Huntington Beach Surf Lessons with CPR-Certified Instructors

Your instructor stays in the water with you the whole time, not watching from shore.

A 2-hour private surf lesson in Huntington Beach where you learn from a CPR-certified, highly-trained instructor who meets you at the beach with a wetsuit and surfboard. The lesson covers surfing safety, etiquette, technique, tides and ocean conditions, tailored to your skill level. You choose your group size at checkout, from one person to six, and the instructor adjusts the pacing and focus to match your comfort and ability.

The experience

Wavehuggers meets you at Huntington Beach with wetsuits and surfboards already in hand. The lesson starts on the sand with basic footwork, so you build muscle memory before paddling out. Once in the water, your CPR-certified instructor stays alongside you: helping you paddle out, positioning you to catch waves, and adjusting your technique in real time. The school teaches surfers of all levels, from people who've never stood on a board to intermediate and advanced riders looking to refine their skills.

The two-hour window gives you time to move past the initial wobble. You'll learn about tides and ocean conditions so you understand what's happening beneath you, not just how to stay upright. Safety and etiquette come up naturally as you practice. The instructor keeps you aware of other surfers and the water itself. Wavehuggers frames surfing as both a physical sport and a way to connect with the ocean, and that philosophy shapes how the lesson unfolds.

You pick your group size when you book: solo, or with a partner, three friends, four, five, or six people. A smaller group means more one-on-one coaching. A larger one splits the instructor's attention but keeps the cost lower per person. Either way, the instructor tailors the pacing to the group's comfort level, not the other way around.

What’s included

• Wetsuit and surfboard.
• 2-hour private or group surf lesson with a CPR-certified instructor.
• instruction in surfing technique, safety, etiquette, tides and ocean conditions.
• individualized coaching tailored to your skill level.

Options for this experience

6 options

Surf lesson for one personUp to 1 per booking · 19 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 17:00Get to ride the Pacific Ocean's waves! Cover surfing safety, etiquette, technique, tides, and ocean conditions. Length: 2 hours

Group surf lesson for twoUp to 2 per booking · 19 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 17:00Get to ride the Pacific Ocean's waves! Cover surfing safety, etiquette, technique, tides, and ocean conditions. Length: 2 hours

Group surf lesson for threeUp to 3 per booking · 19 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 17:00Get to ride the Pacific Ocean's waves! Cover surfing safety, etiquette, technique, tides, and ocean conditions. Length: 2 hours

See 3 more options

Group surf lesson for fourUp to 4 per booking · 19 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 17:00Get to ride the Pacific Ocean's waves! Cover surfing safety, etiquette, technique, tides, and ocean conditions. Length: 2 hours

Group surf lesson for fiveUp to 5 per booking · 19 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 17:00Get to ride the Pacific Ocean's waves! Cover surfing safety, etiquette, technique, tides, and ocean conditions. Length: 2 hours

Group surf lesson for sixUp to 6 per booking · 19 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 17:00Get to ride the Pacific Ocean's waves! Cover surfing safety, etiquette, technique, tides, and ocean conditions. Length: 2 hours

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day19 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 17:00

Book up to4h before

GroupPrivate

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Wavehuggers

Is this one for you?Book a smaller group if you want the most one-on-one coaching. A larger group keeps the per-person cost down while still giving you an instructor in the water alongside you the whole time.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

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Top questions

What do I need to bring to my surf lesson in Huntington Beach?

The lesson includes a wetsuit and surfboard, so you only need to bring yourself and a towel. Public transportation options are available near the beach if you're not driving.

Will the instructor stay in the water with me, or teach from the beach?

Your instructor is in the water with you the entire time, paddling alongside you, helping you catch waves, and adjusting your technique as you practice.

Can I take a lesson if I've never surfed before?

Yes, the lesson is designed for beginners, intermediate, and advanced surfers. Your instructor starts with footwork on the beach and tailors the pacing to your comfort level and ability.

How does the group size work if I book a group lesson?

You choose your group size at checkout, from one person up to six. The instructor adjusts the lesson focus and pacing based on the group's skill level, so everyone in your group gets individualized attention.

What does the lesson cover besides catching waves?

You'll learn surfing safety, etiquette, proper technique, how tides work, and how to read ocean conditions. The instructor keeps you aware of other surfers in the water and helps you understand the environment you're surfing in.