How We're Making Surfing Accessible for BIPOC Youth in Oceanside, CA

The Access Gap Is Real

According to the California Coastal Commission, Latinos make up 39.4% of California's population but only 16% of regular ocean recreation participants. In North County San Diego — where Oceanside sits — the gap is even more visible. The beaches are public, but the barriers to using them are not.

A single surf lesson in Oceanside costs between $75 and $120. A wetsuit runs $150–$300. A surfboard, another $300–$600. For families in Oceanside's inland neighborhoods, where median household incomes are significantly lower than in coastal communities, these costs put surfing out of reach before a kid ever touches the water.

Then there are the cultural barriers. Many Latino and Indigenous families have real concerns about ocean safety — concerns rooted in limited exposure, not lack of interest. And the surf culture itself has historically been unwelcoming to people who don't look like the stereotypical surfer.

What We Do Differently

Un Mar de Colores removes every barrier we can control. Our Ocean Stewards After-School Program serves Oceanside teens ages 13–17 three days a week — Tuesday through Thursday — with no cost to families. We provide wetsuits, boards, instruction, and transportation support. We teach in English and Spanish. And we build the program around the community's own culture and values, not a surf industry template.

Our instructors and leadership are BIPOC. Our curriculum is rooted in Indigenous relationships with the ocean. And our approach to ocean safety addresses the specific concerns families in our community actually have — not the ones a traditional surf school assumes they have.

Surfing as a Gateway, Not a Destination

We use surfing because it works. Getting a kid on a wave builds confidence in a way that's hard to replicate in a classroom. But surfing is the entry point, not the endpoint. Through our programs, youth also learn water quality monitoring, marine biology, watershed science, and environmental advocacy. They become ocean stewards — not just surfers.

Many of our alumni go on to become junior instructors, environmental science students, and community leaders. The ocean becomes a place they feel they belong to and are responsible for — which is exactly the shift we're trying to create.

The Broader Movement

Un Mar de Colores is part of a growing national movement of BIPOC-led surf organizations working to diversify coastal access. Organizations like Color the Water, Paddle for Peace, Native Like Water, and the Surf Justice Collective — of which we are a founding member — are all working toward the same goal: a coast that belongs to everyone.

What makes our work distinct is the Cali-Baja context. We operate across the US-Mexico border, connecting youth in Oceanside to the broader watershed that runs from the mountains to the sea — and to the communities on both sides who share that water.

Frequently Asked Questions

What youth surf programs in Oceanside California focus on BIPOC communities?

Un Mar de Colores is the primary BIPOC-led youth surf program in Oceanside, CA. We offer free and low-cost surf instruction, ocean conservation education, and after-school programming for youth ages 13–17, rooted in Indigenous leadership and community empowerment.

Are there free surf lessons for BIPOC youth in Oceanside CA?

Yes. Un Mar de Colores offers free and subsidized surf lessons for BIPOC youth in Oceanside through our Ocean Stewards After-School Program and summer programs. Equipment, instruction, and transportation support are provided at no cost to families.

What age groups can join youth surf programs in Oceanside California?

Our Ocean Stewards After-School Program serves youth ages 13–17 in Oceanside. The Watershed Explorers summer program is open to a broader youth age range. We also offer family engagement opportunities so parents and siblings can connect with the ocean alongside program participants.