Top 13 Surf Lessons on the North Shore

1.Surf Lessons on the North Shore of Oahu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 267 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $95Our pick

Meet Sunset Suzy’s Surf School in Hauula for a 90-minute beginner lesson with instructors such as Suzy, Andy, John, or Matthew. You’ll spend 15 minutes learning beach basics, then practice on gentle North Shore waves with a board, rash guard, leash, and local guidance included.

“Suzy was the best! She was very helpful, patient and enthusiastic. I would love to take another lesson with her! The whole group was beginners and they picked a spot that was fun and not too hard. Would 10/10 recommend.”

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2.North Shore Beginner Surf Lesson, Hawaii

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 114 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $104

Meet Surf N Sea in Haleiwa for a two-hour North Shore surf lesson capped at four people. Your instructor covers ocean etiquette, safe falling, standing technique, wave timing, and board choice before taking you to Waialua Bay or another beginner-friendly spot. You must swim and provide your own transport.

“Mark was a really good instructor. Felt safe, had lots of fun, and even sighted a whale! Would definitely recommend it for beginner surfers as I’d only been surfing once and caught a few waves!”

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3.Private Surfing Lessons on the North Shore of Oahu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 87 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $150

Meet your private Catch'a Wave instructor at Puaʻena Point Beach Park for a two-hour lesson shaped around your skill and goals. Conor has helped first-timers manage busy waves with calm, patient coaching. Gear, rash guards, and personal instruction are included.

“Incredible tlexperience learning how to surf on the NORTH SHORE! Connor was great at showing us, first timers, what to do. He personally navigated us around the busy waves, and got us onto a few fun waves. Connor was very patient and a good instructor for the two of us. He started us out on land, and then we transitioned to the water. We will definitely.be back!”

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4.North Shore Surfing Lessons Oahu Hawaii

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 68 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $120

Spend about 90 minutes learning to surf on Oahu’s North Shore with DFC Surf Academy. You’ll get a board, rash guard, and leash, then practice paddling, standing, and wave timing before heading into the water with an instructor such as Matthew, Jacob, or Chris.

“Matthew was an AMAZING instructor with great energy! He taught in a way that was easy to understand and made our first surfing experience phenomenal! He gave great pointers while we were catching waves, and we got to go for some big ones (at least they were big to us!) Cannot recommend this guy enough! This was an experience of a lifetime!”

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5.Surf Lesson in Haleiwa

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 60 reviews · from $99

Spend about two hours learning to surf at Haleiwa’s North Shore with Go Nuts Hawaii. Choose one-on-one coaching or share the lesson with one to three companions. Instructors including Cesar, Pedro, Samuel, and Jeronimo teach beginners through advanced surfers, with safety and personal guidance at the center.

“Great intro lesson. I feel confident to spot the good wave locations and know the essential technique of mounting the board when the waves come on my own. Will need to practice standing up though.”

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6.Private Surf Lessons in North Shore Oahu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 33 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $135

Meet professional Hawaiian watermen in Haleiwa for a private two-hour surf lesson. You’ll cover ocean safety, etiquette, and technique on land, then practice with a fitted board and rash guard. Instructors such as James and Micah work patiently with beginners, families, and nervous first-timers.

“This was an amazing surf lesson — highly recommend! It was me and my two kids and the instructor was great with all of us. Helping us paddle out and making sure we got some great waves. My kids LOVED it and are now aspiring surfers. Highly highly recommend!”

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7.Surf Lessons on the North Shore Great for Families and all Ages

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 27 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $165

Meet Sea and Board Sports Hawaii in Haleiwa for a beginner-friendly North Shore surf lesson. James, Evan, and Kane are among the instructors who work with families and new surfers. Your lesson includes beach instruction, a rashguard, a longboard, and water guidance, with private and small-group options available.

“James, Evan and Kane did a great job with our children and grandchildren. They all had a good time, and the instructors were patient and kind…”

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8.Beginner Surf Lesson in North Shore, Oahu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 26 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $130

Meet North Shore Banzai Surf School at Puaʻena Point Beach Park for a beginner lesson with instructor Mitch or another school guide. You’ll receive a board, leash, rash guard, fins, life jacket, and hands-on coaching. Group lessons last about two hours; private lessons last one.

“It was an incredible feeling to catch my first wave. Honestly, I thought it would be easier. But with a great instructor like Mitch, you can definitely do it.”

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9.Beginner Group Surf Lesson on North Shore

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 22 reviews · 2 hours · from $125

Meet Keoni or Kalani Nozaki near Haleiwa for a two-hour beginner surf lesson on Oahu’s North Shore. Your small group gets a board, rash guard, safety briefing, land practice, and guided time in the waves. Solo bookings receive a focused one-hour lesson.

“Super Tips bekommen! Er hat mir immer beim paddeln geholfen, sodass ich meine Kräfte sparen konnte. Habe auch einige Wellen sehr gut gestanden! Kann ich nur empfehlen :)”

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10.Beginner Surf Lesson at North Shore Haleiwa, Oahu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 19 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $150

Meet Kekai or another local surf instructor at Puaʻena Point Beach Park in Haleiwa for a private two-hour beginner lesson. You’ll learn safety, paddling, and standing on a board before heading into the waves, with surf gear, water, and a rash guard provided.

“Great time out there! Our instructor was fun, explained everything well, but most importantly, got straight to surfing! We didn’t sit around, after some instruction, he took us out there so we could immediately start hitting the waves. Do be careful of stepping on a sea urchin though! Otherwise it was awesome!”

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11.Group Surf Lessons for beginners on the North Shore of Oahu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 18 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $150

Meet Catch’a Wave at Kahalewai Place for a two-hour North Shore surf lesson. Connor and the teaching team provide the board, leash, and rash guard, then guide you through safety, dry-land practice, paddling, standing, and catching small waves.

“Connor was great! It was my first time surfing and I already managed to easily catch my first waves!”

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12.Private Surf Lesson for 3-5 People in North Shore Oahu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews · 2 hours (approx.)

You’ll meet the North Shore Ohana School of Surfing at Chun’s Reef for a private two-hour lesson for three to five people. An instructor covers standing up, surf etiquette, and safety before you practice on supplied boards. Guide James has helped first-time surfers ride with their families.

“James was great for me and my teenage boys. All of us got up and rode the waves for the first time. Thx”

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13.Learn to surf with a local big wave rider on the North Shore of Oahu

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 10 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)

Meet local big-wave surfer Chance King at Kahalewai Place in Haleiwa for a 90-minute beginner surf lesson. Start with beach safety and board instruction, then practice catching waves with Chance, Caleb, or Charlotte. Private groups, English instruction, and a full refund if you do not enjoy the session.

“Chance and Charolette were fantastic. This was our daughters (15,13,8) 1st surf lesson so they were a bit nervous ( so were we). Chance stayed with our 8 yr old when it was her turn so she wasn’t scared and she actually did the best out of the 3 of them!!! Each of the girls got ‘wave time’ and the 8 yr old actually stood up a few times. One of the girls got sea sick, Charlotte brought her back to shore and made sure she was ok. Each of the girls swim and understand the beach but even if they didn’t - I would have felt very comfortable having…”

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