A+ experience. I have zero surf experience before this. He was very focused on learning on the go. We covered safety and the begining and hit the water. I was with 2 friends and he made sure we each got time to learn. All of us got to our feet and roade at least one wave. I will happy go see him again next time I visit the island. Thanks for everything. read more

The two stars are only because Carsun was really nice, easy going, and helped me paddling when I needed it. I'm disappointed overall because he was over 30 minutes late from our scheduled appt, he didn't tell me I would be with another student (I thought I was paying for private), and the overall session was only 40ish minutes. It said up to 90 minutes on Groupon, so I was assuming at least an hour of water time. He seems like a good guy and runs a nice family business, but unfortunately he struck me on my biggest pet peeve: ending significantly earlier than the paid time (...and being really late). I'd recommend his services only if he fixes those two areas. read more

Definitely a highlight of my trip to Hawaii. SO MUCH FUN. Everything needed was provided - surf board, water shoes (to help protect against sharp rocks and coral), and surf shirt. Showed up in a swimsuit, rolled through a 5 min lesson, and caught a wave. Must surffff read more

Surf Caddy - Catching a wave - Surf Schools Near Me

I booked this for my family of 5. I explained to the owner that Im going through rounds of chemo and have 6 diseases so it might be hard for me. He picked us up and made sure to give us each special attention even my little guy individually for the waves. The waves were small but even I got two! My 11 year old actually did the best. If you can book with him instead of one of those companies that take a whole group out especially if this is your first time. Private instruction is way better and we learned so much not feeling like a number or rushed. read more

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My trip to Hawaii was a solo vacation and despite growing up in Florida, surrounding on all sides by water, I never touched a surfboard until this month. I purchased a private lesson through Groupon and I am so glad that I did - having never been to Hawaii before, I know now that I wouldn't have wanted to take a lesson from the guys hawking their beat up boards from their huts on the beach. Shane was an AWESOME INSTRUCTOR. He went over the basic elements of safely mounting and dismounting the board on dry land before he puts you in the water. He also supplies rash guards and water shoes to protect your feet from the harsh reef below. The best part is that he takes you to a secluded, private section of Waikiki away from the tourists and the madness so you can learn without fear of hitting someone. The board is also very big (as I was informed by my surfer friends later) which means that even a beginning will have an easy time balancing on the water. Shane was great about confirming times via email and text and the pickup from the hotel was a breeze. He even offered to drop me off at my AirBnB after the lesson! (And is turns out we went to the SAME MIDDLE SCHOOL...what?!) He is very clear with his instructions, incredibly friendly and relaxed and offers great advice to improve your technique as you get the hang of sport. From pickup to drop off (including the dry-run and walking the boards back and forth) the lesson runs about an hour. It seems like he makes sure you catch 10 waves before bringing you back to shore. He'll even offer to film you on his iPad for an extra fee ($40.) My advice? Don't look down once you get up and before you swim back to catch your next wave, be sure to admire the beauty of Diamond Head and the Waikiki Shoreline from this amazing, remote vantage point! read more

Seriously my surfing experience was amazing. I was assisted in the paddling and was given tips on how to be a good surfer. I stood up on the board right away. My experience was overall amazing, Carson was on time, excellent communication and his vibe is just amazing. I would definitely recommended Surf Caddy. read more

Surf Caddy - Surf Schools Near Me

THE POSITIVES: Shane is very friendly, will pick you up from your hotel, explains everything you need to know in a fast and understandable way, provides the shoes you need, rash guards if you didn't bring any, and takes you to a non-crowded area. For these reasons, I give him 3 stars. THE NEGATIVES: (1) The actual time spent in the water is EXTREMELY SHORT! I paid for three ninety-minute lessons (1 for me, my 15 year old, and 13 year old). We each only spent about 10 minutes actually surfing after paying over $250!!! NOT worth it at all. I should have booked us each a 90 minute lesson at different times. I would not have paid the money if I knew I was only going to spend 10 minutes out in the water. (2) Shane charged $50 for me to give him my GoPro memory card and film us; he would not let us use our own GoPro, so leave your GoPro at the hotel. (3) The $50 GoPro charge was even a rip off. We got 2 second, 3 second, and the longest was a 6 second video. Given, we were not surfing that long, but he holds his camera up and films you. I would not have paid the $50 for only three two-second videos of each of us. OVERALL: If you are going to book this and have a group, book two at a time back-to-back times online, so he cannot skimp on your time in the water and insist on using your own GoPro. He does help you paddle out and helps a lot physically and you are not in a large group, but he needs to give more time in the water to make people feel as though they got their money's worth. read more

