Bilingual surf coaches teaching Point Loma youth ocean safety

Un Mar de Colores · Point Loma, CA

Surf Lessons in Point Loma Without the $150 Price Tag

If Point Loma is inland, our shuttle solves the access gap. If coastal, we teach on your local breaks.

Un Mar de Colores ofrece surf lessons gratuitas para jóvenes de Point Loma de 6–17 años, directamente en la costa de Point Loma. Sirviendo a una comunidad del 34% BIPOC (32,000 residentes), nuestra instrucción se lleva a cabo en Sunset Cliffs y Garbage Beach, con entrenadores bilingües certificados y todo el equipo proporcionado. La inscripción prioritaria es para estudiantes de Point Loma High, Cabrillo Elementary.

Horario — programa en Point Loma

Year-round weekly sessions · Completamente gratis

Quizás sientes esto

  • —You worry the ocean isn't safe, and no one has walked your family through what lifeguard zones and instructor ratios mean.
  • —You volunteer time you don't have just to get your kid a shot at an activity that should be a public good.
  • —Your teen sees surfing on social media but has no pathway that doesn't require money, connections, or a car.

Lo que cambia cuando los jóvenes entran al agua

  • Free means free: no deposits, no equipment rental upsells, no 'scholarship' that still bills you.
  • Ocean safety fundamentals come first: rip currents, lifeguard signals, and etiquette before ego.
  • Environmental stewardship is built into curriculum — surf skills tied to watershed and pollution literacy.

Por qué operamos este programa en Point Loma

Point Loma's Sunset Cliffs coastline is too advanced for beginner instruction, but our Point Loma youth cohorts travel to OB Pier and Dog Beach for water sessions, with dryland instruction at Cabrillo National Monument and Point Loma Nazarene University (our educational partner). The Kumeyaay coastal history of the peninsula is woven into every Point Loma cohort curriculum.

Población
32,000
Residentes BIPOC
34%
Hogares hispanohablantes
17%
Distancia a la playa
En la costa

Surf Lessons en Point Loma — Lo que debes saber

Sign-up friction keeps eligible Point Loma families out. We prioritize counselor referrals and partner org introductions — if you found this page, contact us and we'll route you to the right cohort.

How much do surf lessons cost in California? Commercial rates often run $80–$150 per person. Un Mar de Colores charges $0 — including gear, transport from partner schools, and year-round cohort options for Point Loma youth ages 6–17.

Por qué Point Loma importa para nuestra misión

Parents in Point Loma often ask how a nonprofit can offer everything free. Answer: San Diego Foundation grants, community donors, and partners who believe Point Loma youth belong in the lineup — same as any other kid in San Diego.

Serving Point Loma means meeting families where they are: San Diego schools, community centers, and partner orgs that already hold trust. We don't wait for families to find the beach — we bring youth to the water.

Socios comunitarios locales en Point Loma

En asociación con el San Diego Unified School District y organizaciones comunitarias locales, reclutamos jóvenes de 2+ escuelas Título I.

Distrito escolar y escuelas Título I

  • San Diego Unified School District
  • •Point Loma High
  • •Cabrillo Elementary

Socios comunitarios

  • ◆Cabrillo National Monument (NPS)
  • ◆Point Loma Nazarene University
  • ◆Point Loma Library

Currículo del programa

Un Mar de Colores offers free surf lessons year-round for youth ages 6–17 across Oceanside, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Cardiff, Del Mar, La Jolla, Pacific Beach, and partner cities. Our coaches are certified by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division and many are graduates of our own Surf Athletic Scholarship program. Lessons prioritize water-safety fundamentals first: students start in chest-deep whitewater under direct instructor supervision and progress to unbroken waves only after demonstrating paddle control and ocean awareness. Every session is fully equipped — wetsuit, board, rashguard — and transportation is provided from our partner Title I schools across San Diego County.

  • →Ocean safety fundamentals (rip currents, lifeguard communication)
  • →Paddle technique and wave selection
  • →Pop-up and stance mechanics
  • →Whitewater to unbroken wave progression
  • →Surf etiquette and lineup awareness
  • →Environmental stewardship integration

Qué se incluye — Gratis para cada joven de Point Loma

  • ✓Certified bilingual instructors (CPR + First Aid)
  • ✓3/2mm wetsuits year-round
  • ✓Soft-top surfboards for beginners
  • ✓Rashguards and sunscreen
  • ✓Transportation from partner Title I schools
  • ✓Ocean safety training coordinated with county lifeguards
  • ✓No swimming test required

Por qué Un Mar de Colores

Un Mar de Colores is recognized by partners including the San Diego Foundation, Surfrider San Diego, WILDCOAST, and school districts across San Diego — not a pop-up program, a sustained movement.

Lo que dice nuestra comunidad

“"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."”

— Middle school student— Parent, One Ocean

Preguntas frecuentes — Surf Lessons en Point Loma

What should my child bring to their first surf lesson?+

We provide wetsuits, boards, rashguards, and sunscreen. Your child should bring a towel, water, and swim-appropriate clothing. We handle transportation from partner schools when applicable — check with us for your Point Loma cohort schedule.

How much do surf lessons cost in Point Loma?+

Un Mar de Colores surf lessons in Point Loma are 100% free — including wetsuits, soft-top boards, rashguards, transportation from partner schools, and certified bilingual instruction. Commercial programs in San Diego County typically charge $50–$150 per session. We fund access through grants and donors so Point Loma families never pay.

Do you need to know how to swim for surf lessons?+

No swimming test is required. We begin in chest-deep whitewater under direct coach supervision and build water comfort progressively. Many Point Loma beginners start with limited pool experience and gain confidence within the first few weeks through structured safety drills.

¿Los programas de Surf Lessons en Point Loma son realmente gratuitos?+

Sí. Todos los programas de Un Mar de Colores en Point Loma son 100% gratuitos. Proporcionamos trajes de neopreno 3/2mm, tablas de surf, transporte desde escuelas asociadas como Point Loma High, Cabrillo Elementary, e instrucción bilingüe certificada. El financiamiento proviene de la San Diego Foundation, subvenciones comunitarias y donantes individuales.

¿Dónde se realizan exactamente las lecciones en Point Loma?+

Las lecciones principales se realizan en Sunset Cliffs. Todas las sesiones de agua ocurren dentro de las zonas salvavidas de la bandera.

¿Qué edades son elegibles en Point Loma?+

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.

¿Cómo inscribo a mi hijo/a?+

Contáctenos a través de nuestra página de contacto. La inscripción prioritaria se otorga a estudiantes de Point Loma High, Cabrillo 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.

¿Listo para entrar al agua?

Support the movement or enroll your youth — Un Mar de Colores is building coastal access for Point Loma families.

Todos los programas de Un Mar de Colores son gratuitos para jóvenes de Point Loma. 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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