My experience with this business was bad from start to end. After picking up a brochure somewhere about their surf lessons, I purchased a gift certificate for a private lesson for my partner for his birthday. Initially I had to call multiple times over a couple of days before I could reach anyone on a land-line. When I finally did, I organised my gift certificate over the phone, which was fairly straight forward. I was told the voucher would be emailed to me probably within a few hours. A few hours turned into days, and nothing. I gave it over the weekend and another 2-3 days before contacting the business again (I didn't want to seem like a nag and figured if there was a problem, they would contact me). When I finally got through again the person was relieved that i'd called, claiming they must have taken the wrong email details because when they tried to send it it was rejected. And despite having given them my contact details when making the booking, these were misplaced and so I could not be reached by them. (Funny how my credit card details were not misplaced though). I gave them my email and phone number again and within minutes I finally had the voucher. Staff was apologetic, but still it was inconvenient and sloppy business that this could have occured.

A month or so after his birthday my boyfriend called the surf school to book his private lesson. He was informed (rather than asked) that another person may attend at the same time as him but this would mean a longer lesson. A private lesson was purchased for $70 for 1 and 1/4 hours. Group lessons (with strangers) are booked at $55 for 2 and 1/2 hours. Though it was not what I had planned for him, he was happy at the extra time. When he showed up he handed over his certificate and the other person joining in paid, but was only charged a 'group' fee of $55. So it cost me $15 more than them for exactly the same lesson. Not impressed at all! Also when booking his lesson for around 11am, when he called the day before to confirm he was told it was going to start earlier just after 8am due to the tide changing early that day which might effect their time. This was fine, only the trainer happened to mention when signing in that they had to be out of the water just after 10am due to another class starting. Good honestly policy with this business it seems!

I am overall pretty peeved at this business. It's hardly even a business like the website and brochure would have you believe. Very ordinary customer service. I wouldn't recommend them (there are other surf schools in the area who I've heard are good) and I would definately not use them again. I am glad the actual lesson was well recieved by my partner and that he enjoyed himself and got a lot out of it, but such things should be professional and this was definately not.

Approximate cost: $70 for private lesson