Went paddle boarding yesterday and this is my first review of a not food place. I bought a Groupon and cost me 22 dollars for day. I walked in, filled out the paperwork that took 3 minutes (bring your DL!). He saw me click redeem the coupon and then I was on my way! It include a paddle and the board. It was pretty light, made from foam. To get to the beach, walked across the street and an alley (about less than a quarter mile) and off we go! The boards returned with a bit of sand. We put them outside and let him know we did and we left. It was easy quick and simple! read more

I chose Surfari/mission surf based on positive reviews and a pre-lesson phone call in which I specifically asked about wide board availability. They confirmed they had one. On arrival, I was handed a standard board and told it was wide. It was not. The bigger issue was the instructor, Rich, who is also listed as an owner of Surfari. His behavior throughout the lesson was inappropriate and made the experience genuinely uncomfortable. He asked questions about my relationship and loyalty to my boyfriend, made repeated comments that were flirtatious in nature, touched the tattoo on my back without asking, and used physical contact that was unnecessary and unwelcome (such as hand on thigh to guide me through the water). He is an owner, which means there is no one to flag this to and no accountability mechanism once you are in the water which made it worse. The surf instruction itself was a secondary concern, but it was also poor. Very little time was spent focused on technique, and the session lacked any structure. I am writing this specifically so other women know what to expect. The positive reviews drew me in. The reality was the opposite. I would not return and cannot recommend this school. read more

Got the 22$ 2-hour paddle board rental Groupon deal for 2 people. Benny was welcoming and helpful, explained everything nonchalantly and gave us a tip on how to get to the launch spot. Overall a great experience and a great price for a paddle board rental Thanks again Benny! read more

My 12 year old loved his lesson. They spent time On the beach practicing form and then the rest of the time in the water. It was his first experience and he stood up over 10 times! He had a blast! read more

Mission Surf Shack - My 12 year old loved his lesson! - Surf Schools Near Me - San Diego, California

I like this place because it's only $20 if you pay cash and you get to rent the board for 24 hours!!! It's so cheap for how long you're able to have them for. Be sure if you rent overnight that you have a place to put them, or have a rack on top of your car to take them back and fourth because this place closes at 5. They also have free lockers for you to be able to use to put your stuff in, but be sure to get everything before they close. The reason I am giving 4 stars instead of 5 is because of the condition of the boards, and the horrible walk to take them to the beach. The boards are not in the greatest condition, as some of these other reviews have mentioned. I had one last weekend where the fin was taped on with duct tape. Okay, okay...yes that sounds bad lol but it worked just fine for me. We had one newer one and then the old taped up one and they both were great once you were in the water. The walk across Mission Blvd....UGH. Carrying your personal stuff, your board (which is HUGE, if you are new to this like I was) and your paddle is really difficult across Mission Blvd then down through the alleys and then up and over the sand and finally down to the water. Not easy, always a pain to do this. You have to wait for the cars to let you pass (because there is no stop light with a cross walk right near you), and it's all very heavy and awkward. I guess it's not Surfari Surf's fault necessarily, but they could maybe offer to help carry things over for an extra small fee. Because I would really pay it!!! read more

