Private & Semi-private Surf Lessons In Waikiki

Great surf school. 3rd holiday I’ve surfed with Ty Guerney; can’t believe how much I’ve improved.

Another great session with Ty Gurney Surf School! I had a two-hour lesson on August 8 with Aiden, and this was another step forward in getting back into surfing. The ocean was pretty placid that morning, so there wasn’t a ton to work with, but Aiden made the most of what we had. He paddled up from his previous lesson right before our start time, introduced himself, and we headed straight out. One of the first things he did was ask what I wanted to work on. He listened, addressed exactly those areas, and did a great job explaining what I could change and why. We worked on my paddling, positioning, and catching waves on my own 9’6” board. I caught some waves and whitewater, got to my feet, and kept working even when the ocean wasn’t giving us much. Toward the end I was still hoping we’d get one more good wave—which probably says everything about how much fun I was having. This was also the first time I’ve done the full two-hour lesson with Ty Gurney. My first lesson, back in June, was on one of their big 12-foot boards with a lot of assistance. Since then I’ve gotten my own board and have been learning how to do more and more for myself. It’s harder, but it’s also much more rewarding. Aiden was patient, knowledgeable, encouraging, and gave me tips I can actually take with me when I’m surfing on my own. And as I was getting started, the previous group was coming back in from better conditions earlier that morning. The smiles on their faces said plenty about their experience too. Another great morning in the water. I’m really enjoying the progression and will absolutely keep coming back to Ty Gurney Surf School. Mahalo, Aiden! Can’t wait for the next one. 🤙🌊

We had a great time being instructed by James & Tyler! Both very knowledgeable. They kept us safe & comfortable the whole time. I'd highly recommend 'em!

Ryan helped our daughter have an amazing first surf experience! Highly recommend and good value for private lesson!

Marco was an excellent instructor did warm-up exercises and showed how to get onto the board on sand before heading out into the water and his one-on-one instructions were perfection even got to see a turtle swimming in the ocean highly recommended

Our kids (13 & 24) had a blast doing the one-hour semi private surfing lesson with Pete! Despite never having surfed before, they both got up a few times and even saw a few sea turtles while out!

Nico was amazing! My daughter had said it was top 5 experience of her life surfing with the corral and sea turtles beneath. Had so much fun we booked a second lesson an hour after she finished! Thank you!!

Fantastic experience! Was a new surfer (67F) and the guide was very patient and fun! I was able to get up and actually surf!! Would highly recommend!

We had great instructors. I really enjoyed it!! My 14 year daughter enjoyed it as well, but I think i enjoyed it more.

Excellent instructor, very patient, practiced the moves for standing on the surf board on land. Then off you go.

It was a very fun experience! They took us to a spot that had better waves for the day. The team was fun and super nice We would definitely do it again

Had a great experience with the team here. My two kids and I did 7 lessons over 3 days and we had a blast. Had different instructors each time but that was ok, all super nice staff!

The instructors were so awesome, enthusiastic and encouraging. We went out with an amazing group, caught AND rode some waves! They provided photos and videos for a fee but well worth the price. Lifetime memory!

Friendly staff sorry I don’t like to be forced to enter 100 characters it seems like a pain so now I need to drop one star

This was an incredible experience with a fabulous instructor. We would highly recommend booking a lesson with this company and Wyatt.

The boat captain ( Jamie) was knowledgeable & funny, as well as a good boat driver willing to go where other boats spotted whales. The whole crew was very attentive to the needs of the guests. We saw 2 pods of whales - it was amazing!

Great time in Waikiki beach surfing for the first time. Kevin and Jake were great, especially with our son. Caught tons of waves. I would highly recommend this group to anyone seeking a fun, enjoyable surfing outing.

We had an absolutely amazing experience. We have been dreaming of surfing at Waikiki for many years and the experience with the help of our instructors. Kevin and Harry was better than we could’ve imagined. We had two beginner surfers as well and both of them had an absolute blast and caught a whole bunch of waves. We’ve been talking about it constantly for the last 24 hours. Thank you so very much for making this experience so wonderful.

A great time with attentive and positive instructors! We were more sore afterward than expected but are really glad we chose this activity.

I accidentally booked for the wrong date, but they were incredibly helpful and quickly found an instructor and moved my lesson to the next day. Everything was explained clearly and made very easy for me. Thank you for the great service!

It was our first time surfing—me, my husband, and our 7-year-old son. The staff and coaches were super patient and friendly. Thanks to the coach’s clear instructions, my husband actually managed to stand up and surf in just an hour. I didn’t make it, but it was still so much fun, and I’d definitely come back here again. Our son is a bit scared of the water, so the coach stayed with him the whole time, letting him lie on the board and float around. I really appreciate how the coach chatted with him for a whole hour to keep him relaxed. Highly recommend—see you next time!

