Which is the Best Surf School for You in Watergate Bay?

Introduction

Watergate Bay is one of the UK’s most popular surfing destinations, attracting beginners and experienced surfers alike. Located just 10 minutes from Newquay, it gives you the chance to enjoy some incredible surfing but without the crowds associated with beaches in town.

It is home to consistent waves, beautiful stretches of coastal walks on either side, soft beginner-friendly sand, and lots of high-quality food and drink options available 

Choosing the best surf school for you can make a big difference to your surfing experience in Watergate Bay - it might feel like a difficult choice when there are three great options to choose from.

In this guide, we'll delve into 6 key factors that matter most when booking a surf lesson and why Blue Surf School comes out on top (in most of them). These include:

1. Percentage of 5-star reviews
2. Lesson variety available
3. Group lesson ratios
4. Pricing and group discounts
5. Location and facilities
6. Additinal perks

It's important to note that this blog is written by us at Blue Surf School, but we've made every effort to only present factually accurate information that is readily available online should you wish to fact-check anything we've stated below.

⭐ 1. Percentage of 5-Star Reviews

Customer reviews are one of the strongest indicators of lesson quality and overall experience.

As all three businesses have been operating for different lengths of time, so we're looking at what percentage of their Google reviews are 5-Stars, rather than the total amount of reviews a school might have.

While all of the surf schools in Watergate Bay are generally rated highly, Blue Surf School is the only surf school where 100% of its reviews are 5-stars.

👉 Tip for readers: Look beyond the rating, go and read some of the reviews (good and bad), visit their websites and social media, and see what school resonates with you the most!

🏄 2. Lesson Variety

Surfing is an incredibly individualised sport, so it is impossible to have one surf lesson that is right for everyone. Each surf school operates slightly differently and offer different lesson options as a result. 

Blue Surf School offers more surf lesson options than other surf schools in Watergate Bay with five. Their aim is to give you surf lesson options with clear differences so you can pick what's right for you.

• • Lessons: Beginner Group Surf Lessons | Improver Group Surf Lessons | Kids Group Surf Lessons | Private Surf Lessons | Family Surf Lessons
  • Good to know: Multi-lesson booking available (can be schedule on any day/time of you choosing over a year)
  • Good to Know: Multi-Activity Bundles available including Surf Lessons & Yoga Classes and Surf Lessons & Coasteering Sessions
  • Good to Know: Beach yoga classses available with Gem & I Yoga

👉 What to consider: Have a think about what you want from a surf lesson, your surfing level, or who is taking part in the lesson so you can pick the school that best cater's to your needs.

👥 3. Group Lesson Ratios

Group size can significantly impact how much attention you get during your lesson. This is important when it comes to your ability to make improvements, how much value you're getting from your lesson, and how safe you feel.

Most surf schools work to the UK legal limit of 8 students to an instructor in their surf lessons. Some schools decide to run smaller lessons, including a couple in Watergate Bay.

Blue Surf School offers the smallest group lesson ratios, not just in Watergate Bay, but in Cornwall. With some lesson groups as small as 5 students. Meaning more 1-2-1 time with instructor to progress faster in a safer environment.

👉 Why it matters: Remember, lower ratios = more waves caught, more personalised feedback, more 1-2-1 instructor time, faster improvement, and safer environment to learn in when conditions are a little rough.

💷 4. Pricing & Group Discounts

As with the lesson options, pricing structures vary at different schools depending on lesson type, group size, and number of lessons.

Blue Surf School's lessons come in at the most affordable in Watergate Bay across their group surf lessons and private surf lessons when compared to other surf schools. 

They also offer discounts on group and multi-lesson bookings.

When combined with the fact they offer the smallest group surf lesson ratios, they are by far the best value for money In Watergate Bay.

🏖️ 5. Location & Facilities

To some, the facilities and location of a surf school may be really important. We've broken this section down into multiple elements to give a good overview.

Blue Surf School

• • Location: On a grassy area opposite WAX - they often jokingly refer to themselves as heartbeat of Watergate Bay because of how everything flows through their central location!
  • Parking: Equal distance from Watergate Bay Council Car Park and Watergate Bay Hotel Car Park
  • Proximity to the beach: the second closest surf school to the beach at just 300 steps away (yep, they counted)
  • Facilities: A custom kitted-out box van that transforms from board racks to changing rooms, with the Recharge Coffee cart and Wax Bar & Restaurant right next to them
  • Changing Rooms: Individual private changing rooms available
  • Showers: Council-run public shower facilities available
  • Toilets: Council-run public toilet facilities available
  • Lockers for belonging: No individual lockers available

🎁 6. Extra Perks and Returning Customer Discounts

Some surf schools look to give you value that goes beyond the lesson itself and look to reward returning customers. 

Blue Surf School is the only surf school in Watergate Bay to work with local companies to offer their customers exclusive discounts across Newquay. They're also the only surf school that offers their customers a lifetime 10% discount on all future surf lesson bookings.

Exclusive Customer Perks:

• • Returning customers get 10% off all future surf lessons
  • Customers who leave a review get 10% off hire for the week of their surf lesson
  • Customers receive discounts across a number of businesses across Newquay including saunas, massage, restaurants, coasteering and more

Blue Surf School say that a surf lesson with them means you'll get more out of your time in Cornwall.

👉 Bonus tip: Additional discounts (cafés, restaurants, saunas, equipment hire etc) can add real value to your trip.

🏁 Final Thoughts on the best Surf School in Watergate Bay?

Summary Table

As with most things, the “best” surf school in Watergate Bay depends on what you’re looking for.

Ultimately, all three surf schools in Watergate Bay have shown to deliver a great surfing experience when you look at the majority of reviews and how long they've been in business.

Our advice would be to take the information you see here, have a look at each surf school's website, social media, and reviews, before picking the one that offers the surf experience you're after and you resonate with the most!

Of course... they hope you go on to choose to surf with them at Blue... but they won't hold it against you if you dont!

All of Blue Surf School's lessons can be booked online here: https://www.bluesurfschool.co.uk/pages/surf-lessons-watergate-bay