Mission Surf Shack - mission bay - Surf Schools Near Me - San Diego, California

I had never been paddleboarding before but I had a friend visiting from out-of-town who loves paddleboarding and really wanted to give it a try in San Diego. We started researching paddleboarding locations and came across Surfari. I was a little hesitant because I know how difficult it can be to find parking in Mission Bay but ultimately decided that the bay seemed like a good spot to give the sport a try since the waters are calm. Luckily, parking wasn't as difficult as I expected, or maybe I just lucked out, but we found a spot within a few blocks of the shop. We checked in around 3 and were told that we had to return the paddleboards by 5:30. Although we hadn't bought the Groupon, they still offered us the Groupon price, which was about $20 each. Since I was a newcomer, they gave me a few quick pointers on dry land and then kindly helped stop traffic along busy Mission Blvd. Then came the most difficult part of the experience: carrying the heavy, awkward board the few blocks along an alley to the beach. There was a small finger hold in the middle of the board but it only allowed for the tips of your fingers to grip the handle. It was extremely difficult to lift and balance the board and I had to stop every ten feet or so to readjust. Granted, I admit that I'm not blessed in the upper body strength department so others may have an easier time but if you're on the weaker side, be prepared! Once we arrived at the peaceful bay and we put the boards in the water, it was much easier. I chickened out on standing up on the board in more than a foot of water but I did practice balancing close to shore. The calm waters make it easy to get your balance but be on the lookout for the occasional waves caused by jet skis. Otherwise, this is a great location to get a feel for paddleboarding. Returning the paddleboard was quick and easy. The shop also has free lockers that you can store your bag inside while you're out on the water and a room for changing in and out of your bathing suit. Basically, my only issue was carrying the board and I wish they had boards that were easier to maneuver. My friend, who is an experienced paddleboarder, thought these paddleboards were more difficult to carry than ones she has used in the past too. But aside from that, I loved the friendliness of the staff and would rent from them again. read more

Mission Surf Shack - First time paddleboarding! - Surf Schools Near Me - San Diego, California

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My older son loves to Surf and was signed up for Surf Camp. Unfortunately, he broke his collarbone a few weeks before camp. My younger son reluctantly agreed to take his place so we kept the reservation. He was very apprehensive but the instructors and staff did a great job of encouraging him and he was riding waves the first day and having a great time. They had to wait out some thunderstorms and the staff did a great job keeping the kids entertained and engaged playing games. All the kids were riding waves the first day and catching waves on their own the 2nd day. We hope to have both boys in Surf Camp next time we come to visit the grandparents! read more

Got the Groupon deal for two adult paddle boards and redeeming was super simple and fast. The customer service is great and plan to continue being a customer. If you rent directly from them it's actually cheaper! read more

I would HIGHLY recommend this shop! Phil is a great guy who is professional, understanding and loves surfing. Surfing where I am from in Long Island, NY, surf shops can be edgy places and I was surprised to see such a level of care for the customer in comparison with other surf shops I shopped for on Mission Beach. Phil allowed flexibility with the return time for the equipment and prices were more reasonable than other shops I saw within walking distance. ATTENTION ALL SD VISITING SURFERS:THIS IS YOUR PLACE. Definitely deserved my business for the professionalism and punctuality. Thank you for making rad surfing experience in SD, Phil! James from NY. read more

Phil was an amazing instructor. He was very matter-of-fact and thorough. While you can't learn all there is to know about surfing in just one hour, I got a great overview and really caught a passion for the sport. I will continue learning at home in Florida. read more

Came from the bay and decided to check out some surfing lessons. Found this neat place with five stars on yelp. Came on a Monday, traffic wasn't bad, parking was decent so it wasn't hard trying to find this gem. I paid and booked the appointments online for me and my gf- we did the semiprivate lessons (2) people with Gavin, awesome instructor. I could only book one of the appointment online and had to call to make sure that they knew I had two people in the class instead of possibly pairing up with someone else. Spoke with the owner and worked out well. They have everything you will need. The hardest part is getting on the wetsuit!! Did some land drills then caught the waves within the first/second try! Gavin is an awesome instructor!!!! kept it real and to the point. He really breaks it down when he teaches and let you know what you could do better. Not but love for this place. Try it! :):):) read more

Phil was great! We had two young girls and one adult, and he did a great job managing us all. We all got up on waves! One hour was totally enough for our first surf lesson. Highly recommend this surf school. read more

Having 10 years experience as a ski instructor and outdoor guide I was looking for a laid back school with competent adult surf lessons. I can't say enough about Surfari and my instructor Gavin, other than I'd go back again and again. Their 3/2 full length wetsuit made a winter afternoon feel like nothing more than a summer day. Super cool experience the whole way round- see pics for proof! Thanks guys! (photo credits C. Dent) read more