I booked 2hr private lesson. Could get up after 1hr. At 8am, the water is warm and the sun is not really out yet which is great. They do videos for 35$ and have to ask before the lesson.

Elliott was AMAZING!! I had so much fun and caught a couple waves on my second time surfing even though the last time was years ago and I only stood once that time! From the very beginning, Elliott said we’ll get you standing and he was right I caught several waves and learnt so much about technique. I had the best time learning to surf with Elliott.

My grandson, age 15, had never surfed before and he had a fabulous experience! Nico was his instructor and was super nice and my grandson really liked working with him. As the grandmother on shore, I was grateful to have Nico with him out on the water!! It all went extremely well and my grandson managed to stand and ride some waves! He did the two hour one on one instructor package and it was well worth it. Everyone w Ty Gurney was fabulous to work with on the phone while we planned the trip and in person

Booked the surf lessons in Waikiki for my two girls, and it was worth every penny. Ty, Dakota, and James were absolutely awesome—funny, encouraging, and totally in sync with the kids. The girls had a blast and haven’t stopped raving about how cool their instructors were. I paid extra for the video package, and I’m so glad I did. Watching the footage later, I could see just how much fun they had—smiles, wipeouts, and all. It captured the joy and confidence they felt out there, and now we have those memories forever. If you’re looking for a family-friendly surf experience with top-notch instructors, this is it. Highly recommend!

The lady at the front desk was welcoming and lovely. The instructor was encouraging and knowledgable. My daughter had a good lesson that she will remember and more importantly will inspire her to surf again.

Most patient instructors ever! Great lesson and they will really get you up on the board during your first lesson. Amazing experience- we will be back.

We booked three surf lessons for our daughter and couldn’t be happier with the experience! Each instructor was helpful, encouraging, and really helped her progress while keeping the stoke high. Huge shoutout to James, the photographer. He captured the most incredible shots and was such a positive presence in the water.

Great time! They were very patient in the training process and made sure you got a good wave! They also take really great pictures and video of the experience! Highly recommend!

Nico and James were amazing!! This was a repeat visit for our 8 year old daughter who surfed with Ty Gurney when she was just 4 years old! This time around, our daughter rode her own board and caught some amazing waves! Their positivity and love of surfing exudes! Our daughter loved it so much, we went back the next day! Highly recommend!

The business is not set up to be beginner friendly. My trainer kept pushing me to concur my fear even though I was having minor panic attack. Eventually we were able to cut my session short. I paid for the 2hr session but only lasted 1 hour and they didn’t refund me the remaining. It’s only suitable for moderate to advanced surfers

First time for my daughter, it was a gift for her birthday and she had a blast. The instructor was friendly and made my daughter feel comfortable. We also video the experience and the videographer was awesome as well.

Harrison was an excellent instructor. He had my grandson hangin 10 quickly. The private leason was well worth the price (a great value), because my grandson had a lot of surfing time.

Booked a same day one hour private lesson with video. In terms of scheduling, I just walked in when they opened in the morning and the front desk recommended 1pm for the right ride and wind conditions. The class started on time at 1pm, had two instructors basically, one who helped me and one who controlled the go-pro. On the way out, we saw two turtles popping their heads out! Both instructors are super encouraging and helpful, giving adjustment advice after each wave. The waves were consistent and good, and it wasn’t too crowded this afternoon. I rode a few waves for very long and it was absolutely thrilling. On the way back to shore, my instructor still tried to help me catch a few waves in. They helped me a lot with paddling which saved me as I am quite sore from another surf lesson the day before. The Ty Gurney Surf School is definitely one of the top ones I have personally experienced in Hawaii and San Diego. Would highly recommend for beginners.

My granddaughter who is 10 and Autistic came with her grandpa to learn to swim. She had Chelsea and he had Niko as their instructors. They were amazing. Chelsea was so great with Madison to where she felt so comfortable she opened up to her. She got up on her first try. Niko was as great for my husband who is 65. He even had fun. My granddaughter can’t wait to try again

This was such a fun experience. James was super friendly and patient, very chill with no pressure. The land lesson was quick and simple and just brought us out to start surfing. He brought us away from a crowded area so we had the waves to ourselves. I was so afraid I wouldn’t even get up on the board and caught an awesome wave my second try. My daughter and I had So much fun and laughs. We even saw a few sea turtles surfing with us. Thank you James for such a great way to finish our trip. Highly recommend.

Had an excellent time learning to surf with Elijah. Never surfed before but rode a couple waves. Recommend the two hour session for maximum board time, but you will be tired by the end.

Everyone is super friendly, and will do everything to make the experience great and to make you a better surfer. I chose to come back to Waikiki for this trip solely to surf with Ty Gurney’s team again. My surfing gets better every time I go out with them.

