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Turn your passion into a profession and get paid to do what you love! Spend your working days at the beach and be trained by the UK’s premiere instructor in the heart of the UK’s surf capital.
Our focus is getting you ready for industry by upskilling you, not just as a surf coach, but in all the things that are influencing the surf industry, like surf skating, inclusive surfing, surf photography and wave pool surfing.
Suitable for new surfers or those who can surf already. This intensive course is designed to help you attain the skills, experience and qualifications to walk into a job as a surf instructor. For those looking to build surf experience before doing this course, our Foundation Surf Training add-on is available to improve your surfing ability.
Would you like to find out a bit more about us or one of our courses?
About this courseThis intensive course is designed to equip you with everything you need, and more, to work as a Surf Instructor in the UK or internationally. In three weeks we’ll take you through your SLSGB lifesaving award and all the coursework and focus on developing your surfing standard to complete your ISA Level 1 Surf Coach qualification.
The ISA Level 1 Surf Instructor Award is the industry standard for teaching surfing in the UK and around the world. Coupled with a lifesaving award, the Surf Coach Safety or Beach Lifeguard Award, once you have them both, you’re ready to work!
We aim to get you up to the surfing standard in three weeks, and equip you with the tools and knowledge to become an epic Surf coach! If you haven’t surfed much before, don’t let that put you off! We recommend doing our Foundation Surf Training beforehand which is an awesome introduction to all the skills essential for becoming a surf coach.
If you can surf already, your surf ability will sky rocket under the guidance of Alan Stokes and become a better surfer and surf coach. If you already have a suitable lifeguarding qualification, you can join the course for two weeks at a discounted price.
We take you beyond the basics. We’ve recently added a whole raft more to the syllabus to align with the ever changing surf industry, like surf-skating, accessible surfing and surf photography. We even cover the world of artificial waves, with a visit to The Wave, Bristol’s inland surf destination, to find out more about wave pools. All this means you’re ready to take the surf industry by storm!
What’s Included*New additions to our syllabus*
Things to help you pass
Ready to ride this wave of opportunities? Feel free to book online or shoot us a message through our chat if you’ve got any burning questions. We can’t wait to share this adventure with you!
ItineraryHere’s what you can expect to be doing over the three weeks. We’re always working around the tides and weather conditions so things might move around:
DAY 1
We’ll introduce you to our awesome staff, the Centre, spill the beans on the course, and kick things off with a surf lesson from our pro instructors at Newquay Activity Centre. It’s like a sneak peek into the perfect surf class.
DAY 2
Dive into the pool first thing to show us your swimming skills, gearing up for Lifeguard training. Then, beach time with the legendary Alan Stokes for some surf skills and progression planning. In the evening, join the Surf Photography in Surf Coaching Workshop and find out the secrets behind gaining those shots which will help your guests improve and get them stoked!
DAY 3
More surf skills, lesson presentation tweaks, and a second round of video analysis with Alan. Later, we’ve got a chat from folks at The Wave Project in the evening. They’ll be chatting through their work in Surf therapy and explaining how you can get involved!
DAY 4
Back with Alan for more lesson fine-tuning and surf skill polishing. Dive into another surf theory session and a dose of video analysis.
In the evening we’re holding a Surf Skate Workshop. We’re talking about how surf skating can be used as a coaching tool and how to run your own Surf skate workshops.
DAY 5
Start your day with an Adaptive Surf workshop led byAdaptive ISA Coach, Freddie. Get a peek into making surf lessons more accessible and what’s covered in the Adaptive ISA qual. Later, hit the beach for some shadowing with the Newquay Activity Centre surf instructor team.
DAY 6
Time to kick back or catch some waves! You’re welcome to shadow ongoing Surf Lessons at Newquay Activity Centre or Women + Waves.
DAY 7
Another chill day. You’ve earned it! Time for a free surf!
DAY 8
Here’s where Surf Coach Safety or Beach Lifeguard training kicks off. Dive into the module intro and theory, and then we’ll hit the beach to run through water safety and rescue techniques.
DAY 9
Intro to First Aid in the classroom and beach-based training, including board and tube rescues.
DAY 10
Classroom sessions on First aid and Resuscitation, followed by Run Swim Runs, rescue scenarios, and beachside casualty aftercare. Fancy some extra First Aid wisdom? Join our Q&A session in the evening.
DAY 11
We’re wrapping up the last bits of First Aid training and Basic Life Support. Then, brace yourself for Rescue scenarios, blending First aid, rescue know-how, Surf Coaching, and group management skills.
