Bali Canggu: Surf lesson for beginners & experienced surfers

5.00

(6 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I’ll be honest—I thought I’d just flop around on the board and call it a day. But something about Canggu’s beach air (salty, warm, kind of sticky) made me want to actually try. Our instructor, Wayan, greeted us with this big grin and handed out rashguards that smelled faintly like sunblock and ocean. He started off with a safety talk under some palm shade—nothing fancy, just real advice about currents and how not to panic if you fall off (which I did, a lot). The sound of the waves was louder than I expected; it sort of drowns out your nerves.

We stretched together on the sand—Wayan joked about my “Bali yoga” pose—and then he showed us how to paddle and pop up. It looked easy when he did it. When I tried? Not so much. My arms felt like noodles after ten minutes. But he kept giving these small tips (“look forward, not down!”), and somehow it helped. The first time I caught a wave—even if I only stood for two seconds—I swear my heart was pounding louder than the surf. There was this moment where everything went quiet except for the rush under my feet.

Afterwards we just sat on our boards, legs dangling in the water, watching other beginners wipe out or cheer when someone finally stood up. The sun was starting to dip but nobody seemed in a hurry to leave—not even Wayan, who must’ve seen thousands of first-timers by now. He told us stories about growing up here and how big boards are actually “cool” for learning (I believe him now). My hair was full of salt and my arms were jelly by the end, but honestly? I still think about that view from the water—Canggu behind me, sky turning gold—and wonder when I’ll get back on a board again.