Surf Lessons

Surfing is a healthy, natural sport. It gets you in shape, gives you a nice tan, and most of all is FUN! In Playa Dominical, Costa Rica , the water temperature is around 78 degrees year round, so you can leave your wetsuit at home.

Ask any experienced surfer, and they'll all tell you the same thing: nothing in the world compares with perfect, glassy waves. At Green Iguana Surf Camp, we teach much more than the simple act of riding waves; the true spirit of surfing is a very special thing, and is why so many people change their lives to be close to the ocean and the surf. There is something magical about riding an ocean wave, and for many people, it's the “missing link” that makes their lives complete; this philosophy is shared by the Green Iguana staff, and is something they consistently impart to our guests. Forget all about the surfer lingo or being a "cool dude”; there is simply nothing more peaceful and relaxing than enjoying a sunset over the ocean, while sharing a few waves with your friends.

Green Iguana's teachers are trained lifeguards, and are all highly experienced in instructing you everything you need to know about surfing; including the basics of reading the ocean, how to stand up properly, how to drop into waves and start making some basic turns, and all safety issues are covered in complete detail. Our surf instructors are bilingual, and have detailed knowledge of Costa Rican waves and conditions. They know where all the "secret spots" are, and take you where it's going to be good each day, at the right time of day. Most importantly, Green Iguana's teachers show you how to maximize fun out of your surf sessions.

As any Tico (Costa Rican) will tell you, Playa Dominical is Costa Rica 's most consistent surf spot, with average wave sizes at Dominical Beach ranging from three to five feet. A few of the local learner's-wave surf spots Green Iguana ventures to include Playa Guapil, Playa Hermosa, Playa Dominicalito, and Playa Ventanas; all have ideal surf for beginners, with small, gentle, well formed waves, absolutely stunning scenery, and gigantic man-eating crocodiles. (Just a joke; no man-eating crocs!!!) They're not just for those starting out, however, and each spot offers great surf for those who already know the basics. In addition to the beachbreaks we frequent, we offer trips to intermediate and advanced surfers to a beautiful left-hand pointbreak, known as The Point, or to Dominical's original locals, as “Papas Point”.

Besides simply learning to stand up and ride, you'll learn all about surfing etiquette; how to avoid accidents in the water, which surfer has the right-of-way, and how to both give and receive courtesy in the surf.

The 5 day surf course starts off on day one with around 30 minutes of on-the-beach instruction that includes detailed descriptions of pointbreaks, reefbreaks, and beachbreaks, understanding the effects that tide, wind, and swell direction have on the surf, and how to identify and handle trouble zones, like rip currents, underwater objects, and wave-hogging locals. The rest of the first lesson is spent in the water, learning surfing's fundamentals - how to paddle your surfboard and deal with incoming waves, how to sit up on your board (tougher than it sounds), and how to catch waves and get up to your feet. And of course, you'll learn everything you ever wanted to know about that time-honored tradition, the wipeout!

The next series of lessons are held at the area's beachbreaks. These lessons are designed to teach you to ride the face of the wave, with the main focuses being on wave judgment and timing, catching waves and getting up to your feet properly, and learning to make basic turns. Whether or not you take a five, seven, or ten day course, by the end of your lessons you will have learned the basics, and will most likely be planning on buying a new board for your next surf trip!

Green Iguana's surf school courses include one or two surf lessons per day, according to the tides. The course also includes unlimited surfboard use, and guided transportation to local surf spots.

Please Note: As with all sports, some people learn to surf very quickly, while others are more comfortable taking their time to learn. Kids are different - they surf like seasoned pros after about 5 minutes of instruction! It does help to have experience swimming in the ocean, but it's not entirely necessary. However, we do require that all surf school participants, kids and adults, have some basic swimming abilities. If you can tread water for ten minutes, and swim a few laps in a pool without feeling beat, then no problem - you're ready to go surfing.

What to bring for your surf lessons: sun block is imperative - Aloe Gator or Bullfrog sun block can be found in surf/sport shops. Those brands are waterproof, and highly recommended for surfing. Also, bring a few surf shorts or bathing suits/bikinis, and a spandex t-shirt (surfers call them rash guards) will help prevent rashes on your belly.

Green Iguana Surf Camp's Surf Science page is the most comprehensive and informative web page on surfing's basics and ocean safety to be found anywhere on the internet! We highly recommend that all future guests of Green Iguana Surf Camp read this page before departing for Costa Rica.

Here's a basic description of GISC's 5-day beginner's surf course:

Day 1- First lesson, held during the low to medium tide at Dominical Beach. This lesson stresses safety, and how to spot, avoid, and escape dangerous areas such as rip currents, reef, etc. The first half of the lesson is spent on the beach, where you'll learn about rips, basic surfing etiquette, and how to read ocean swells. The second half of the lesson is spent in the water, learning the basics of paddling, getting to your feet, and riding
small inside waves.

Day 2- Day two is where you step up a notch, from the whitewater to the outside break. Lessons Two through Five are normally held at several other beaches south of Dominical, in order to find the best waves for the day's conditions. These are all very beautiful, secluded beaches, ideal for beginning surfers.

Days 3-5- Days three through five are spent learning how to drop into wave faces on the outside, and how to make basic turns. The object of these lessons is to build up "muscle memory" - a term that refers to the body's ability to "learn" a particular movement, after many repetitions, without the brain consciously thinking about it - very important when you're
learning to take off on a wave. Green Iguana's instructors get you over these first steps, leaving you with the confidence to surf in your home waters, and ready to explore other surf destinations. The fact is, surfing is one of the purest thrills you'll ever find, and once you're hooked, it's a great reason to go on regular jaunts to the tropics!

Surfing is a lot of fun. Surfing is also a science.
I have put together a brief course on the science of reading the ocean for a quality ride. Read on...