Un Mar de Colores · Pacific Beach, CA
Five full days of surf instruction, marine ecology, cultural arts, and daily lunch — 100% free for Pacific Beach families.
Un Mar de Colores ofrece surf camp gratuitas para jóvenes de Pacific Beach de 6–17 años, directamente en la costa de Pacific Beach. Sirviendo a una comunidad del 44% BIPOC (45,892 residentes), nuestra instrucción se lleva a cabo en Tourmaline Surfing Park, Crystal Pier, con entrenadores bilingües certificados y todo el equipo proporcionado. La inscripción prioritaria es para estudiantes de Pacific Beach Middle, Mission Bay High, Mission Beach Elementary.
Summer (June–August), Monday–Friday cohorts · Completamente gratis
Pacific Beach sits between Mission Bay and the open Pacific, producing the mellowest learner waves in the city. Tourmaline Surfing Park — designated a surf-only beach in 1981 — is the safest and most instructor-friendly break in San Diego. Over 55% of students at Mission Beach Elementary, Pacific Beach Middle, and Mission Bay High qualify for free or reduced meals, making this one of our highest-impact urban partnerships.
Representation in the lineup changes camp outcomes. When Pacific Beach kids see coaches who share their language and background, retention and joy rise — they're not guests in someone else's surf culture.
Free surf camp in Pacific Beach isn't a summer gimmick — it's how Un Mar de Colores delivers full-week ocean immersion for BIPOC youth ages 6–17. While commercial camps charge $400–$800 per week, we provide five Monday–Friday full days of certified bilingual instruction, marine ecology, cultural arts, lunch, gear, and transportation at zero cost.
Pacific Beach sits inside San Diego County's coastal equity gap — 44% of residents identify as BIPOC, yet beach access has historically been gated by cost, transportation, and culture. Un Mar de Colores closes that gap with free programming and school-based recruitment.
The ocean off Pacific Beach belongs to everyone. Un Mar de Colores exists because San Diego has spent decades telling BIPOC youth otherwise — and we're changing that story one cohort at a time.
Un Mar's primary Pacific Beach teaching location. Designated a surf-only beach in 1981 — the safest and most instructor-friendly break in San Diego.
Tourmaline was designated surf-only by San Diego City in 1981, making it the first formally protected teaching beach in Southern California.
South side of pier offers a sand-bottom peak ideal for graduating students from Tourmaline.
Crystal Pier was built in 1927 and is one of only two piers in California with an overnight hotel (Crystal Pier Hotel & Cottages).
En asociación con el San Diego Unified School District y organizaciones comunitarias locales, reclutamos jóvenes de 3+ escuelas Título I.
Our summer surf camps run Monday through Friday across North County and San Diego, serving BIPOC youth ages 6–17. Each one-week cohort combines four mornings of in-water surf instruction with afternoon programming in marine ecology, Kumeyaay coastal history, and cultural arts. Camps are capped at 18 students per cohort to maintain a 4:1 student-to-instructor ratio, and every camp ends with a Friday family showcase on the beach. Camps are entirely free — wetsuits, boards, transportation, daily lunch, and all materials included.
Our coaches include graduates of the Surf Athletic Scholarship program and bilingual educators who reflect the BIPOC communities we serve. We partner with 15+ Title I schools across North County and San Diego.
“"He used to approach new activities with extreme anxiety — to the point where sometimes we couldn't even get out of the car. Now he goes much deeper into the water."”
Commercial camps optimize for paying tourists and locals with gear. Un Mar is a BIPOC-led nonprofit: free instruction, Title I partnerships, marine ecology and Kumeyaay history curriculum, and coaches who reflect Pacific Beach's communities. We're building access, not selling camp weeks.
Camp runs Monday through Friday, 8am–3pm. Mornings include up to four hours of in-water surf instruction. Afternoons cover marine ecology, Kumeyaay coastal history, cultural arts workshops, and nutrition education. Friday ends with a family showcase on the beach.
No swimming test is required. We begin in chest-deep whitewater under direct coach supervision and build water comfort progressively. Many Pacific Beach beginners start camp with limited pool experience and gain confidence within the first two days.
Sí. Todos los programas de Un Mar de Colores en Pacific Beach son 100% gratuitos. Proporcionamos trajes de neopreno 3/2mm, tablas de surf, transporte desde escuelas asociadas como Pacific Beach Middle, Mission Bay High, Mission Beach Elementary, e instrucción bilingüe certificada. El financiamiento proviene de la San Diego Foundation, subvenciones comunitarias y donantes individuales.
Las lecciones principales se realizan en Tourmaline Surfing Park. También usamos Crystal Pier según el nivel del grupo. Todas las sesiones de agua ocurren dentro de las zonas salvavidas de la bandera.
Servimos a jóvenes de 6–17 años. Nuestra Beca One Ocean cubre las edades 6-12, Ocean Stewards After-School sirve a 13-17, y las Becas Atléticas de Surf están disponibles para jóvenes competitivos a través de nuestras asociaciones con San Diego Unified School District.
Contáctenos a través de nuestra página de contacto. La inscripción prioritaria se otorga a estudiantes de Pacific Beach Middle, Mission Bay High, Mission Beach Elementary y otras escuelas de Título I en San Diego Unified School District. Los grupos de verano suelen llenarse con 3-4 semanas de anticipación.
Don't wait for summer — year-round Pacific Beach cohorts fill fast. Reach out now for free enrollment.
Todos los programas de Un Mar de Colores son gratuitos para jóvenes de Pacific Beach. Contáctanos para inscribirte, hacer voluntariado, o apoyar el movimiento.
Un Mar de Colores es una organización sin fines de lucro 501(c)(3) liderada por personas BIPOC, basada en Oceanside, California. Ofrecemos programación gratuita de surf, océano y educación ambiental para jóvenes en San Diego y Tijuana — conectando culturas, costas y comunidades desde 2018.
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