Canggu: 3-days surf course with ISA certified instructor

Catching your first wave at Batu Bolong is the main event here, but the real strength of this course is the patient, safety-minded instruction. Over three two-hour sessions, you work from beach basics to paddling, standing, wave choice, and simple turns, with time adjusted around the tide, weather, and your progress.

I like the flexible schedule, since early starts can put you in the water before the strongest sun and thickest crowd. I also like the practical extras: board, rash shirt, water, zinc, sun cream, and GoPro photos and video are included. The main consideration is that Batu Bolong can have plenty of beginner surfers, while larger waves may also roll through, so non-swimmers should not book and nervous beginners should be clear about their limits.

Key points to know before booking

• Three separate two-hour lessons: Choose the days that fit your schedule rather than committing to three consecutive mornings.
• Yahya is a standout instructor: He adjusts lesson times to tides and weather, gives clear corrections, and keeps the mood upbeat.
• Beginner-focused progression: Start with safety, paddling, and standing, then work toward turns and unbroken waves.
• Private-group format: The booking is for a private group, with the listed price of $98 for a group size of up to one person.
• Useful equipment is included: You receive a surfboard, rash shirt, water, zinc cream, sun cream, and GoPro photos and video.
• Batu Bolong is lively but not empty: You’ll find cafés and restaurants nearby, yet the beach can have many beginner surfers and occasional bigger waves.

What this Canggu surf course is really like

This is a learn-to-surf course built around three sessions rather than one quick tryout. Each lesson lasts two hours, giving you enough time to hear an explanation, practise on land, get into the water, and repeat the movement until it begins to feel natural.

The course takes place at Batu Bolong Beach, one of Canggu’s familiar surf areas. That location matters for beginners because the beach has a strong surf-school presence and easy access to nearby cafés and restaurants. It also means you should not expect an empty stretch of sand or a private bay. You may share the water with plenty of other new surfers.

The teaching is led by an ISA-certified instructor, with Yahya named by several people as their instructor. His approach, based on the details available, is practical rather than showy. He uses WhatsApp to discuss suitable lesson times, reads the waves before sending beginners out, and changes the plan when the tide or weather calls for it.

That flexibility is one of the best reasons to choose this course. Surfing is not a fixed-hour activity. Tide, wave size, wind, sunlight, and your own energy all affect the quality of a lesson. A rigid appointment can leave you practising in poor conditions, while a flexible start gives the instructor more room to choose a sensible window.

Meeting the instructor at Batu Bolong Beach

You can meet in the parking lot near Old Man’s bar at Batu Bolong Beach, or at Warung Bagus, about 200 metres from the car park. The school is also identified as Matahari Surf School on Google Maps.

The directions are simple once you reach the main Batu Bolong car park. Face the beach, walk to the left, and continue for roughly 200 metres to Warung Bagus. Allow a little extra time to find the correct spot, especially if you are carrying a towel and changing clothes.

You will need swimwear and a towel. The school supplies the surfboard, rash shirt, water, zinc cream, and sun cream, so you do not need to arrange those basics separately. Still, bring whatever personal sun protection you prefer, since two hours in Bali’s open water can feel long even when the lesson itself is relaxed.

The private-group format is useful if you want the instructor’s attention focused on your needs. It can also work well for a couple or a small party booking together, but check the booking conditions carefully because the advertised price is listed as $98 for a group up to one person. That wording is unusual, so confirm the final cost and group size before paying.

Day one: safety, paddling, and standing up

The first lesson begins on land. You meet the instructor, go through basic surf guidance, review health and safety points, and warm up before entering the water.

This part may look simple, but it is where a good surf lesson earns its value. You need to know how to handle the board, where to place your hands, how to paddle, and how to move your feet when standing. You also need a clear idea of what to do if you fall or lose the board.

The first practical drills focus on paddling and standing up on the board. The instructor stays close and chooses waves suitable for your level. For a first-timer, that close guidance can make the difference between flailing through the lesson and making a controlled attempt.

Expect trial and error. You may stand briefly, fall, adjust your foot position, and try again several times. That is normal. The goal is not to look polished after one session. It is to understand the sequence and begin to feel what a usable wave does beneath the board.

Yahya’s teaching style is particularly suited to people who need encouragement without pressure. He has been described as patient, cheerful, and careful about not putting students at risk. That combination matters in surfing, since fear and rushing can both cause poor decisions in the water.

Day two: better paddling and smarter wave choice

The second two-hour lesson begins with a short recap. You review the main techniques from day one, then set a clear goal for the session.

The focus shifts toward more efficient paddling and better positioning. Catching a wave is not only about standing up at the right moment. You must first be in a useful place, paddle with enough purpose, and choose a wave that matches your ability.

You also begin learning how different waves behave and which ones make sense for your current level. This is valuable because a beginner can waste a lot of energy chasing waves that are too fast, too steep, or too crowded.

Basic turning techniques enter the lesson as well. At this point, you may still spend much of your time on a soft board and on smaller, manageable waves. The instructor can adjust the work depending on how quickly you are progressing.

One useful feature is that the plan is not locked to an identical script for every student. If you need more time with paddling, you can keep working on that skill. If you are already catching waves comfortably, the instructor can introduce the next challenge.

Several students progressed far enough to move toward a hardboard during or after the three-day course. That should not be treated as a promise, since progress varies, but it shows that the course can provide a path beyond the very first lesson.

Day three: confidence, timing, and unbroken waves

The final session focuses on confidence and more advanced beginner techniques. You review the previous skills, then work on wave selection, timing, positioning, and manoeuvres on unbroken waves.

For many people, this is where the three-day format proves more useful than a single lesson. After one day, you may know what you are supposed to do but still hesitate in the water. A third session gives you another chance to repeat the movement and make decisions with less help.