Well we paid for a surf lesson at 10:30a today... guy never showed up. We waited for over half an hour. *** Update**** So he totally made It up to us and provided free lessons just a couple days later for this oversight. He is very knowledgeable and an awesome teacher. Thank you for doing so much to make this right :) we had so much fun read more

First time surfing - experience was great!! This instructor aims to please and gets you in the water quick. read more

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This experience was awesome. Super knowledgable and friendly instructor. Helped us with the ground rules and then made sure we got the most out of our time. Both me and my wife caught waves after only 1 or 2 tries. Couldn't have done it without surf caddy! read more

Shane is amazing! My husband was a first timer and even he was able to get up and enjoy an awesome surf experience with Shane's help. The boards are a great help and the spot he took us to wasn't flooded with tourists (like ourselves) so we got to just keep grabbing every wave that came at us. He even offered to video us on his go pro so we could capture the moments :) we declined but it's a great idea. Best surf lessons on Oahu! read more

The experience was great but felt that we were cut way short. We met up at about 8:30am and our 90min session was done at 9:00am.... Only 30 minutes. The lesson was simple and easy to understand and we rode out one by one even though it was a semi private lesson so we thought my wife and I would go out together with the instructor. But one had to stay behind and we each caught 3 waves and then came back and we were finished up....I was wondering in the back of my head if we were going to a different spot but no.... Our session was done. We very much felt like we didn't get our full money worth.. read more

Arrived in Waikiki with my 2 teenage daughters and wanted to go surfing away from the huge crowds on the beach, so our hotel hooked us up with Carsun. He took us 10 minutes away to a beautiful spot with literally no other surfers. He was super courteous, picked us up right on time, and brought all the boards, booties and rash guards. The waves were just right for "advanced beginners" and we were riding waves the entire time. Had so much fun we went back a second day. Highly recommend! read more

Carson was awesome! He picked us up at our hotel and went to a private beach to catch little waves after a brief safety lesson. It was my first time and it was a lot of fun. He made sure I did well and could actually stand on most of the waves. We were out for about an hour and a half but he focused mostly on how many waves we caught versus the time out there. He was a great instructor and had the best prices I could find in the area! Definitely recommend him especially for first-timers! read more

Shane was awesome bro! Never been surfing before but was able to get up for a few seconds quite a few times.Shane was very patient and a great instructor. He took us to a less populated area so there were no worries bout crashing in to other surfers. I would recommend surf caddy to anyone wanting to try surfing for the first time. Surf Caddy rocks! read more

Carsun was a fantastic instructor! Definitely looking forward to surfing again whenever I get the chance!

First time surfing, and I am glad it was with Shane! He's a cool guy with a funny personality--laid back and the type of person you'd definitely want to chill with out on the water, since he knows his stuff! He took us to a more secluded (but near Waikiki) area, without the crowds so it is safe and I didn't have to worry about putting on a show for other people as I fell off the board! He provides rash guards/swim shirts, shoes to protect your feet from the coral and goes over safety tips prior to going out on the water. He also offers to capture photos/footage on his GoPro at an extra cost, which I took. The only con I have is that the lesson was so short! Time goes by quickly when you're having fun though right? If I could rent Shane for half a day to continue learning how to surf, I would! Both my boyfriend and I are now aiming to become surfing pros thanks to the fun experience with Shane. Book with Surf Caddy. Well worth it and a memorable time. read more

Shane was a rad instructor. My husband & I took a lesson & we both got up a few times! He takes you to a quieter beach that is much easier to learn on without so many people around. We left exhausted & exhilarated! Would def recommend surf caddy to all beginners. He also had a go pro & recorded our killer wave catching skills. Worth the extra $$ to prove your Badass-ness to all your friends. read more

My teens never surfed and told me that they really liked Shane as their instructor. The spot is secluded so we were basically the only ones out there. Paddling takes a toll on your body so that'll be a factor in how many waves you catch. Shane will help you paddle some but you still need to be able to paddle back out some as well. Overall, I'd recommend Surf Caddy! read more

Was in Hawaii for my 50th birthday and it's been a life dream of mine to learn to surf. Our surf instructor was competent and skilled and knew just how to get us surfing. There were just 2 of us so we got a lot of time in the water. He wasn't a "clock-watcher" so that was nice, and he edited a cool little video which he sent us the next day. 100% worth it. read more

I would suggest Surf Caddy to anyone who wants to learn to surf. He helps you paddle out (foot on your board helping drag you) and helps you catch the wave (gives you a push). Catching the wave is sometimes the hardest and most exhausting part, but with some help, you can conserve your energy and have a much better chance of getting up. And he will video you for an extra fee. Well worth it. Thank you Surf Caddy!! You're the best!! read more