It was amazing from the beginning to the end. Instructor was very professional and easy going. Unforgettable experience. Great stop as well.

Middle-aged dad and my two teens had a great experience. All of us got up on our first try. The lesson itself was straightforward and took 10 minutes or less on the beach. Everyone was friendly and professional. The real game changer was having help: 1) to identify where the waves were breaking 2) to time it right to catch the wave 3) to get a boost from the instructor to have enough speed to catch the wave 4) to have help paddling out to the right spot. The paddling-help meant that an instructor would put a foot on your board and pull you out the right spot while paddlng their board. This allowed us to have enough energy to do a two-hour lesson comfortably. Extra instructors pitched in when they were available (including Ty himself). From past experience, the paddling for beginners can be draining. It uses weird muscles that beginners haven't developed. It can also result in a rash on the arms and chest from rubbing against the board. Things to know: a) you need to wear a rash guard, bring your own or use one of theirs. b) SUNSCREEN - the water will reflect in your face and the back of your legs, ears and neck will be exposed. Suncreen before you put your rashguard on in case it rides up. c) you can leave your stuff in their office and walk to the beach, d) some of the breaks are over a reef and they warn you not to step on it. All of us stepped on it at some point. You can wear water shoes if you are worried. e) there is nowhere to change in their office afterwards and no bathroom so you will have to go home wet. We booked 1 private and 1 semiprivate for 2 hours so had 2 instructors for 3 people. We ordered the video/photo package and were glad we did. More details below. The photo package was provided by 83 East. The videographer was friendly and helpful out on the water pitching in when we needed an extra hand. He got GREAT video of each of us and some videos of pairs of surfing together. Sometimes the videographer would catch the wave so you'd have a by-your-side video of the whole ride. If you can fit it in your budget, I would highly reccomended it. If your brining teens they WILL want to post cool pics and you won't want to be the one with the Go-Pro trying to capture them. Enjoy yourself and let the pros do it for you.

My husband and I had a lesson with Brent. He was so patient and helpful. My husband was able to stand up and ride a few waves. I was there more for the experience and did not care about actually standing up on the board. Brent was attentive to both our needs and made sure to get us in the perfect spot to catch the waves. We really enjoyed our experience with Ty Gurney Surf School. If we find our way back to Oahu, we will surly sign up for another class.

The instructor always thinks safety first, checked the wave condition several times then confirmed to go out to the sea. He knows how to communicate with children well, too. Although I booked the lesson over the phone in the morning, the reception lady kindly accepted us and made reservation page instead of us. This is also happy point to us. Thank you once again and I hope we can see you soon!

Son 16 loved his lesson! Initially we enquired about booking a lesson and were advised it would be better to come back another day as the waves weren’t good that day. Really appreciated the honesty. We Picked another day and watched our son paddle out into the surf. He was standing & caught more than a few waves by the end of his lesson. He also saw a couple of turtles. Great experience for our beginner surfer & highlight of his trip to Hawaii. Awesome surf school with all members of the team super friendly and professional. Highly recommend!

I have taken classes with my kids there a half dozen times. Their instructors are the real deal. Also pro level surfers. It's bit off the main drag but worth it. They take you to a surf break that way less crowded and typically has better waves than Waikiki beach (which can be madness). If you just want to try surfing while on vacay and get some fun video, they can do that. If you've been surfing for a bit and want to improve your technique, they can do that to. Enjoy!

Elliott was a great coach, got me riding a wave on third attempt. I had a really awesome experience and would recommend the Ty Gurney school to anyone wanting to learn how to surf!

Great experience, friendly and helpful. My son’s first time during, he was nervous to start but hey made him comfortable and he caught so many waves

Amazing experience!! We booked 2 private lessons for my 14 and 10 year old. The instructors were fantastic! My kids had such a good time and couldn't stop talking about their time surfing and how nice the instructors were. The felt like the were friends by the time that their time was up. I would recommend them to everyone! If we go back to Hawaii we would definitely book with them again! Thank you for making fantastic memories for my boys!

The instructors Tanner and Nicco were really great! I took the private 2 hour class which I think is the way to go. They clearly explained everything, were patient and were great at keeping me motivated. I had a lot of fun and its nice to say I have done it! It was so good I took a second 2hr class a couple of days later. I can see where this could be addictive! cant wait for the pictures.

This is my third visit to Ty Gurney Surf and I have loved each time. This session Tanner paddled me out, (for which my shoulders and neck are truly grateful), and Nicco was my videographer. They shared their tips and tricks, gave a ton of encouragement, and offered true aloha spirit. I look forward to seeing the stills and video. Perfectly spent two hours and very reasonably priced!