San Diego Surf School

San Diego Surf School offers surf lessons, group surf lessons, semi-private surf lessons, private surf lessons, kids surf camps, adult surf retreats, SUP (stand-up paddle boarding) lessons, and surfboard and wetsuit rentals. The program also offers surf camps in spring, summer, fall, and winter, as well as a Boogie Board Surf Camp, an After School Program, paddle boarding lessons, boogie board and wetsuit options, and surf photography.

• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: Daily lesson and rental hours are listed as 9am–5pm, with 90-minute private, semi-private, and group surf lessons, and multi-day options for seasonal surf camps, Boogie Board Surf Camp, and Adult Surf Retreats

San Diego Surf School states that surf gear is included with surf lessons, surf camps, and surf retreats, and that surfboards, boogie boards, and wetsuits are also available as rentals. The school describes the Pacific Ocean as the classroom and notes that it uses top surf spots including Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, Ocean Beach, and La Jolla Shores. The program states that surfboard and wetsuits are included with lessons and that it offers high quality equipment and affordable, flexible rental options.

San Diego Surf School describes itself as “your trusted Surf school in San Diego” and “the premier destination for surf lessons in San Diego,” and it is licensed and permitted by the city of San Diego. Instructors are described as Water Safety, First Aid, and CPR certified, and CPR certified instructors are specifically mentioned. The school states that it introduces surfers of all ages and levels to the sport and spirit of surfing in an energetic and positive environment, and that surfing is taught as not just a sport but also as a remedy for life, including relieving stress, forgetting worries, spiritual awakening or meditating, keeping balance, staying healthy, and enjoying the sunset as dolphins pass by.

San Diego Surf School lists its mission as providing a safe, exceptional, and first-rate surf experience to clients, both locals and tourists, and showing them the quintessential Southern California lifestyle so they can take with them a lasting positive impact in their lives. The school states that its goal is to make the surf adventure safe, exciting, and memorable, and it is described as the best surf school in San Diego. Its stated values are: Always Do What’s Right; Do Everything to The Best of Your Ability; and Show Clients You Care, and You Are Committed to The San Diego Surf School team.

The founder, Souf Tihhi, started San Diego Surf School (also referred to as San Diego Surfing School) in 2000 and is described as having 25 years of surfing experience. The program notes that surfboard and wetsuits are included with lessons and that surf gear is included with surf camps and surf retreats.

Parent and participant reviews mention individualized learning, instructors who are described as fantastic, helpful, friendly, and encouraging, and experiences where beginners and teenagers were able to stand up and surf in shallow water by the end of a lesson. Several testimonials highlight specific instructors by name, describe the equipment as excellent, and mention that communication and instructions before lessons were clear. One review notes that the surf lesson was the highlight of the kids’ holiday, and another mentions that a first-time surfer was able to ride waves and came away with surfing as a new favorite activity. One reviewer notes that at some point they stopped getting helpful feedback, but still describes the overall experience as good.

Last updated July 4, 2026.