Un Mar de Colores · Cardiff by the Sea, CA
Year-round cohorts across San Diego — Cardiff by the Sea youth travel free when the beach isn't next door.
Un Mar de Colores offers free surf lessons for Cardiff by the Sea youth ages 6–17, right on the Cardiff by the Sea coast. Serving one of San Diego County's 22%-BIPOC communities (11,724 residents), our instruction happens at Cardiff Reef, with certified bilingual coaches and all gear provided. Priority enrollment goes to students of Ada Harris Elementary, Cardiff Elementary.
Year-round weekly sessions · Completely free
Cardiff Reef is one of California's most beginner-friendly longboard breaks — cobblestone-to-sand bottom with gentle reform. Our Cardiff cohorts draw primarily from Cardiff School District's Ada Harris and Cardiff Elementary, plus Encinitas Union partner schools. The San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve anchors our Cardiff marine biology curriculum, connecting surf to watershed in a way unique to this corner of North County.
BIPOC surf lessons in Cardiff by the Sea address a real access gap: 22% of local residents are BIPOC, yet lineups and surf marketing still center a narrow demographic. Our coaching staff and alumni reflect the communities we serve — that visibility changes whether a child believes they belong.
Gear quality matters for cold Pacific water: ill-fitting rental wetsuits end sessions early. We size youth properly and maintain equipment for weekly use, not tourist weekend turnover.
Recruitment in Cardiff by the Sea runs through counselors, teachers, and community partners who know which students need this most. We don't run open enrollment chaos — we build intentional cohorts.
Parents in Cardiff by the Sea often ask how a nonprofit can offer everything free. Answer: San Diego Foundation grants, community donors, and partners who believe Cardiff by the Sea youth belong in the lineup — same as any other kid in San Diego.
Un Mar's primary Cardiff location. The cobblestone-to-sand bottom produces gentle, slow-reforming waves that are remarkably forgiving for first-time surfers.
Cardiff Reef's cobblestone point has formed over thousands of years from sediment deposited by the San Elijo Lagoon. One of the most welcoming beginner lineup cultures in California.
In partnership with Cardiff School District and local community organizations, we recruit youth from 2+ Title I schools.
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.
Un Mar is a member of the surf equity ecosystem across California — connected to Surf Justice Collective, Native Like Water, and cross-border watershed coalitions.
“"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."”
We serve youth ages 6–17 with age-appropriate cohorts. One Ocean programming focuses on 6–12, while teens may connect to Ocean Stewards or scholarship pathways. Enrollment runs through Cardiff School District partners and community referrals in Cardiff by the Sea.
If Cardiff by the Sea is inland, we provide shuttle transportation from partner Title I schools to our nearest teaching beaches — distance is on us, not your family. Coastal Cardiff by the Sea cohorts meet directly at local breaks. Confirm your cohort pickup location when you enroll.
Yes — all programming is bilingual. In Cardiff by the Sea, where 10% of households are Spanish-speaking, we pair bilingual coaches to every session and send parent communications in both English and Spanish.
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs in Cardiff by the Sea are 100% free — including 3/2mm wetsuits, soft-top surfboards, transportation from partner schools like Ada Harris Elementary, Cardiff Elementary, and certified bilingual instruction. Funding comes from the San Diego Foundation, community grants, and individual donors. No Cardiff by the Sea family has ever paid for our programming.
Primary water sessions run at Cardiff Reef. Classroom components happen at San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy and other partner sites. All water activities happen within lifeguard-flag zones.
We serve youth ages 6–17. In Cardiff by the Sea specifically, our recruitment runs through Cardiff School District — with priority enrollment for students from Ada Harris Elementary, Cardiff Elementary. Cohorts are age-appropriate (One Ocean for 6–12, Ocean Stewards for 13–17).
No. We begin every cohort with ocean-safety fundamentals in chest-deep whitewater at Cardiff Reef, supervised by instructors certified by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division. Water comfort is built progressively. In Cardiff by the Sea, we also run pre-cohort pool-familiarization sessions at local community pools for students who request extra comfort-building.
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs are bilingual — and in Cardiff by the Sea, where 10% of households are Spanish-speaking, we intentionally pair at least one bilingual coach to every session. Cultural programming is delivered in both languages, and parent communications are always sent in Spanish and English.
Three ways: (1) everything is free, while most Cardiff by the Sea surf programs charge $50–$150 per lesson; (2) we are BIPOC-led and our coaches reflect the 22%-BIPOC Cardiff by the Sea community we serve; (3) our curriculum includes environmental justice, Kumeyaay coastal history, and cultural arts — not just surf skills. We exist because the ocean should belong to everyone in Cardiff by the Sea, not just those who can afford access.
Visit our sign-up page or contact us directly. Priority enrollment goes to students of Ada Harris Elementary, Cardiff Elementary and referrals from San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy and Cardiff 101 Mainstreet. Summer cohorts fill 3–4 weeks before start, so early contact is recommended.
Ready to get your child in the water? Contact Un Mar de Colores — priority enrollment for Cardiff by the Sea Title I school students.
All Un Mar de Colores programs are free for Cardiff by the Sea youth. Reach out to enroll, volunteer, or support the movement.
Un Mar de Colores is a BIPOC-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Oceanside, California. We provide free surf, ocean, and environmental programming for youth across San Diego and Tijuana — bridging cultures, coasts, and communities since 2018.
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