Shane picked up my friends and I at the hotel we were staying and took us to a really nice, private beach. He went over the rules fast and made the 90min lesson one of the most memorable experiences in Hawaii for us! read more

Caddy was awesome! I've had the personal 90-minute surfing lesson on January 2nd. Caddy was professional, yet easy-going, laid-back, and funny. He was able to pick me up from the hotel, drove to the private beach, spent some time covering safety in the water, and then we just dived in. Wonderful time, definitely recommend :) read more

My husband and I booked a 60-minute, private surf lesson with Carson. He picked us up a few minutes early and drove us to Kapiolani Park for the lesson. After a quick briefing, we headed up! What was awesome was that we were the only ones out. We were further off the main Waikiki drag so it was just us, the waves, and the beautiful sunshine (and a killer view of Diamond Head). Carson made us feel safe and provided us with shoes and a rash guard t-shirt (and sunscreen!) He found the best spot on the beach and helped select the waves, pushed us off each time, and shouted directions. I had taken a lesson once before, many years ago and in Waikiki through a hotel, and remember only getting up twice in an hour. Today, my husband and I each go up around a dozen times. Carson really helped us and made us feel like pros! Aside from that, I had just booked the day before and Surf Caddy was very flexible and responsive on the phone. Thanks, Surf Caddy! read more

We really enjoyed our surfing lessons! Carsen was very patient and all of our family was able to stand and surf. He picked us up from the hotel. also he provided water shoes and the surf board. We have two girls 10 & 7. We all went one by one. Paddling was mainly done by Carsen. If we were to do it again, I would want to do more time. Thanks Surf Caddy! read more

Just recently purchased the groupon that was available and when I tried to make a reservation, the person who answered (I believe the name was Corey) was extremely rude. Told me there were no dates for reservations available at all and proceeded to hang up on me. Hopefully this doesn't happen to anyone else trying to use their groupon read more

My husband and I purchased a Groupon to use with Shane at Surf Caddy after relocating to Honolulu. The reservation system online is easy to use and Shane is communicative to confirm your lesson the day before/of. We absolutely loved every minute of our lesson with Shane - he was laid back, extremely informative, and helped me catch my first few waves (my husband had surfed before and caught a few too!) The area he takes you (at least on weekday mornings) is not crowded so it's really relaxing and beautiful. We have friends coming to visit in a few weeks and hope to come back for another lesson! Definitely great for beginners. read more

My 13-year-old son Tyler absolutely loved his very first surf lesson ! Instructor gave him safety tips on land first, went through the motions, then headed to Waikiki. Surfboard looked gigantic compared to Tyler's size, but the instructor said he handled very well out there, had natural form for a first-timer, and just needed practice on looking up, not down to keep his balance when riding a wave. Next step is to get Tyler's very first surfboard. He now knows what to do to feel that rush again ! Thank you so much Surf Caddy ! read more

We had a great time. 4 of us went. He takes 2 at a time and really provided individual instruction. Safety first. This was a bucket list item for me at 56 years old. I was up and surfing right away. All equipment was provided. It was definitely worth the price. The kids keep playing the video of us sirfing over and over and over. It was fun and we were exhausted when it was done. Thanks for creating an amazing memory. Would recommend to everyone. Oh yeah..ask him to show you his secret coconut tree. We had fresh coconut water when done. read more

I booked a one on one surf class for my husband, who is still a beginner. He is able to stand on white water, but not catch too many waves. During this class, he caught at least 10 waves with a couple hundred yarders with the extra help of Shane the instructor. The beach wasn't packed like the touristy Waikiki. Expect to have to paddle hard, and have lots of fun. He says it was a low stress class and that the instructor drops appropriate tid bits that allows him to feel like he can handle the waves on his own now after the class. The instructor was easy to talk to and gives clear guidance. Great class that tailors to your experience! read more

I had a great time with Shane! He is very professional and detailed. I was able to stand up and surf a little in this first class!Definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to learn to surf. It was super fun! read more

Our first time surfing. Great instruction and lesson. Never thought we'd get up on the board but Surf Caddy had us standing and riding in a manner of minutes. Great location with no one else around. Highly recommended if you're looking to surf in Honolulu! read more

Shane was an awesome instructor. My dad and I took lessons with him at 8:30 am and he took us to a hidden spot without anyone around. He was the perfect instructor and totally surfer dude. Had us up and catching waves in no time. I would highly recommend taking lessons with him if you are in Waikiki. So happy we did it and had a blast! read more