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I've rented here three times now and I highly recommend. You can't find better prices anywhere else nearby. The owner is incredibly kind and knowledgeable. I wouldn't go anywhere else!! read more

I was feeling real good vibes from the minute I set foot into this school. I had a freakishly HORRIBLE experience with PACIFIC SURF SCHOOL, and one morning before heading to mission beach I gave this surf school a call to see if I could squeeze into a group lesson later that day. They seemed more than happy to do what they could to accommodate me. They have lockers available for any valuables (pacific surf school just lets you leave your crap on the sand at their tent) which I thought was convenient. The instructors are right there with you in the water helping you catch and take off on a wave, and were extremely helpful as well as encouraging when we were out in the water. I felt like I had improved a lot since my first surf lesson I had previously in Hawaii. After I was done with my lesson I even received some good advice on what kind of board to get as my first surfboard and how to get a good deal. I would definitely recommend this school for anybody wanting to learn how to surf, and am looking forward to signing up for a private lesson next time I visit Mission Beach. read more

Really cool guy at the front desk. We were running late but he made efforts to get us the boards with the handles that make carrying much easier. This was greatly appreciated as new paddle boarders because we struggled and the way back with noodle arms made a huge difference. Will definitely return for future rentals, this location is perfect for heading straight out to the bay and next to some great spots to stop for a treat before or after. read more

Time and time again this place just does me right. The day rate for a paddle board is unbeatable and the staff is oh so friendly and accommodating. I'm very thankful I found them. I NEED to be on the water periodically and they help me with my fix. I literally have no suggestions for improvement... except that I'm weak and have to take 952 breaks while walking my board to the water... personal problems. read more

Really enjoyed using their paddle boards. My husband and I purchase a group for two person 24 hr rental. If you are thinking of coming call them ahead of time before you purchase Groupon and see if they will give you the same or a better deal. They offered us a better deal than Groupon. Unfortunately we had already purchase the Groupon a few weeks before coming down. But overall great customer service read more

We had such a good experience at Surfari. My kids took surf lessons and loved it, the instructors were personable, knowledgable and worked well with my kids (ages 5 and 9). Everyone at Surfari helped make our day at the beach the best day of our vacation. We had such a great time, we extended our trip another day so we can take another lesson today. I would highly recommend Surfari. read more

Mission Surf Shack - My five year olds first time surfing. - Surf Schools Near Me - San Diego, California

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Horrible service!! Rented paddleboards. Boards were dented and generally bad condition. Surfers running the shop were more interested in flirting with the female customers than helping my wife and I. Owner was a jerk and demeaning to me when I didn't store the board properly upon return - my bad bro! Will rent paddleboards again, but will definitely choose another surf shop (there are tons on this street!). read more

Our lessons with Rory this morning were incredible! He was the most thorough, knowledgeable, and patient instructor, even with us beginners. To take it over the top, we were blessed to get to surf alongside dolphins for a good part of our time. Pure magic read more

Great place to get surfing lessons. Matt was excellent! My daughter enjoyed a quality lesson and was able to spend a lot of time with Matt. It was clean inside. Extremely friendly. Instructor very patient and fun. read more

Mission Surf Shack - Success! - Surf Schools Near Me - San Diego, California

Great place to go to rent SUP for the day. They beat the Groupon rate. Don't even bother with them or a 3rd party - give your cash right to the business. They've always been efficient and kind in their dealings with me and anyone I bring as a customer. read more

Really had a good time today. The surf was Very high but it was a great challenge. Corey was very kind and patient. Definitely recommend this small surf shop for anybody who wants to learn how to surf. Hope to come back soon. read more

