Catalina Outdoor Adventures was the highlight of our trip to Catalina Island thanks to the…read moreextraordinary knowledge and experience of the owner and guide, Scotty. We spent a few days on Catalina Island and during the trip took an island tour with Catalina Outdoor Adventures. The tour took about three hours and was worth every minute and penny spent. We started off in the center of town (Avalon) at the "Tour Plaza", which is very well known by all locals and many travelers alike. Scotty arrived on time and there were the two in my party, a father and his young son and Scotty. We set out on our adventure which took us all over the island including the "Airport in the Sky" where we stopped for a break. We were there for about 15 minutes which was ample time to enjoy a beer, speed shop for a souvenir if wanted and enjoy the massive tile map of the island. The views were incredible from this vantage point. We were so fortunate for Scotty to take us down to the beach where he to time to teach the young son in the group how to skip rocks on the ocean. The water was nice and the setting was incredible. There was a handful of campers there when we were there and it became evident very quickly that this would be an excellent future camping trip destination which by-the-way Scotty / Catalina Outdoor Adventures offers as well. We saw American Bison throughout the guided tour, some within feet of the vehicle and other in the far distance. There were American Bald Eagles, island foxes and huge ground squirrels everywhere. We stopped by an eagle exhibit and was able to see a Golden Eagle and an American Bald Eagle both in separate aviaries due to injuries and being well cared for by the Catalina Island Conservancy. The weather could not have been better during our three-hour adventure and the knowledge and experience of Scotty (along with some side-splitting jokes) made the trip all the more worthwhile. If you're ever on Santa Catalina Island, do yourself a great favor and reward yourself and those with you to an adventure with Scotty. The guy is top-notch and you will certainly not be disappointed. We will most definitely do this trip again or one of his weekend camping adventures. Thanks again Scotty and Catalina Outdoor Adventures for helping to create a lifelong memory that I will never forget!!

Don't even bother looking anywhere else. Scotty is a great guide and good guy. Sightseeing or…read morepaddle boarding or surfing or scuba -- you name it he can make it happen and show you Catalina like only a local can. Book him soon before he leaves for his cross USA charity bike ride for the needs of Puerto Rican's after the hurricane. Scotty should be the Mayor of Avalon! Thanks and see you next time.

I was referred to Corky Carroll's by former employee who was working at hotel we were staying at…read morefor Disneyland. I came back to Huntington Beach 2 weeks later with my boys and booked private lessons for all 3 of us per recommedation from the owners. They matched the instructors with each of us very well. Mine was 6'3" and could easily handle holding my board and helping me figure it out. My 10 yr old instructor had him surfing within 45min on day 1. The young lady instructing my 7yr old adjusted board, and had him up and surfing on day 2. At 56, with 3 knee injuries, including a torn meniscus, was able to stand up finally on day 3, 4 times, in some frothy (yet not too big) waves. The beach area is an ideal learning platform as it has no rocks, coral, or other obstructions underwater except lots of hard packed sand. In the end we had a special father & sons memory of learning to surf together. We were all successful. We had an amazing time, and the staff could not have been more helpful, encouraging, and supportive. I highly recommend private lessons, because I feel like the ROI is 90+% with private lessons, and about 45-55% with group lessons. IMO group lessons can be good later on as refresher.

My seven year old daughter joined Corky Carroll's Surf School summer camp for a week in Huntington…read moreBeach this year with her cousin who lives here. We are from WA state so we don't have anything like this near us. I wasn't sure what to expect but by day 2 she was surfing all the way to the shore! Her and her cousin even got to surf doubles which they loved. It was such a fun California experience. The counselors are pros and we felt like they kept her very safe. She loved the camp and wants to return next year.

Deborah was a fantastic surf teacher, we had a beginner lesson with 4 people and it couldn't have…read morebeen better. She was very knowledgeable, fun to hang out with and really made it enjoyable for everyone. We all learned the basics of surfing and everyone manage to get up and ride some waves. Thanks Deborah and One Wave Surf.

My kids -13&16- had a lesson with Desiree. Had so much fun -my son stood on his first wave- that we…read moreimmediately rebooked for a 2nd lesson. Desiree was fun, knowledgeable & a great teacher. Both kids stood the 1st day, on 2nd day my kids were making turns. Booking was super easy, Alex fulfilled all our requests. Highly recommended.

My favorite company to take surf lessons with! They are super nice and accommodating! They provide…read morethe gear and board!

