVE is fantastic. I found BDW through Yelp searches from southern New Zealand, looking for a surfing experience for my 9 year old son. He had never really been in salt water before and definitely not on a surf board. Chris took a fully buzzed, hyper, non-listening, non-stop talking, 9 year old and I suspect has hooked him for life. It was evident that the private lesson included not only surfing, it covered ocean life, environment and also some life lessons. The success was so evident, my son was standing on his board within 3 minutes of hitting the waves (I thought I was watching the wrong surfers). My sons overwhelming enjoyment and enthusiasm was such we rescheduled our 2nd day to fit in another lesson. I have never seen him so keen to repeat an experience, ever, he absolutely loved it! The entire team's enthusiasm and care was amazing. We bought the photos from the 1st lesson, however seeing the improvement after the 2nd lesson bought them too as they tell as much a story as his smile. I cannot rate or recommend BDW high enough, an investment well worth the money. Thank you! read more

So glad we did our surf lesson here. Good: Dave is fantastic. I am terrified of the water, and have never surfed, but got up on a few waves! THe baords they use are brand new and huge. Very good for beginners. Dave - Authentic Hawaiian dude. Very laid back. Very cool Their baby is adorable. The rest of our group cancelled, so my boyfreind and I got our own private lesson. Bad: A short walk from the water (and I mean very short. I wouldn't even classify this as bad... just a very very small inconvenience) The price for the DVD is a little expensive. We wanted the pictures, so we paid it. But it seemed a little steep. Great: Our picture DVD got damaged on the drive home. One quick email to them, and we had our entire arsenal of photos available via email. Very cool. Thanks for the great experience guys! read more

I had my first surf lesson at Big Wave Dave last week and I'm still thinking about it. I'm afraid I have to move now--surfing was such a great experience and I can't wait to get back on a board! My friend and I did a lesson with Kamalu (sp?) and not only was he incredibly patient with two chicks who had no idea what they were doing once we got in the water, he was entertaining, encouraging and an overall great instructor. We got a photo CD after and couldn't be happier about the experience. Thank you Kamalu and everyone at Big Wave Dave and Mele Kalikimaka :) read more

What can I say..such a nice group of people that really care...My brother and I came from Los Angeles and decided to take the Canoe and Surf Lesson combo we found on Groupon..Our Instructors Izzy and Nikki were so nice and sincere in their desire to teach us the surfing basics..Like was mentioned before, our instructors were so cool, they even "toed" us out a few times to get to the good waves and then launched us a bit to "catch the wave".......Fantastic experience and fantastic people and great prices...Oh and no matter how much you think you fight to not buy the pictures, Krystal has an eye that will make your mouth drop....Like was said before, makes you look like a pro...Cant say enough good things about this place... If you want a shop that is friendly SMILES and cares, go to Big Wave Daves =) read more

Big Wave Dave - Beach Equipment Rentals Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Had a great morning with Izzie out on a board. She was great with the other guy in our group who was having trouble, and very patient with him. Awesome friendly staff, great that they had someone on shore taking pics - I much prefer that angle to another school out there that had GoPro's on the noses of each board. Not until I can go pro do I want a GoPro taking pics of my chin and up my nose... ;-) Got a deal on Yelp, which made the whole thing even sweeter! Thanks, guys! read more

Awesome time. Jason was our instructor and was extremely helpful and positive. He took time to understand our experience level and what we wanted to accomplish and made it happen. Highly recommend coming through if you're looking for a surfing lesson. Be prepared to be beat after- surfing is a legit workout. read more

I had such a great experience with surf lessons and board rentals from these guys! We took a 2 hour surf lesson with Cody & Izzy. My 8 year old daughter got a lot of individual attention from Izzy, which gave me the confidence to focus on my own surf lesson. They give you great tips to help you be successful. We each stood up on 5-6 waves. Cant wait to go back again! read more

Want to learn how to surf? Big Wave Dave is the place to do it. The friendly, professional and patient staff make sure you have fun and enjoy your experience. We took our visitors here for a surf lesson and they had a blast. Uncle Neil was super friendly and patient with the group which included two kids (8&9 yrs old). Check em out if you want to have fun!!! read more

Big Wave Dave - Rental SUPs - Beach Equipment Rentals Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This is what Yelp is all about. Good people telling others about GREAT companies for others to try out. I never would have found this place had I not checked Yelp Great service and excellent prices. I signed up for an hour lesson but ended up staying out there 1 1/2 hours because the instructor Cody wanted to make sure we caught some waves. I'm 58 and Cody got me standing on my first wave. I signed up my family of four for the canoe ride for tomorrow morning. I'm hoping that'll help convince them to sign up for more surf lessons with me. read more

We spontaneously decided to get surfing lessons on Saturday and we were lucky enough to reserve a semi-private lesson with Alika. He is truly a pleasure to work with and he was so much fun! He taught us the basics while on land and then we hit the beach! We both stood up on our first try and will remember it forever. Thank you so much and shout to to Alika he is the best! read more