DAY 12
It’s the big day! Your individual First Aid assessment and Beach Rescue and water safety assessments are on the agenda.
DAY 13
More surf lesson shadowing with the Newquay Activity Centre surf instructor team.
DAY 14
Guess what? Another day off. We’re all about that balance!
DAY 15
Start your day right with an optional dawn surf coaching session. Then, hit the classroom for day 1 of the ISA surf coaching qualification with the legendary Barrie ‘Baz’ Hall.
DAY 16
Day 2 of the ISA surf coaching qualification with Baz. He’ll be assessing your lesson delivery and sharing more surf coaching wisdom.
DAY 17
More surf skills development with Alan, followed by some video coaching. Got some killer footage of yourself surfing? Now’s the time to show it off!
DAY 18
Last day of Surf coaching with Alan. He’ll be dropping some final pearls of wisdom in the water. This day is all about wrapping up and getting those logbooks finished off, so we can submit them on your behalf.
DAY 19
Road trip alert! We’re heading up to The Wave in Bristol to geek out on WaveGarden technology and the future of inland Surfing. After chatting with The Wave staff, feel free to ride those epic waves, and our staff will be there to snap pics or coach you in the water.
So, ready to ride this wave of awesomeness? Book online or ping us through our chat if you have any burning questions. Can’t wait to share the stoke with you!
Calling all ocean loversThis course is perfect for beginner and intermediate surfers looking to turn their passion into a profession and teach the art of surfing to those wanting to learn. It’s also open to those new to the sport who want to change their employment (and life) for the better!
Arguably, undergoing such a process will give you a huge advantage when working with inexperienced students; being able to empathise with their thoughts and feelings whilst on the water in a relatively new environment.
You don’t need any previous qualifications to enroll in this programme. Neither do you need to be a proficient surfer; we have excellent instructors who can teach you from the ground up.
As you can imagine you will be learning lots of technical skills from our team. Some are harder than others and we think surfing may be the most difficult to learn from scratch. However, we have proved this to be achievable for many of our students who were first-time surfers during the course. If you don’t pass the surfing skills within course time you have a further 12 months to make the grade.
If you think you may benefit from a few extra sessions before or during the course, please check out our surf lessons and get in touch, we will discuss how this works. Please bear this in mind for any other technical skill that you think could need improvement.
However, this course does require competent swimming skills and a good level of fitness.
The course includes training & assessment modules alongside optional shadowing hours, helping you gain instructing experience in a variety of areas. You’ll get the chance to find direct employment and further training opportunities depending on your interests and abilities. If you can tick all of the following requirements, then you’re in a great position to start:
PERSONAL SKILLS
In terms of personal skills, You’ll need :
Why go intensive?We’ve been delivering training courses since 2001 and we’ve identified 10 reasons why our intensive surf coaching course takes away the headache of doing it on your own!
We’d love to teach you to be a surf instructor, book online now or drop us a message through our online chat if you have any questions!
30th September – 17th October
20259th June – 27th June 8th September – 26th September
Our HeadquartersOur purpose-designed building is ideally located within walking distance to Towan Beach, Fistral Beach, Newquay Bay as well as the bustling town centre itself.
Our state-of-the-art HQ, with toilets, heated changing rooms, hot outdoor showers, lockers for valuables and storage for clothes and bags. Although we prefer to use the beach and ocean as our classroom, we do have a nearby training room for our theory work.
If you’ve surfed before you’ll know how much kit and equipment there is, and it can be a daunting prospect having to pay for it all. Or perhaps you’re travelling from abroad and can’t squeeze a wetsuit in your luggage? So, for the duration of the course, we have all of the necessary equipment stocked in our centre for our students to use for free. At the beginning of the course, you’ll get supplied with key kit to use for the duration of the course or until you get your own.
Our knowledgeable team is always happy to offer advice on kit and equipment before, during and after the course!
We’re keen to support you in upskilling yourself, so we’ll allocate you use of our boards during your spare time throughout the course. If you want to improve your surfing during the evenings or weekends, our equipment is ready to be used.
This is an unusual privilege on a training course like this, but we feel it will offer you an excellent opportunity to up-skill. Please note this will need to be booked in with the centre for your required times.
About UsAs the longest-running activity centre in Newquay and the surrounding area (since ’99); we have the necessary experience to consistently maintain the highest level of safety and fun. We are a two-time Gold winner at the Cornwall Tourism Awards and a Gold Award winner at the South West Tourism Awards. Our coasteering routes have been fully risk assessed by our expert team of leading coasteer instructors, ensuring you have the safest possible experience whilst enjoyably pushing your boundaries.
