How To Book, Booking Information and Payments

When is The O'Neill Surf Academy open? We're open all year round.  We run all our surfing courses between March - December and offer Half Day Lessons only from December - March.  We have lessons running seven days a week, including weekends.

How can I book? You can book a surf course or lesson by giving our office a call on 01841 520052, by sending us an email using the contact form or info@oneillsurfacademy.co.uk, or you can check availability and book your course ONLINE.

How do I  book a Surf 'N' Stay course? To book a Surf 'n' Stay course you'll need to call or email. Due to the complexities of these bookings and availability we don't currently have this course available for you to book online. 

How do I secure a booking? To reseve a place on a surfing course we ask for a 50% deposit. The remaining balance is due on arrival. The booking will not be considered confirmed until the deposit is received and confirmation receipt has been issued.

What's the best way to pay? We accept all major credit and debit cards (except for american express) You can pay by card over the phone or by skype. We can send you an e-payment form or you can make a bank transfer and we also accept cheque in the post (for bank transfers and cheque payments confirmation will be issued once funds have cleared). We can accept cash at the beach for all balance payments. To pay your balance by card, you'll need to call our office in advance.

Surf Courses, Lessons and Holidays

How much does a surf course cost? The cost of our courses varys depending on the options you choose. Please see our Price Guide for details of the cost of all our courses. If you can't find what you're looking for or would like a bespoke quote please Contact Us. 

Where will we be surfing? The vast majority of our surfing lessons are held at Watergate Bay. We also have a mobile set-up which allows us to travel to other beaches locally is conditions are more suitable elsewhere.

How big are the groups? Group sizes vary depending on the level of ability and booking on that day. Typically, tuition is provided along the industry guideline of a maximum ratio of 1:10. Typically, here at the O'Neill Surf Academy you'll find our group sizes much smaller than the industry standard at 1:6 ratio. For 1-1 and Private Small Group Lessons it will just be you and your instructor.

What's included in my surf lesson? All courses include use of all equipment and all tuition throughout the duration of your course.

Do I need to hire equipment? All equipment hire is provided free of charge during your surfing lessons with us. 

Can I bring my own surfing equipment?  If you have your own surfboard or wetsuit that you'd like to bring along with you please feel free to do so! 

Can I keep hold of my equipment after my lesson to practice?  We also have a great hire facility where after your lesson your instructor can find you the right equipment you need to head out and prictice and make some progression. Hire is available for a few hours, or even a few days.

Are there any age limits? The minimum age we accept for children learning to surf is 6 years. We cannot accept children younger than this. There is no upper age limit.

Do I need to be able to swim? It's ideal if you can swim 50 metres. If you are a non-swimmer or have limited swimming ability then please inform us upon booking so we can make additional arrangements to ensure you are looked after and we have sufficient coaching cover. Lessons are typically held in waist deep water, which make the activity safe and fun regardless of your swimming ability.

Travel and Getting Around

What are my travel options to get to Watergate Bay? We're located just 2 miles from Newquay airport. Their are regular flights to Newquay from most major uk airports.  There is also a train station in Newquay town centre (approx 5 miles from the beach) and the National Express Bus Service stops at Newquay Bus Station daily.

How do I get from my accommodation to the beach? If you're not staying at Watergate Bay, then you'll need to make your way to the beach for your lessons each day. We're a short drive from Newquay and Padstow by car. There's plenty of parking available at Watergate. The Public bus service between Newquay and Padstow also stops at Watergate Bay arriving at perfect times for arriving at your lessons. There are also plenty of taxi firms locally. If you would like us to arrange transport for you on your behalf please contact us.

Where is Watergate Bay? You can use this GOOGLE MAP to find Watergate Bay.

Small Print

What if I miss my lesson?  If you miss one of your surf lessons due to personal reasons (social engagements, illness, fatigue, hangover or similar) We're not obliged to reschedule or refund your lesson.

What happens if we can't go surfing? In the unlikely event we're not able to surf because of dangerous surf or weather conditions, O'Neil Surf Academy / West Coast Surfari will not be held financially responsible. We ensure that you're lesson is either rescheduled for a more appropriate date/time, another activity is offered or the time is used constructively to learn about other aspects of the sport.