Best Surf Schools in San Diego

How to choose a surf school in San Diego

San Diego is one of the best places in the country to learn to surf, and this directory lists about 90 surf schools. Pacific Surf School in Mission Beach, Ride Solana Beach, North County Surf Academy in Oceanside and Cal Coast Adventures in Solana Beach lead our list. Gentle beach breaks at Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, La Jolla Shores and Oceanside are ideal for first-timers.

Group lessons are the most affordable; private lessons progress faster. Most schools include the soft-top board and wetsuit. Book a morning session, when the wind is lighter and the waves are cleaner.

Before you go: a quick checklist

• Beginners do best on gentle beach breaks like La Jolla Shores, Mission Beach and Pacific Beach. Ask where the lesson is held.
• Ask what’s included: most lessons provide a soft-top board and wetsuit.
• Ask about the instructor-to-student ratio and whether instructors are CPR and first-aid certified.
• Bring a wetsuit or rent one: San Diego water is cool for much of the year, from the high 50s in winter to around 70 in late summer.
• Book a morning lesson, when winds are usually lighter and the water is calmer.

How we ranked San Diego's best surf schools

We started with every surf school in San Diego County that is open, verifiable and reviewed by visitors, then scored each one on review quality weighted by review volume, so a perfect score from a handful of visitors can't outrank years of consistent praise from thousands. Rankings are editorial and never for sale; paid placements are clearly labeled Sponsored and sit outside the ranking.