Had a FANTASTIC time here! A little late writing this review but we were there a few weeks ago and would love to go back in a heartbeat. Our instructor Josh was awesome, my sister and I had so much fun as a first-timer. We're still mad at ourselves for trying the spot of surfing the day before we have to hop on a flight home!!! Next time I go back to Hawaii, I'm going straight here rather than the hotel! read more

Hubs and I took our first ever surf lessons with Cody and it was awesome! Despite the waves in Waikiki being a little small, Cody made our experience great and we both felt like pros...until we watched our videos and realized that we looked like complete morons on the tiniest waves ever! It was hilarious and of course, we purchased the photo session package and videos. Jason's shots were pretty good and he cut us a deal for $60 because a few of the photos were a little blurry - usually the photo package is $40 per person for all of the photos and videos from the session. We purchased a Groupon so our semi-private lesson (just the two of us) was $59 per person. By FAR the best deal in Waikiki and the quality was awesome. They also rent surfboards for $5 per hour (2 hour minimum), rash guards for $5, and beach chairs, SUP, etc. though I didn't check out the prices for that stuff because we didn't need it. They also have a big locker where you can store your personal items while you surf. I highly recommend them! read more

This was my boyfriend and I's first surf lesson. Although we were a little worried prior to going out into the ocean, we were both standing up on our first wave! Troy was the best teacher! He was a blast, kept us calm, and provided us useful tips/comments after we caught each wave. He took great care in making sure we were safe from both waves and other nearby surfers. I would highly suggest learning how to surf with Troy! We even got awesome professional looking pictures to take home with us! read more

Big Wave Dave - Making our instructor, Troy, proud by catching waves and posing for the photographer! - Beach Equipment Rentals Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Friendly, helpful staff. Maui* will teach you to surf. I guarantee it! *Maui (sp?) was my instructor's name read more

I had an awesome experience at Big Wave Dave's! Everyone on staff was super helpful and friendly. My fiancé was nervous about signing up for surf lessons because he's not a strong swimmer. We checked out the place anyway and they answered all of our questions, assuring us that the water is not very deep and that the surfboards will act as floatation devices. My fiancé felt a little better so we signed up for morning lessons the next day. Fortunately, it was just the 2 of us who signed up for our time slot so we got private lessons from Keoni, who was very patient and helpful. He had us practice the routine a few times on land and made sure we were comfortable before hitting the ocean. While out in the ocean, he helped get our equipment on to sea and took us out to ride the waves. During the lesson, he would watch our form and would give us tips and pointers to improve our stance. After an hour into our lesson, he noticed that my fiancé was tired so he towed him back to shore, helping him bring his board out to the sand too. I had extra energy so Keoni helped get me farther in the ocean so I could ride longer waves. After the lessons, we were presented with photos from our session. We were too embarrassed to buy any photos but we did not feel pressured to buy any at all. My fiancé and I had a great experience as first timers and we highly recommend Big Wave Dave's for lessons. read more

During our recent vacation to Oahu, we signed up our 14 year old son for a private first surfing lesson. He was paired with Ha'a, a super cool, super chill instructor. After a brief tutorial on land, the two quickly hit the water, and, by the second wave our son was standing up on the board. Shortly thereafter he was riding the waves without any problems. It was a great experience, and our son said he wants to surf every time we go back to Hawaii now. Kudos to Big Wave Dave and kudos to Ha'a. read more

Dave was and his wife (I assume) were very friendly. Dave was a good instructor and I did manage to get up on the board! They are a little hard to find, as the meeting point is in an alley. read more

Decided to go for my first surf lesson at Big Wave Dave due to groupon discount. Groupon had the lesson + canoe riding for 55, but I called them before purchasing it from groupon and they gave me the deal for 50 instead. My lesson was fantastic!! I was able to stand up for the first time in my life and it felt great!! My instructor even gave me a bit extra time even after we were told to go back in. Due to the weather, I couldn't do the canoe the same day so I changed it to board rentals credit. The only reason why they did not get a 5 star was that I was soooo ready to purchase at least one picture of me on the board only to find out the photographer didn't get any picture of me standing on the board. That was a great disappointment :( I was really looking forward to having a picture too. read more

Got my surf lesson today with Cody and it was great. He was nice and extremely patient. I fell face down like 5-6 times before i made my stand on the board. I consider it not to bad for someone who doesn't snow board, skate or any sort of those that involved a board lol :-) Go get lesson from those guys cos all the instructors are super nice. Front desk girls are awesome too. Friendly and helpful :-) Will come back again to rent the board for tomorrow. read more

Great value, great instructors, great with my kids. My daughters got up the first time and now have the surfing bug. Nice people and a great experience. read more

Big Wave Dave - First time up - thanks to her instructor Josh and Big Wave Dave's. - Beach Equipment Rentals Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Loved taking a semi-private lesson from Johnny! As a first time surfer, I felt he was great on tips and got us riding waves in no time. All of the staff were super helpful and friendly too. Check em out! read more

These guys were Awesome! Dave was great and really showed us a great time and we easily all got up on boards. Mahalo! read more