Blog · By Gervas, surf coach at Nelayan Beach · 5 min read

Private or group surf lessons in Canggu?

The main difference between private and group surf lessons in Canggu is attention. In a private lesson, your instructor watches only you: your pop-up, your position in the water and your safety. In a group lesson, that attention is shared between several people. Groups can feel social. Private lessons mean faster feedback and closer supervision.

I teach both: private lessons, just you and me, and semi-private lessons for a couple, friends or a small group. Here’s how the two compare, because the right choice depends on you.

The main difference between private and group lessons

Both formats cover the same basics: safety, paddling, the pop-up (the move from lying to standing on the board) and catching whitewater (the broken foam that rolls towards the beach). What changes is how much of the lesson is about you specifically.

In a group, the instructor has to spread their time. While they help one person get into position for a wave, the others wait or practise alone. In a private lesson, every correction is yours, and the session can change direction as soon as something works, or doesn't.

Safety is part of this too. Batu Bolong can get crowded, and in busy water, one instructor watching one student can react faster than one instructor watching several.

What happens in a private surf lesson?

A private lesson with me takes two hours. We meet at Nelayan Beach, look at the waves and choose the right time and spot for your level. For beginners, that's usually Batu Bolong. Then we do theory and practise the pop-up on the sand before we paddle out.

In the water, I stay next to you. I help you with timing and positioning, tell you what to change after each attempt and keep an eye on the surfers and currents around us. I also find you a good spot in the line-up, the area where surfers wait for waves, so you can catch waves without worrying about collisions. If you get tired, we can stop earlier. Tired surfers make mistakes, and that's when things get dangerous.

No two surfers are the same, so I keep things personal. We take it at your pace, work on your weak spots and build from there. You'll find more on how a session runs in what happens during your first surf lesson.

What happens in a semi-private or group lesson?

In a semi-private or group lesson, several students share one instructor. The structure is similar: a briefing on the beach, pop-up practice on the sand, then time in the water. The difference is that the instructor divides their attention between everyone in the group.

Group sizes vary a lot between surf schools in Bali. I keep my semi-private lessons small, so everyone still gets feedback. Wherever you book, it’s worth asking how many students each instructor looks after in the water.

Groups suit people who enjoy learning alongside others and don't mind waiting their turn for feedback. Watching others fall off can also help with the nerves.

Which is better for complete beginners?

For complete beginners, the first sessions are where most habits are formed, good and bad. A kneeling pop-up or a habit of looking down at your feet is easier to fix on day one than after a week.

That's why I think a private lesson makes the most sense at the very start, especially for people who are nervous in the sea or not very strong swimmers. I can choose conditions that suit you, for example more whitewater waves in shallower water, and stay close the whole time. Every surf instructor in Canggu is also a trained lifeguard, which helps you feel safe, and feeling safe helps you learn.

Which is better if you want to improve quickly?

If progress is your main goal, a private lesson usually gets you there faster. You get more waves with feedback in the same amount of time, and the session is planned around your weak spots.

This matters even more after the first few sessions. Once you're standing in the whitewater, the next steps are about details: where you sit, which wave you choose, how you time your paddling and, later, how you turn. Those are hard to coach in a group. I explain that stage in from whitewater to green waves.

Learning together as a couple or with friends

Plenty of people want to learn with their partner or a friend. That’s exactly what a semi-private lesson is for.

You surf side by side, share the experience and pay a little less per person than for a private lesson. I plan the session around both of you and keep an eye on each of you in the water.

People do learn at different speeds. If one of you wants to push on faster or needs more time, a private lesson makes that easier, and you can always mix the two over your trip.

Price difference

At Batu Bolong and Nelayan, lesson prices are agreed within the local community. With me, a beginner lesson is Rp 350.000 per person semi-private or Rp 400.000 private. Intermediate lessons are Rp 450.000 per person. Every lesson is 2 hours and includes a surfboard, rashguard, water and zinc sunscreen.

I explain more in how much surf lessons in Canggu cost.

Private vs group surf lessons in Canggu: common questions

Are private surf lessons worth it for beginners?

For most beginners, yes, especially in the first sessions and for anyone nervous in the water. You get more feedback and closer supervision.

Can two people share a lesson?

Yes. That’s what a semi-private lesson is for: you learn together with one instructor, from Rp 350.000 per person for beginners.

Do you offer group lessons?

Yes, semi-private lessons for small groups, for beginners and intermediate surfers. I also teach private lessons.

How long is a surf lesson?

Two hours. We can stop earlier if you get tired, because staying safe comes first.

Which lesson should you book?

A semi-private lesson suits you when you’re comfortable in the water and like learning with friends or your partner. A private lesson makes more sense when you want to feel safe from the start and get feedback on every wave.

Want to learn one on one, or together with friends? Send me a WhatsApp on +62 813-3684-866 and tell me how you’d like to learn. More about my surf lessons in Canggu.