My husband and I just had our first surf lesson and couldn't have asked for a better experience! We bought a Surf Caddy Groupon and are so glad we did. Highly recommend it! Shane was punctual, attentive, and laid back. He is personable and easy going, and his feedback was spot on. We both got up thanks to his instruction. My husband even started catching his own waves by the end of the lesson (unassisted!) My only complaint is that Corey, who answers the phone, was kind of rude and it seemed like he was always multitasking. I had to call multiple times and, honestly, I wasn't sure if this lesson would actually get scheduled. I didn't like having to go through him, but it was definitely worth it in the end. Next time we'll just call Shane directly. Pros: - Shane is incredible. Great guy with tons of experience. - He brought everything we needed: boards, reef shoes, and even loaned me a long-sleeve rash guard! - Can pay a little extra if you want him to record the lesson and take pictures - Fantastic spot -- consistent waves and no people! Cons: - Having to schedule through Corey. Otherwise, I'd give Surf Caddy 6 stars! read more

When you want quality at a great price this is the only way to go. Carson takes great pride in his work and takes on less students than the hotels and other businesses on the beach just to make sure that you get the personal instruction you need. He is really pleasant to be around and made this experience the best that my wife and I have had in our week at Honolulu. It is hard to find real quality at a great price and Surf Caddy executes this flawlessly. I wouldn't take lessons from anyone else. read more

Had a great time! Shane made everyone in my group feel safe (including my friends 62 year old mother!) he was fun and professional. It was a good time! I recommend. read more

THE POSITIVES: I was very excited for this opportunity to surf for the first time and it was my husbands birthday. I wanted to see him happy and have fun that day. I am a very optimistic person and I hate to write this but I was 100% mislead by all of the reviews I previously read and this entire experience was a let down. THE NEGATIVES: (1) The instructor, Shane, is not very nice with his clients. My husband and I live in Hawaii but this was our first time surfing and we were excited to learn the ins and outs of surfing. Shane was very clear with safety rules and instructions (4 easy steps and look up). We made some mistakes at the beginning and he criticized us multiple times for failing to follow instruction. He teased us multiple times thinking he was funny but it was not funny. It was my husbands birthday and the instructor was making him feel incompetent for not being successful at first. We are an easy going couple but we have never been treated so poorly for a paid service. We did acquire this booking through Groupon so I wonder if he didn't care as much since we received a discount? (2) If you are looking for chance to learn how to surf do not choose this company. The actual time spent in the water is EXTREMELY SHORT. I attempted to catch about 3 waves then we were out of the water. (3) Shane charged $40 for me to give him my GoPro memory card and film us. He does not allow you to take your own photos but you will leave with maybe one good video of him licking his nose and screaming in the camera. Not appropriate and not what I paid for. I would not have paid the $40 for the few poorly filmed videos I received. (4) The beach you go to is absolutely beautiful and private but extremely dangerous and covered in coral. Out of the 3 waves I caught when I fell from the board after catching the wave I fell directly on the coral and cut my leg and back (Tail bone area). Of course I signed a liability form and I can't blame the instructor for these injuries but I followed his instruction and fell correctly but it is SO shallow that there is NO way to avoid the coral. I left with a bruised leg and many tears :( I blame this company for taking us to an unsafe place for surf. (5) The instructor did not care about us at all. I am very used to great customer service and I firmly believe that paid instructors should act professionally. I did not feel like I was cared for or mattered in this entire experience. We were 10 minutes late because we had trouble finding parking and the instructor was rude to my husband over the phone. That was the first red flag and we should have known by then but we didn't and we blindly went with it. Maybe he was having a bad day or a bad morning. He did mention that we were his 3rd booking that morning so maybe he was tired of working. OVERALL: I DO NOT recommend this company for surfing lessons. Do more research and find a company that cares about the customer. read more

Going to Surf Caddy is worth hanging out with Shane alone!! He is a down to earth rad guy that is an amazing instructor. He is informative and a blast to catch a wave with. By far the best experience Hawaii has to offer. You will not be disappointed! If you only do one thing in Honolulu make it this! read more

My hour surf lesson was one of the best times I had in Hawaii. I'm glad I picked Surf Caddy instead of one of the ones on the shore of Waikiki because we were off a little further down the beach so there were not a lot of people out there and you didn't have to worry about anyone getting in the way. This was my first time ever surfing and he was very helpful. I got up the first time thanks to his instructions. He also took a video on his GoPro and had it to me the next day. I highly recommend Surf Caddy if you are wanting to learn to surf and find waves slightly larger than what are on the Waikiki shores read more

Surf caddy you are the best, thanks so much for all the good teaching on surfing. If you're ever in Hawaii look up surf caddy great with family and kids and had so much fun there. read more