Had a great time! Was able to book the day of. The instructor Jared explained everything and was a…read moregreat help in the water. He positions you so you catch a wave. You also have the option to try to catch them on your own while he's helping another student. Was able to stand up twice my first time out! 10/10 recommend!

Great experience with awesome instructors - patient, cool - exactly what you'd hope…read more I can say I've surfed after the experience

*****Perfect***** My…read moreyoungest is an avid swimmer in the pool and in the ocean. She swims and body surfs. She already had fins and knows the Newport and Laguna waters well. She even has done Laguna and Crystal Cove Junior Guards. However, she just wouldn't try surfing with me. So, I enrolled her in a private lesson. I spoke to Amy on the phone and she understood. She recommended Jorge because he has kids of his own. Jorge was great. Right away she hopped up and rode wave after wave. He was proactive at identifying good waves and giving her a slight push with verbal instructions. Afterwards, she kept asking me for a board and to go back surfing.. Even if you are a great surfer, there are many advantages of getting a lesson for your child. They have wet suits and giant foam boards. This saves money instead of going out and spending two or three hundred when your kid might not even like it. Using a larger board is the way to go and it eliminates the frustrations of learning on a shorter board. Jorge was great. He was proactive, engaging, and well versed with kids. I ended up buying a used foam board for her to practice more on. As she progresses, she can get a regular board This is a great place to take a lesson. Open communication and the follow-through makes me a fan and then some! Don't just go to the beach and take selfies to post. That behavior ruins the beach and it's a stupid way to live a fake life. Take a lesson and get in the water. Enjoy the ocean for all it has and have someone else take real pictures of you enjoying it! A nickel says you will have a blast Or, give your kids a great experience they will always remember. They make it easy here!

Dan is Great!!! First time we came it was my wife and me…read more She had a little previous experience and it was first time for me. I didn't become a pro but after about 1.5 hours I was able to catch and ride. My wife was doing even better. Few weeks later we came back with our friends and their 10 year old kids. Everyone enjoyed it a lot. The girl was a little hesitant at first but by the end of the lesson we couldn't pull her out of the water. Thank you Dan for a great lessons & vibe

Took my husband for a surf lesson with DanSurf and it was an amazing experience! Dan is personable,…read moresuper patient, and incredibly knowledgeable about surfing, the ocean, and the area. The 1:1 instruction was great, he had everything we needed--highly recommend!

I normally don't buy custom surfboards because all those color choices, fin set-ups, glass & foam…read moredecisions can add up to big money. I tend to buy good off-the-rack models that I think will work. However, a friend sent me a photo of an unfinished board that came with a very reasonable price tag and I could choose colors or laminates, anything I wanted. So I placed an order with Steve (Irvin) and after some design discussion, we settled and some days later, I met Steve with my new board. It was more beautiful than I had imagined. It looked like a thoroughbred stallion chomping at the bit for a race, simply awesome. But the proof of any board is how it handles in the water and after 5 sessions with it, I am convinced that this board will be my go-to fun favorite. I cannot be happier with the design, the ride or the maker. Steve and his twin brother have been making quality boards in So Cal since the 60's so their combined experience brings a working knowledge and style to their clients at prices at or better than their competitors. They tend to operate by word-of-mouth so delusions of leading the surfboard market is not in their soul, making great surfboards is. Give them a call, tell them that nasty redhead Robin clued you in and, who knows(?), maybe you'll have them build a custom board for you that makes you just as happy as I am. Surf's up, we gotta go! P.S., This board would cost twice as much in any of the big name stores. That's the value I put on this thing after a lot of board-searching. And the unique deck channeling is something I will have built into any new custom smaller board I seek. They add a degree of strength and grip unlike non-channeled decks. Robin digs.

I ride Irvin surfboards because they are the best on the planet. I hope Steve continues to shape…read morefor many years because his board are works of art that glide through the water. I recommend these boards to everyone from a beginner to advanced. Keep up the good work Steve.

Foam-Ez is the spot. If you're learning to shape these guys have the fear and the knowledge! Don't…read morewant to take the planer to foam alone, they've even got lessons that will have you walking no out with a board ready to glass. Hit them up!

Came to get my board repaired, the first guy said he was going to fix 3 dings but one of them…read morewasn't gonna be included. They ended up extra charing me $50 and didn't say anything, added extra charge in the receipt that wasn't included. Watch out with your receipts, take a picture of it that way they don't add extra chargers and you can claim. I trusted, my bad. Don't recommend this place.