For years our team has pioneered the training of surfing, bodyboarding and coasteering instructors in Newquay, enhancing core qualifications with professional in-house tuition to build experience in all outdoor conditions. We are a the only SLSGB Affiliated Training Centre in Newquay which allows us to run SLSGB awards and qualifications, including the internationally recognised NVBLQ Beach Lifeguard and Surf Coach Safety courses.
We have a purpose-designed, state-of-the-art centre, conveniently located close to both Towan and Fistral beach. We have hot showers, heated changing rooms, lockers, separate male and female toilets and clothing storage. We also boast a hire centre well-equipped with top quality equipment for all your needs after your coasteering session.
To supplement our Intensive Surf Instructor Course, we have a couple of in-house accommodation options available to add on as an extra. We have two apartments, both within walking distance to the beach and both stylishly fitted out with all modern luxuries.
Please note: the cost of accommodation is not included in the course price. Accommodation is charged at £795 for the three week duration of the course and is due 8 weeks prior to the course start date.
SUNSET VIEWS APARTMENT, PENTIRE, NEWQUAY
Our first apartment overlooks Pentire Headland and benefits from lots of natural light in a spacious living area. This two-bedroom property is perfectly located close to Fistral Beach and Newquay Town Centre; ideal for a post-lesson surf or a bite to eat in the evening. Both the Gannel Estuary and Crantock Beach are within a five-minute walk too, with the coastal path or main road being accessible from the apartment.
Our luxury apartment is located on the third floor with both elevator and staircase access. There is also a spacious, open-plan kitchen diner to enjoy home-made meals after a hard day of training. There is a juliet balcony in the kitchen that enjoys morning sunshine for alfresco breakfasts too. The dining room houses a large dinner table which is a great space for working or eating while enjoying ocean views out across Fistral Beach.
During the course we transform the living room into a lush workspace to deliver some relaxed lessons in a chilled atmosphere.
In the large lounge you will find a sofa-bed, flat-screen TV, plenty of space and a private south-facing balcony. This means you will benefit from sunshine all day alongside excellent opportunities to check the surf and catch some epic sunsets.
Each of the two bedrooms have a set of twin beds, a wardrobe, chest of drawers, bedside table and reading light. One has an en-suite with two hand basins, a bath, shower and toilet. There is also a separate bathroom and WC. Both bedrooms have stunning sea views for that ultimate hint of luxury.
NEWQUAY BAY APARTMENT, THE HARBOUR, NEWQUAY
The second choice of accommodation is our Newquay Bay Apartment, a place where you really couldn’t get any closer to the action if you tried. This apartment is ideally located directly above the Newquay Activity Centre HQ, making it the perfect choice for those who like to snooze that alarm clock every once in a while!
Newquay Bay Apartment is a modern, quiet, two-bedroom property that benefits from brand new fixtures and fittings due to a complete refurbishment in 2021. There is a new and modern kitchen as well as a brand new bathroom. The apartment is just a two-minute walk to Newquay Harbour where you will find one of our favourite wild swimming spots and idyllic ocean views. In the opposite direction, but just as close, you’ll find Newquay Town Centre with an abundance of coffee shops, restaurants and surf shops.
During the course we transform the living room into a lush workspace to deliver some relaxed lessons in a chilled atmosphere.
Inside the property there is a large and spacious living room/diner, comprising a sofa bed and brand new 52” TV. There is also a sizable dining table that lends itself nicely to group meals. Alternatively, it can double up as a large work or study space to go over your course notes in the evening.
The two bedrooms are both twin rooms with zip-link beds; these can be connected together if you’re after a private double room or you’re staying with a partner. Both rooms have wardrobes, chests of drawers, bedside tables and reading lights.
The living room space benefits from four large windows that face out across Towan, Great Western and beyond – all the way to Watergate Bay on a clear day! There is also a large south-facing courtyard to the rear of the property, perfect for catching some rays or hanging wetsuits out to dry.
There is also the advantage that we will hold a number of classroom sessions in the large lounge in the apartment as it is a great spot for group discussions, training etc. We also base some of the coaching weekends which you will have the opportunity to work as a shadow instructor on, at the apartment. We will explain to you, during your induction how we manage this to ensure that it doesn’t impact on your living environment.
You can view more images of our accommodation.
You will be in an apartment with fellow students from the course and we will do our best to place you with people of similar ages, backgrounds and interests. This will vary depending on course participants. You will be sharing a same-sex twin room.
Please note:
There is a £100 Security Deposit, made payable in cash on arrival. This will be held by the landlord until the final inspection, if there is no damage and the property is cleaned to the agreed standard it will be refunded.
