Fabien has been an incredible surfing coach. He's super friendly, approachable, and immediately…read moremakes you feel comfortable in the water. What really stands out is how supportive he is--he pays close attention to your technique and gives clear, practical feedback that you can actually apply right away. His tips on how to pop up were especially helpful. He broke the movement down step by step, corrected small details I didn't even realize I was doing wrong, and made the whole process feel much more natural and consistent. I saw improvement quickly because of how clearly he explained everything. What I appreciated most is that he didn't just focus on the session itself--he also gave me specific drills and practice tips to work on at home. That made a huge difference in building muscle memory and confidence before getting back in the water. If you're looking for a coach who's knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely invested in helping you improve, I highly recommend Fabien!

Thank you Fabian!!! You got me up on the board, finally. And I feel like a genuine surfer now, no…read morelonger a poseur.

It was a glorious day with Ryan on the water!…read more We made the last minute decision to try to get private lessons for our 4 kids. I ended up texting the number and they got back us right away. They organized Ryan quickly and it was less expensive than most of the other surf schools. Every child got up on the waves! They had a blast. Ryan was a terrific instructor. I couldn't rate higher. It was such a great experience for the kids to have together.

Learned the basics. Matt was on time and super patient for first timer. I caught a few nice wavesread more

I don't like giving five star reviews but these guys definitely earned it…read more All about water safety and making sure the students have a smile on their face in the water. Highly recommend these folks.

This is seriously the best surfing school and a great first time experience for those who have…read morenever surfed... My husband and I went surfing with Alex as our instructor. We stood up, we were SHREDDING, and we couldn't have had more fun. The instructors here are the best -- we were surfing next to another large group with instructors from tommy tsunami who had a 6 year old girl crushing. the best day, the best time, 100% stoke guaranteed. To Alex at Tommy Tsunami -- thank you! stoke guaranteed x 100

The terrific lesson with Ella! So cute, positive and…read moremotivational instructor ) Didn't surf for a while, but she remibded me how to surf again. Very encouraged and can't wait for another session.

Ella and Lily are absolutely amazing with the kiddos. They are fun, engaging, educational and safe…read more They were knowledgeable and taught my kids so much about currents, waves, erosion, beach safety, water safety and how to get up on their boards. 10/10 recommend and my girls want to come back next summer. Women owned, small camp sizes and so much fun!

My daughter (11 years old) had the best day ever with her lesson with Dave. She was nervous at…read morefirst but he was fun and quickly got her excited to be out in the water. In no time she was up and surfing. I wish we had stayed longer so she could have done more lessons, but we will be back next summer and will for sure be booking more lessons.

I'm so happy that I chose Open Ocean Surfing for my 13-year-old son. While researching surf…read moreinstructors, I came across 2 older news articles about how the owner, Dave Alexander, RESCUED tourists that happened to be at the beach while he was teaching, and I knew this was our man! You can tell that Dave is extremely experienced and knows what he's doing. He is also laid-back and fun. The time spent with Dave had given my son confidence, excitement, hope, and joy which is worth more than gold. Thank you Dave Alexander!!

Great experience, at 40 years old and never surfing these guys got me going. Great personality,…read moregreat coaching and fantastic atmosphere. These guys are professionals, and actual movie stars

I recently visited my best friend in California, traveling all the way from New Jersey. It was my…read morefirst time in Cali, and since I've always wanted to learn how to surf--especially living near the water at the Jersey Shore--I knew this was the perfect opportunity. While visiting, we booked a lesson with Surf School Santa Cruz, and I'm so glad we did. From the moment we met our instructor, Ryan, he made us feel comfortable and excited to get out on the water. He stayed right by our side the entire time, offering encouragement and guidance that kept us motivated. Learning to surf with Ryan was such an incredible experience--he's not only an amazing teacher but also truly one of the best surfers out there. If you've ever thought about trying surfing, I can't recommend Surf School Santa Cruz (and Ryan!) enough.

Booked a lesson in a week, spent 2 hours on the road and got nothing : no one showed up for the…read morelesson. Not a text, not an email that it was canceled. Just that, just ignore. Next business day I get an email saying "we are sorry you were at the wrong place and the wrong time", which is a lie. They said they ordered the refund - will see how it goes. Found another surf school down there, will go with them next time. Ruined experience

Super nice crew! We rented wet suits and body boards for the day. They explained the whole process…read moreto my sister and I being first timers finding the perfect size suit for us. You didn't make us feel dumb for not knowing and I really appreciate that. Thank you for the good experience!

Never ever give them your phone number. They keep sending you unsolicited texts with promotions. I…read moreasked them three times to stop as I've found someone else already. Didn't help.

Absolutely a fantastic experience learning to surf with the Hokali team. Being a first timer, I was…read morepaired up with the Scotty who was prepared with a board and clean wetsuit - both perfectly sized for my height and weight. When we got to the beach, Scotty taught the Hawaiian value of Kuleana, ocean safety(rip currents), how to read waves and swells, and how to pop up. Once in the water, Scotty was very supportive, dedicated, and focused on helping me to pick up the art of surfing. It was an unforgettable and incredibly fun experience. I plan to take additional lessons from Scotty to take it to the next level. Scotty is a skilled surfer with a lot of passion and knowledge. Can't wait to take my next lesson !

I have nothing but good things to say about Dogpatch Foil! I can't remember my instructor's name,…read morebut he was so kind and knowledgeable. I actually went to two lessons a year apart. The only barrier to me going more is that it is so expensive for one lesson (over $300). The instructor explained the super high cost of the foil itself, so I understand the need to increase the lesson price. I would love to do this more regularly, but cannot for this reason. I decided to splurge on the first lesson and was gifted the second lesson. We put in at Crane Cove Park. I have been there many times but never swam in the water. I was outfitted with a wetsuit, helmet, and booties. I never felt cold while in the water. During my first lesson, they connected this radio to the helmet so I could speak to the instructor while out. It was super helpful because he could give me real-time feedback. In my second lesson, they did not have radios, so it was harder to communicate during the lesson. It really is so fun to foil, and I highly recommend it to anyone who might want to give it a try. If you wanted to feel comfortable doing it, unless you regularly surge/skateboard, it would probably take 3-5 lessons before you are zooming around standing completely, so definitely factor that in when it comes to cost.

Awesome shop so nice and close to Crane Cove - a great place to get out on the water…read more I took efoiling lessons from Dogpatch Foil and had an awesome time. I was immediately hooked. They sold me a board and have been super helpful and friendly along the way. I highly recommend them for lessons and sales of Fliteboards!

For anyone who would like to certify or refresh a cert for American Heart Association CPR/First…read moreAid/AED, we highly recommend Paul and his team at Feldman CPR at https://www.feldmancpr.com. Paul is a retired physician and has been an AHA Certified Instructor since 2014. Detailed, knowledgeable, kind and patient. Paul can host both group and private classes. He hosted a private training for our teen who enjoyed his class very much, and has gained the confidence to use these life saving skills in the event of an emergency. Thank you so much, Paul!