Aqua Shack @ Fistral

The house is huge, and the shared dorm is well furnished with a top-quality mattress. Everything is convenient and thoughtfully arranged. You can tell they’ve put a lot of time, effort and money into giving keen learners a great surf experience. It’s well located too, so I could take nice evening walks, and after a big rainy day the sauna felt like paradise. I’m a woman travelling solo and felt very safe. There were a couple of returners, and I booked to come back on day two of my surf camp. Jack and Rob are amazing instructors who really want you to learn and enjoy yourself. I left happy and thankful, thinking how inspiring it is to see a business done right. Lou, even while on maternity leave, was present, helpful and full of good advice, and their little baby is so cute. The owners are wonderful people, and it’s an absolute gem for learning to surf. The vibe is great, and it’s probably the best place you’ll find to learn in a safe, supportive and fun environment. If you want to learn surfing and are interested in being coached, look no further.

The food, relaxed atmosphere and dreamy setup all made the camp feel just right. I especially liked learning how to read the surf conditions and why we chose each spot, alongside the really helpful technical coaching. Rob, Lou and Jack were passionate, friendly, knowledgeable and great fun. I had such a good time, made new friends, and couldn’t have picked a better place to learn to surf. See you again soon!

I’ve now been twice, most recently for the green wave trip, and the coaching, accommodation and location have all been fantastic. On a recent solo surf, Rob’s advice came back to me and helped me paddle into waves that used to intimidate me. I’m starting to get turns on green waves and feel much more confident in general. It’s a great place to learn and keep progressing, and I’ll definitely return when I’m ready to build my skills further.

Breakfast was healthy, filling and made with really good organic ingredients. Rob’s meal on the first night was incredible too, and a lovely way to meet the other guests. The lodge itself was great: comfortable beds, a warm, clean and welcoming room after a busy day in the ocean, and equally good shared areas and bathrooms. Rob, Lou and Jack put a lot of time and energy into helping my daughter and me get what we needed from camp, with personal advice focused on technique. The instructors really want to help you improve, the equipment and teaching are first class, and the video coaching and photos to take home were highlights. Rob and Lou are fantastic hosts. We’ll be back!