Clases de surf en la playa de Waikiki

During a beginner surfing lesson with Big Dave Wave Surfing, I was left unaccounted for in the ocean after becoming separated from the group, despite having informed staff beforehand that I am not a strong swimmer. I booked a surfing lesson with Big Dave Wave Surfing and was looking forward to the experience. Before the lesson began, I informed staff that I am not a strong swimmer and asked about using a flotation vest, which I ended up using. Once we entered the water, I found the physical demands more challenging than expected. I was able to return to the instructor twice and attempt to ride a wave, but I was not successful. After my second attempt, I fell and my board flipped over. I became fatigued and was unable to right it. As I tried to recover, wave activity gradually carried me away from the group and further from the instructor. At that point, I was alone in the water and struggling to manage my board. Another surfer eventually noticed my situation, came over, and helped me recover my board. I then asked for assistance back to shore, and he guided me in. By the time I reached land, some time had passed since the lesson ended, and I had drifted a significant distance from the original meeting area. After returning to the meeting point, I informed my instructor that I had required assistance from another surfer to get back to shore. I also asked whether a headcount or any form of check had been conducted to confirm that all participants had returned safely. If they hadn’t noticed I was missing. I was told that no such check had been performed. My concern is not the difficulty of surfing itself, which I understand is inherent to the activity, but rather the lack of a clear process to ensure all participants are accounted for after a beginner lesson—particularly given that I had disclosed I am not a strong swimmer and had become separated from the group. I am sharing this feedback to highlight a serious safety consideration regarding participant tracking and supervision. I believe surf instruction providers should have a clear system in place to ensure all participants are safely accounted for at the end of a session. I hope this is taken into consideration.

10/10 beginner friendly. Definitely worth your money. Super nice and friendly

The surfing itself was great but it we had to be rescheduled within an hour of the booking due to understaffing. Hoku our instructor was fantastic and my partner and I were almost able to stand and we’re definitely surf some fun waves🥳🥳

We had a really fun time surfing on Waikiki - we managed to catch several waves and stand up! The instructors were so helpful and made the experience even more enjoyable! It was a huge arm workout to paddle out to the waves, but so worth it!

Surf lesson for 13 year old granddaughter. She loved it and communication with me and the teacher was great

The instructors were amazing! There were two instructors for our group of nine, and they made sure to keep a close eye on everyone throughout the lesson. They were thorough, encouraging, and gave helpful tips that made learning to surf fun and approachable. The photographer was also fantastic and took the time to capture great shots of every participant, so everyone had memorable photos from the experience. A couple of tips for future surfers: wear a rash guard to avoid irritation from the board, and be prepared for a full-body workout, especially when paddling out to catch the waves!

Great for beginners. Super friendly instructors and staff. We had a blast. Small enough group to get some good attention and the location was perfect

Great - especially with kids Had a private lesson for my 9 year old...instructor was terrific. I am not all that keen on where they take them...it's close by, but the beach is tiny.

Great group… lots of patience teaching first timers. My grandkids had lessons ( the 9 year old had a private one) and they just loved it. You may need a few lessons to really get the habg of it… it’s tougher than it looks.

Instructors were very knowledgeable and helpful. We had a group of 5 students, an instructor and a camera man. It was FUN!! All of us got the feel of how to surf and most got up on a wave.