South Swell Surf Lessons

I had so much fun with these guys learning to surf. I was a bit apprehensive at first, not being much of a water person, but felt totally safe and had a great time. I took a private surf lesson in June, not thinking I would stand up at all, but after a few tries I was having so much fun. I would definitely recommend them, I had a blast and would do it again.

My cousin and his friend were visiting me in North County, San Diego last summer, and I wanted to give them the quintessential Southern California experience… so we took a lesson from Ryan at South Swell. Not only was he an excellent instructor who made learning to surf seem easy and fun, but he is a great guy who made us laugh and enjoy our afternoon on the beach that much more.
I would recommend South Swell to anyone; beginners or even experienced surfers looking to tighten up their game.
Have fun out there!

What a great experience! As a Texan, I’ve never surfed, but I love sports and so wanted to give it a try. Ryan, the owner, is such an awesome instructor! He was able to accommodate me with a private lesson at the last minute, and met me at Cardiff Beach (just south of Swami’s). I’ve never surfed, and was both anxious and excited, but Ryan made me feel totally comfortable, and boosted my confidence. He was exceedingly patient as well as encouraging. He’s very friendly, laid-​back, and made me feel very safe.
I could tell I was with someone who’d been surfing for 23 years! I had the time of my life. My only regret is that I didn’t get around to a surf lesson until our last day here — when I come back, I’d love to do lessons every morning!
Highly recommend! Don’t leave Encinitas/​Cardiff/​North County without taking a surf lesson with these guys :)

I had taken 3 surf lessons before coming to Ryan at South Swell, and had been frustrated almost every time, and was close to giving up on surfing all together. Ryan took the time to correct my bad habits, and had the patience and positive attitude necessary to turn me into a passionate surf lover. My wife and I took a semi private lesson with him and both came out glowing. From our brief encounter with him, it seems that Ryan is someone who has that rare combination of being one of the best surfers out there and being someone who has the gift of an educator. My wife was a first timer, and with Ryan’s help, was glowing with enthusiasm and enjoyment by the end of the lesson. We both bought boards within a week.
Which brings me to the other amazing feature of this gem-​Ryan helped us buy our boards. Not only did he recommend general features suited to our needs, but he took the time to respond to numerous emails I sent him with craigslist adds. He helped us narrow down the field, and we ended up getting boards that were perfect for us, and with which we are incredibly happy.
Thank you Ryan, I don’t know where we would be without you, but I do know that you played an integral role in our new found love for surfing.