The instructor may discuss strategies for choosing larger waves, but that does not mean you will be pushed into conditions beyond your ability. The lesson plan is adjusted for weather, the surf, and your progress. A sensible instructor should treat larger waves as a gradual step, not a target that must be reached.

Timing becomes more important on day three. You work on entering the wave at the right moment and positioning yourself so the wave can carry you. These are less obvious skills than simply standing up, yet they are what help you move from a lucky ride to a more controlled one.

If you are still working on the basics, the final lesson can remain a practice session. That is not wasted time. Surfing demands repetition, and confidence usually comes from making the same movement correctly several times rather than from rushing into advanced manoeuvres.

Why the flexible timing matters

The course lets you choose the days that suit your schedule. The exact starting time depends on availability, and the instructor can discuss timing around tides, weather, and wave conditions.

I like this setup for a Bali holiday because it avoids forcing three surf sessions into an awkward block. You can leave a rest day between lessons, fit surfing around another activity, or choose early sessions when that works best for the tide and your plans.

Early timing has practical benefits. The sun is less punishing, and the water can be less crowded before the day fills up. You still need sun protection, but a morning lesson may feel easier than a midday session.

The tradeoff is that you must stay in contact with the instructor. This is not a fully fixed excursion with one guaranteed start time printed on a ticket. You should be ready to use WhatsApp and remain flexible if conditions change.

What is included, and what is not

The included equipment covers the main needs of a beginner:

• Surfboard
• Rash shirt
• Water
• Zinc cream
• Sun cream
• GoPro photos and video

The rash shirt protects your skin from sun and board friction. Zinc and sun cream are helpful because you spend a long period outdoors, often with more sun exposure than you expect.

The GoPro photos and video add value, especially if this is your first time surfing. You can see your stance, watch how you fall, and keep a record of the experience. One practical point is worth noting: photographers may also be working around the surf area, and their separate services are not included. The included GoPro material and any outside photography should not be confused as the same thing.

You should bring swimwear and a towel. No transport is listed, so plan to reach the Batu Bolong meeting point yourself. The nearby cafés and restaurants make it easy to eat or cool down after the lesson, but food is not part of the surf course.

Safety and the real limits of a beginner lesson

The course is not suitable for non-swimmers. That is the clearest restriction, and you should take it seriously. Surfing requires comfort in the water, even when the instructor chooses manageable waves.

Safety guidance is part of the first lesson, and the instructor reads the waves before sending beginners out. That is reassuring, but no surf course can remove every risk. Batu Bolong has many beginner surfers, and larger waves can also appear, so you should listen closely, keep your distance from other boards, and tell the instructor if conditions feel too strong.

A private lesson can help because you have more direct contact with the instructor. You can ask for a slower progression, request a recap, or explain that you are not ready for a bigger wave. The strongest feedback about this course focuses on clear advice, patience, and a refusal to rush students.

Do not judge success only by whether you stand on every wave. Learning to paddle back into position, fall safely, read a suitable wave, and understand your limits are all useful results.

Is $98 good value?

The listed price is $98 for a private booking of up to one person. Since the course includes three two-hour lessons, the total teaching time is six hours. It also includes the board, rash shirt, water, sun protection, and GoPro photos and video.

That makes the value reasonable for someone who wants structured instruction rather than a one-off beach rental. You are paying for repeated coaching, not simply access to a board. The instructor’s ability to adjust timing and teaching level adds value because poor surf conditions can waste a lesson.

The price is less attractive if you only want to try standing on a board once, or if you already surf confidently. In that case, a shorter lesson or board rental may fit better. Also confirm the exact party-size rules before booking, since the price description specifies a group up to one person.

The free cancellation window is 24 hours before the activity, and reserve-now-pay-later booking is available. Those terms give you some room if your Bali schedule changes, but the surf conditions themselves can still affect the lesson plan.

Who should book this course?

This is a good fit for a first-time surfer who can swim and wants more than a quick introduction. It also suits a beginner who has tried surfing once or twice and wants help with paddling, wave choice, and confidence.

You will likely get the most from it if you are willing to practise, accept a few falls, and keep your schedule flexible. The course can also suit a couple or a private booking where personal attention matters more than joining a large class.

It is less suitable if you want guaranteed large waves, a quiet beach with no other surfers, or a fixed itinerary that never changes. Batu Bolong is an active surf spot, and the lesson must respond to real sea conditions.

FAQ

Where does the surf course meet?

You can meet the instructor in the parking lot near Old Man’s bar at Batu Bolong Beach, or at Warung Bagus, about 200 metres from the car park.

How long is each surf lesson?

Each lesson lasts two hours. The full course includes three lessons over three days.

Can I choose which days I attend?

Yes. The days are optional, so you can choose dates that suit your schedule, subject to availability.

Which languages does the instructor speak?

Instruction is available in English, Indonesian, and Czech.

Is this a private surf course?

Yes. The activity is arranged as a private group experience.

What equipment is included?

The course includes a surfboard, rash shirt, water, zinc cream, sun cream, and GoPro photos and video.

Can non-swimmers take the course?

No. The experience is not suitable for non-swimmers.

Should you book the Batu Bolong three-day surf course?

Book it if you want a patient introduction with enough time to improve between the first attempt and the final lesson. The strongest reasons are the flexible timing, close instruction, safety focus, and the chance to progress from standing up to basic wave choice and turns.

Yahya is a particularly good match for beginners who want clear advice and plenty of encouragement. Just remember that Batu Bolong can be crowded with new surfers, conditions can change, and progress is never guaranteed. If you can swim, bring swimwear and a towel, and are happy to work around the tide, this $98 private course offers a useful and enjoyable way to start surfing in Canggu.