Soul Surf School, Byron Bay

Had an awesome time with Soul Surf School. Booked myself a 1/2 day surf class and it could not have been any better. They check the beaches condition to align with the group's expertise and takes you to the best matching spot. The trip out there is enjoyable, with good music and nice talk. Then we receive clothing and the boards, go down to the beach and start exercising to get ready to the water, not before a theoric class with some practice before heading to the sea. Group is organized and lined up to maximize the number of waves we get. After a bunch of them, some time off to rest and get some feedback from your instructor. They provide both group and tailored individual feedback, so that you are ready to the next round of waves. It's quite exhaustive, but in an excellent way! I cannot recommend them enough.

We booked a private lesson and were told 2 pm was the best time that day.....it was actually the time where they had room for a booking but the worst possible tide time. Despite being told on the phone that private lesson students were taken to a different spot than the rest of the group, where the waves were best that day, possibly in a van, we walked just a few hundred meters in front of the store beach, the two hours of private lesson include the time at the store to pick boards and wetsuits (where they do take all their time) and time carrying your board. You overall spend very little time in the water. I would not recommend lessons with this surf school. The surfboards and wetsuits were good quality though.