There is also the advantage that we’ll hold a number of our classroom sessions in the living area of the Newquay Bay Apartment, as it’s a great spot for group discussions, video analysis and training. This is super handy for those living there; logistics couldn’t be easier, they can leave their laptop and notebooks at home, and it’s the quickest commute on record!
SPLIT THE COST OF YOUR COURSE INTO EASY PAYMENTS!
When booking one of our courses the are four easy options for payment:
1. PAY IN FULL – Pay the full amount in one, that’s it, you’re done!
2. 50/50 – Pay 50% deposit and the remaining 50% at an agreed date
3. SPLIT INTO 3 – Spread the cost into 3 equal payments. Pay a third of the cost immediately and the remaining two thirds on agreed dates.
4. MONTHLY PAYMENT PLAN – Pay an initial holding fee (of as little as £250 and we can then set up monthly payments to come out on the 1st of each month.
We can’t guarantee your place until we have received a payment from you. To hold the place for more than 24 hours we require a non-returnable holding fee. This can be as little as £250 and will be deducted from your final payment for the course.
Once you have made a payment, you’ll then be sent a confirmation email with booking details on. Full Payment must be received 12 weeks prior to the course start date
Life after the courseSTAYING AROUND NEWQUAY?
After successful completion of the instructor course, you’ll have the opportunity to become a member of our friendly team, or you may go on to work with other providers and expand your experience and training. There’s opportunity to interview for instructor roles at Newquay Activity Centre and Women + Waves.
STAYING IN THE UK?
If you’re thinking of heading inland that doesn’t mean you need to stop Surf Coaching! We’ve got links with the Wave, Bristol so you can spend your time in the city but still get surf time!
THINKING OF GOING FURTHER AFIELD?
For those who want to use this course as an opportunity to travel, we have some excellent partnerships that will allow you to do just that. We got links with centres and surf providers all over the world! Including programmes with partners in New Zealand and Morocco
Once you’re fully qualified and competent in all aspects of the course, you could be given the opportunity to fly out to NZ and work for a season as a surf instructor. As well as being a paid opportunity for work, this is a chance to visit new places, meet new people and experience new cultures.
You’re guaranteed to make new friends, create awesome memories, and maybe even open your horizons with regards to your career plans. Travel is food for the soul; this kind of opportunity doesn’t come around every day!
Our Academy graduates are all over the world so we’re constantly getting new spots and contacts all over the globe!
When booking one of our courses there are three easy options for payment:
1. PAY IN FULL – Pay the full amount in one, that’s it, you’re done! ⠀⠀
2. 50/50 – Pay 50% deposit and the remaining 50% at an agreed date⠀⠀
3. MONTHLY PAYMENT PLAN – Pay an initial holding fee (of as little as £250 and we can then set up monthly payments to come out on the 1st of each month.
We can’t guarantee your place until we have received a payment from you. To hold the place for more than 24 hours we require a non-returnable holding fee. This can be as little as £250 and will be deducted from your final payment for the course.
Once you have made a payment, you’ll then be sent a confirmation email with booking details on. Full Payment must be received 12 weeks prior to the course start date
Due to this course being in high demand, we have very limited availability. However, we can hold your space for 24 hours without payment.
To hold the place for more than 24 hours we require a none returnable holding fee. This can be as little as £250 and will be deducted from your final payment for the course
Yes definitely! We pride ourselves on being super welcoming and friendly. Most of our students arrive solo and leave with friends for life.
That’s not a problem, we’d recommend enrolling on our Foundation Surf Training course which has been developed to build water confidence amongst those with less experience in the ocean, or those in need of a refresher.
Through a combination of classroom and practical ocean sessions, you’ll develop a solid base of knowledge about surf theory, the beach environment, hazards, and rescue techniques that will help you excel in the ocean, whether you’re there for work or leisure.
As you can imagine you will be learning lots of technical skills from our team. Some are harder than others and we think surfing may be the most difficult to learn from scratch. However, we have proved this to be achievable for first-time surfers during the course. If you don’t pass the surfing skills within course time you have a further 10 months to make the grade.
If you think you may benefit from a few extra sessions before or during the course, please check out our Foundation Surf Training course which has been developed to build water confidence amongst those with less experience in the ocean, or those in need of a refresher.
You can still join the course. We will supply you with pre course training recommendations that will help you to achieve the standard. No doubt, it is harder to pass within three weeks if you haven’t surfed before. But this has been achieved by around 40% of our previous students.
If you don’t pass the surfing skills module within the two weeks, you have a further 12 months to make the grade. But we will try our very best to get you there during the two-week course.