Mission Surf Shack - Surf Schools Near Me - San Diego, California

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I'm new in San Diego & Yelp has been my bestfriend. I used to surf in Manila, but it has been years. I went & booked a private surf lesson here cause of the 5 stars. I surfed with Tarik; he's nice, although sometimes he pays a little more attention to the other surfers around us. I was able to get my surfer mode on eventually. Plus they give you an hour free to surf & play with the waves. Such a fun day! Location is perfect! Oh & he taught me how to carry the surfboard. Haha! read more

Mission Surf Shack - Surf Schools Near Me - San Diego, California

The guys that work here are rad, helpful and super easy going. Prices are great and the equipment is good quality. Getting funky, busted up rentals always sucks but safari is solid & made for a great experience. read more

Worst thing about this place is actually carrying the paddle board. Other than that, the workers are very helpful and were able to help my friends and I get a discount. Thanks Surfari! read more

Mission Surf Shack - Loved it! - Surf Schools Near Me - San Diego, California

Best place to rent stand up paddle boards, surf boards, and so much more. I was planning my birthday party and needed between 10 to 15 paddle boards. I had a horrible experience booking with Bike and Kayak in la jolla/Coronado. Frantically I searched and found Safari Surf online, placed one phone call they advised to be there anytime between 9 and 11am and they had 55 boards for 24 hour rentals at an amazing price, Whoop Whoop!!! They just made my weekend bday worries subside. Sunday arrives and I've never been so impressed by the customer service Dave, Mike and Moto provided, they were phenomenal! Super friendly and willing to help make my birthday go off without a hitch! I just wanted to thank you guys and I will be a customer for life including all of my friends. You rock and deserve a fatty raise!! Thank you again, and I cant wait to get surf lessons with you guys :) read more

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My wife and I had a 1-hour surf lesson with Gavin and it was fantastic! We've never surfed before and so we had some apprehension around the entire experience prior to getting in the water, but the folks at the Surfari company (and Gavin especially) made the experience comfortable and enjoyable. The lesson was very clear and he eased us into the experience with a lot of enthusiasm and encouragement, which in our opinion, made the experience that much more memorable. They give you everything you need to be ready to hit the waves, so you only need to bring yourself dressed for the beach. Lockers and locks are provided, and parking is nearby and FREE! We would definitely go back and to surf here. Thanks Surfari and thanks Gavin for the memorable experience! read more

My friend and I rented stand up paddle boards with a groupon. It was rainy that morning but it cleared up a little so my friend and I decided to cash in the offer. The checkin was ok. The guy on staff wasn't too friendly but we didn't mind that much. We went out into the bay and although my friend was able to get back, I was not able to and was stuck in the middle of the bay. I tried to swim to shore but I was unable and in distress. I waved my life jacket and a Good Samaritan came and rescued me in a boat and people on the shore called the lifeguard to come get me. What bothers me about what happened was when my friend got to shore and realized I was still out there she went to the shop to tell the guy in the shop and his response was "you better go and get her" she knew she didn't have the energy to go out and she couldn't navigate two paddle boards. The proper thing to do in this situation was to call the lifeguards to come get me. Or warn us that the current was strong and we shouldn't go out too far when we would have to go against the current. Or give us whistles or some method to communicate distress easily. But they didn't do any of these things. I'm giving two stars because when I was in the lifeguard boat he called the number for the shop and another employee answered and he was very nice and came to get the board (I was exhausted from the ordeal) and he was very nice and friendly. My advice for beginner paddleboarders who just want to rent is to be very cautious or pay for lessons where someone will be there to help if you need it. And the company should be more proactive if someone says one of their customers needs help-- they should immediately call the lifeguard and not respond condescendingly. read more

I hate to give this place a poor rating as the guys who worked there fantastic, but there were severe hiccups in the service that would honestly keep me from returning until rectified. I called ahead of time to ask if they had a military discount available for a surf lesson. The man who answered the phone seemed very friendly, offered a 10% discount and said I could book the reservation over the phone instead of online. I talked it over with the DH and called back the next day to make the reservation (during office hours). No one answered, but I left a voicemail with my name, number, a summary of our previous conversation, and the requested reservation time. No one returned my call. I called again the next day, which would now be the day before our requested time, to see if I could get through. This time a man answered, and said no problem he'd be there tomorrow. He didn't take my name or give me a run down of where to go. Luckily I was aware of their website and found their address. When we arrived, the man at the desk was not aware of our reservation (NOT SURPRISED). He explained that the owner (in Daytona Beach) receives all the phone calls. They are not routed to the storefront here. I'll cut him some slack given the Hurricane, but how hard could it be to have a phone in your second location?! Then, the poor guy at the desk said he's never heard of the military discount. He took my word for it, which was incredibly nice, but clearly there is a break in communication. We thank Rene for being available at such last minute to provide the lesson, and my husband tells me that he was a fantastic instructor! To the owner: give your employees the tools they need to succeed!!! read more

Wow - where do I start?! This place is so awesome! Got a semi-private lesson for two 8 year old girls with little/no surf experience and all 3 of us loved the experience and the memories that were made. Gavin was AMAZING. He's intelligent and SUPER encouraging, patient and very motivating. Friendly staff, option for photos, and plenty of free parking about a block away. The pricing per block of instruction (equipment included!) is such a deal. Way better than anywhere else. We will go back. Again and again. read more

Mission Surf Shack - Surf Schools Near Me - San Diego, California

My roommate and I lived around the corner, and we decided to try out the semi-private surf lesson for two. Rate was pretty cheap at $65 each for a 1.5 hour lesson with 1 hour using the boards ourselves after, which also included wetsuits. Our instructor Tyler, was super knowledgable about everything we asked him in regards to like surf etiquette and wave judgements. On the day we went, the current was super strong so we were both a bit hesitant. But Tyler was really hands-on and made us feel confident, and we both were able to catch some waves! Ahaha we had some super low expectations of our capabilities, so that was a big surprise to see how we weren't terrible. We were so stoked, and have decided to make surfing a weekly thing. Seriously, thanks again! read more

Learning how to surf has been on my bucket list forever and as an avid snow and wake boarder, I was itching to try surfing out! After moving to SoCal somewhat recently, I knew the time to learn was better than ever. I came down to Mission Beach on vacation last week and after talking to others in the area, Surfari came highly recommended for lessons & rentals...and boy am I glad I took the local advice! Stopped by the evening before my class to talk to Rick and Phil and they booked our lesson and answered some questions. SUPER nice guys! The next morning, we came to our lesson, got our gear, put it on (ps: newbie tip: bring a plastic bag and put it on each foot while trying to put on the wetsuit, makes it much easier!), and then we hit the beach! I couldn't have imagined a better and more knowledgeable instructor. Phil was extremely helpful, has excellent teaching skills, is experienced and knowledgeable, and before I knew it, we were in the water surfing it up! I had a blast and am officially hooked! Thanks for the awesome crew at Surfari I can now surf, got all of my questions answered, even went and bought some new gear to keep practicing and improving. If you want to learn how to surf or spruce up your skills, definitely stop by Surfari! They also have awesome gear rental deals...do it up! read more

THE DEETS: stand-up paddleboarding group deal for a lesson/paddleboard rental for two. Sunday//9am on Mission Bay. PROS: Super chill, laid-back people and very accommodating (we had to reschedule lesson times twice!) but all was good in the neighborhood. And paddleboarding itself was pretty fun. My boyfriend and I had an awesome instructor, Emily, who was so patient and helpful. I pretty much have no upper body strength and paddleboarding on a windy day is not the easiest thing, but Emily made it a point to make sure I was doing okay, and would help guide me to the correct stance. She stayed a bit over the one hour lesson to take photos of me and the bf. :) So nice! CON: The paddleboard was quite possibly the heaviest and most awkward thing I've ever carried in my life. It probably weighed like a third of my body weight and you have to lug your board across the street to the bay, which is not easy, lemme tell you. By the time I got from the Surfari store to the water, my arms were already aching. (yikes) ALL IN ALL: SO.MUCH.FUN. I will come back for sure! They have great deals on paddleboard/kayak/surfboard rentals. Whenever my biceps feel a bit better, I would love to come back and try it again. read more