The surf school industry has grown massively in the last 10 years. Every beach that has waves, seemingly has a surf school. If it doesn’t, perhaps you should set one up. As a lifestyle business or lifestyle employment it takes a lot of beating. Organised surf instructors pick up work year-round by travelling to different parts of the world where they are in demand. Or gain year-round position at a bigger surf school. Many surf instructors choose to set up their own operation, as once you have the qualification, you just need the equipment and a place to operate lessons and you are good to go.
To work at Newquay Activity Centre as a surf instructor, you need to gain an SLSGB Surf Coach Safety Award. In order to complete this award, you need to be able to swim 200m in under 5 minutes. This is quite achievable for most standards of swimmers. Please note: at many activity centres you do not need this qualification in order to deliver kayaking, coasteering or stand up paddleboarding sessions
As a result of feedback from previous courses we have developed the Foundation Surf Training course which has been developed to equip you with the lifeguarding skills you need to pass this section of the course. .
We also strongly advise you to train in the swimming pool prior to the course.
As you can imagine, the fitter you are, the easier it is. But, that said, it isn’t a triathlon! Our coaching sessions are usually two hours long and you can participate at your own steam. If you need to rest, you can. Our pre course training programme will help you prepare for the course. When you have passed your ISA surf coaching qualification you will need a lifesaving qualification, this will mean you will have to complete a timed swim. This is achievable for most individuals and sometimes requires some swim training to achieve the standard.
We have an excellent range of wetsuits, wetsuit boots, gloves, and hats. We also have a huge range of surfboards, from foamies, to soft top progressor boards, all the way through to minimals and shortboards. Just let us know at time of booking and we will reserve your equipment, this is included in the price of the course.
We have our own accommodation option in the form of two luxurious flats. Please contact us for more information.
If that doesn’t suit there are loads of accommodation options in Newquay and the surrounding area. Check out AirBnB listings, Surf Lodges, Short-term lets and Spare rooms.
Most pupils stay in one of the following;
An Air BnB (there is a huge range of options in Newquay)
Surf Lodge Accommodation (we work closely with Smarties, Escape and Ocean Surf Lodge)
Hotel or Guesthouse (Check Booking.com for the options or drop us a line for recommendations)
Their van (either wild camping or staying on one of the many local touring parks/campsites)
Speak to our staff if you’d like advice or recommendations.
Surf Life Saving Great Britain (SLSGB) and International Surfing Association (ISA) are all recognised worldwide.
Freelance surf instructors generally get paid between £35 and £50 for a two-hour coaching session (which means, with prep and lesson close down you will work for approx. 3 hours). A professional instructor will deliver three lessons per day. If you take a full-time job or build your own roster of regular clients the pay can range dramatically. Some instructors demand huge sums by offering an awesome service and getting excellent results. Like any job, the more that you put in to it, the more that you get out of it.
You’ll need :
Cover for public liability will be in place whilst you partake in activities with Newquay Activity Centre, this is to a limit of £5 million. Personal accident cover is available, similar to travel insurance (injuries due to accidents etc), this is something participants can acquire themselves by looking online if they wish to purchase. Insurance is a topic covered during the course Q and A sessions so that everyone is clear of how this works in the outdoor industry.
The visit to the wave and presentation with the Wave Manger are included in the course price. Spaces in staff transport are limited so you may have to arrange your own transport. Normally students share lifts up there. If you’re wanting to surf whilst we’re up at the Wave you’re more than welcome to book a session, we’ll explain more about the timings of the day when you start your course. There’ll be one of the OAIA staff there to get some epic shots of you surfing or coach you in the water.
There will generally be ratios of 1:8 (instructor to pupil) for all activity training. However, theory classes may have larger ratios. You’ll often be broken down into smaller groups and all learning will observe the correct social distancing guidelines.
You must be over 18 to join the course. If you are 65 or over, or under 18 we’d love to chat to you about the course before you book. Please email us to arrange a time and we’ll contact you. Or you can call us on 01637 877722
If you can’t join the course, please let us know as soon as possible via email. Your cancellation notice will start from the date we receive it.
Cancellation charges for the Outdoor Activity Instructor Academy, courses and modules are payable as follows:
Cancellation may fall under the terms and conditions of your holiday insurance policy and you may be able to claim.
Find out more under our terms and conditions.
We understand that plans change. If you are looking to change courses please speak to one of our team. Depending on how close the course start day is this may incur an admin fee.
Would you like to find out a bit more about us or one of our courses?
30th September – 17th October
20259th June – 27th June 8th September – 26th September
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