The one thing we knew we wanted to do when coming to San Diego for a vacation was surfing... and this was PERFECT - from start to finish. The only downside was the parking. Ugh what a pain! And we went on a Wednesday so just be prepared to spend 20-30 minutes looking for a spot. Anyway, once inside the shop we were greeted by the girl at the front desk. Paying and signing the waiver was very quick. She handed us wet suits and we Suited Up! Nick was our guy for the afternoon and he was awesome. We definitely need to give him a shout out here cause it doesn't look like he's been mentioned. Starting out on the beach we learned some basic techniques of getting up, balance, and of course the proper way to "wipe out." At first I thought we needed more practice on the beach, but Nick assured us the best way to learn is by doing - "see one, do one, teach one" as they say, right? I think the proof of this place is in the outcome - once I caught the first good wave, I was surfing :) My boyfriend caught on really quickly too. With each wipe out Nick was helpful with what went wrong, what to do next, etc and that helped out a lot. About an hour in the surf, Nick's time was up and we kept surfing on our own (this is included in the price). About 2.5 hours of surfing is definitely enough! We were so tired afterward and of course very sore for a few days afterwards. DON'T FORGET! they offer up to 100 photos of your group surfing for a certain price (I think the pricing is on their website). And they don't just take pics with a small digital camera... they bring out the telephoto lens! Wow. We were so glad to get all the pics and of course, proof to our Midwest family and friends that we actually can surf :) read more

Found these guys from purchasing one of the best Groupons I have come across. It was our first time trying stand up paddleboarding. A little nervous naturally, but Jeff made us feel very comfortable before ever stepping into the water. Gave us a few tips and we were off on our own. Once we got in the water, we found our sea legs and it was soo much fun. An arm workout indeed but got me fired up to buy my own paddle and board. Come here with no regrets, these guys are chill and very helpful. read more

I can't say enough about the awesome lesson that we took with Sean at Surfari. We were in town for the weekend and decided to take a lesson and rent boards. We found Surfari on Yelp and had to check it out. We walked in at 11:30 on a Friday and were able to book a semi-private lesson with Sean at 1:00 that same day. After grabbing a snack and suiting up, we made our way back to Surfari to find our ultra-friendly instructor, Sean, ready to shred. He hooked us up with a couple of boards and shirts, then walked us down a small path to the beach. I've surfed in the past and my boyfriend's a regular shredder so we only spent a few minutes on the beach, going over standing positions and tips. Sean was quick to give helpful pointers after seeing how we each approached standing up. We quickly got in the water and as soon as the next set came, Sean was right there, helping me catch sweet micro-waves. He was not only a great instructor but his enthusiasm and perma-shaka really made the lesson one that I won't soon forget. After our lesson, we rented a couple of boards and were able to keep them until 5:00 the next day. Thanks for helping keep the stoke alive! read more

I live close by in Pacific Beach and just wanted to grab a SUP and be on my way. So first we went to Mission Bay Aquatic Center and signed waiver after waiver and had to take off on their deck with a life vest on the board. After signing the documents we started driving around for about 45 minutes without finding any parking within a mile. Finally, we gave up and got our IDs and credit card back and found Surfari about 2 blocks North. The employee taking care of us was an actual surfer with knowledge of his product, opposed to the student worker that had no idea. The price was not only cheaper, but was an all day rental opposed to 2 1/2 hours. The board was a lot better quality and they didn't restrict us to just the bay as long as the board was back by 5:30. I highly recommend this place! As a life long surfer I could tell these guys are the real deal and have the best product for the cheapest price with the best customer service! read more

After many years of using Surfari Surf to rent paddle boards my view remains the same Phil & his team are amazing! read more