Un Mar de Colores · Point Loma, CA
Point Loma Surf Therapy — Trauma-Informed, 100% Free
Somatic and movement-based therapy integrated with paddle, breath, and wave rhythm — body and ocean connected.
Un Mar de Colores offers free surf therapy sessions for Point Loma youth ages 6–17, combining licensed mental health support with trauma-informed surf coaching. Sessions run at Sunset Cliffs and Garbage Beach (closest breaks to Point Loma) with full safety coverage. Referrals come through San Diego Unified School District counselors and community partners including Cabrillo National Monument (NPS) and Point Loma Nazarene University. Cohorts are capped at 8 youth for safety and therapeutic depth.
Schedule — Point Loma Program Days
Monthly cohorts, year-round · Completely free
You Might Be Feeling This
- —Surf culture in Point Loma looks like a club for confident kids — not a healing space for nervous beginners.
- —Transportation to Sunset Cliffs and Garbage Beach for weekly sessions feels impossible when Point Loma is on the coast inland and you're working.
- —Your family is navigating instability — housing, work, immigration — and you need support that doesn't add another bill.
What Changes When Youth Get in the Water
- Monthly cohorts year-round — support isn't summer-only when Point Loma youth need it in November too.
- Small cohort size — eight youth maximum — ensures therapeutic attention and peer trust.
- Pathways to Ocean Stewards after-school and year-round surf lessons after therapy cohorts.
Why We Run This Program in 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.
- Population
- 32,000
- BIPOC residents
- 34%
- Spanish-speaking households
- 17%
- Distance to beach
- Coastal
Surf Therapy in Point Loma — What You Should Know
Immigration-related stress, family instability, and coastal access barriers intersect for Point Loma BIPOC youth — surf therapy addresses the whole picture, not just wave count.
Small-group surf therapy (eight max) in San Diego outperforms large beach wellness events for youth navigating grief and anxiety. Cohort intimacy builds peer trust — critical for BIPOC teens in Point Loma.
Why Point Loma Matters to Our Mission
The ocean off Point Loma 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.
Point Loma families deserve instructors who look like their kids and speak their language. With 34% BIPOC residents, bilingual coaching isn't a nice-to-have — it's how we earn trust on day one.
Local Point Loma Partners & Referral Sources
In partnership with San Diego Unified School District and local community organizations, we recruit youth from 2+ Title I schools.
School district & Title I partners
- San Diego Unified School District
- •Point Loma High
- •Cabrillo Elementary
Community partners
- ◆Cabrillo National Monument (NPS)
- ◆Point Loma Nazarene University
- ◆Point Loma Library
Program Curriculum
Surf therapy at Un Mar de Colores is more than recreational — it's a structured, trauma-informed mental health program that uses the ocean as a therapeutic setting. Licensed mental health professionals partner with trauma-informed surf coaches to deliver small-group sessions (8 youth maximum) combining ocean-based mindfulness, somatic movement, and culturally grounded healing modules developed with Kumeyaay elders. The program is especially effective for youth navigating anxiety, grief, immigration-related stress, and family instability. All programming is free and open to youth referred through partner schools, mental health agencies, and community organizations.
- →Ocean-based mindfulness practices
- →Small-group peer mentorship
- →Somatic and movement-based therapy integration
- →Trauma-informed surf coaching
- →Culturally grounded healing (Kumeyaay-led modules)
- →Family and caregiver support sessions
What's Included — Free for Every Point Loma Youth
- ✓Licensed mental health professional on-site
- ✓Trauma-informed certified surf coaches
- ✓Small cohort size (8 youth maximum)
- ✓Wetsuit, soft-top board, and all equipment
- ✓Transportation from partner schools and referral orgs
- ✓Family caregiver support sessions
Why Un Mar de Colores
Program safety is documented: lifeguard coordination, 4:1 ratios on youth water days, trauma-informed staff training, and parent communication protocols in English and Spanish.
What our community says
“"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."”
Frequently Asked Questions — Surf Therapy in Point Loma
Is transportation provided from Point Loma?+
Transportation runs from partner schools and referral organizations. If Point Loma is inland (on the coast from the coast), we solve the commute — not your family.
How is surf therapy different from regular surf lessons?+
Surf lessons focus on skill progression. Surf therapy integrates licensed mental health support, trauma-informed pacing, small cohort intimacy, somatic practices, and family caregiver sessions — clinical and cultural depth for Point Loma youth navigating stress.
Does my child need to know how to swim?+
No swimming test is required. We begin in chest-deep whitewater under direct coach and clinical supervision, building water comfort progressively. Many Point Loma participants start with limited pool experience.
Are surf therapy in Point Loma really free?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs in Point Loma are 100% free — including 3/2mm wetsuits, soft-top surfboards, transportation from partner schools like Point Loma High, Cabrillo Elementary, and certified bilingual instruction. Funding comes from the San Diego Foundation, community grants, and individual donors. No Point Loma family has ever paid for our programming.
Where exactly do surf therapy happen in Point Loma?+
Primary water sessions run at Sunset Cliffs. Classroom components happen at Cabrillo National Monument (NPS) and other partner sites. All water activities happen within lifeguard-flag zones.
What ages can enroll in Point Loma?+
We serve youth ages 6–17. In Point Loma specifically, our recruitment runs through San Diego Unified School District — with priority enrollment for students from Point Loma High, Cabrillo Elementary. Cohorts are age-appropriate (One Ocean for 6–12, Ocean Stewards for 13–17).
Does my child need to know how to swim before starting?+
No. We begin every cohort with ocean-safety fundamentals in chest-deep whitewater at Sunset Cliffs, supervised by instructors certified by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division. Water comfort is built progressively. In Point Loma, we also run pre-cohort pool-familiarization sessions at local community pools for students who request extra comfort-building.
Are lessons taught in Spanish in Point Loma?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs are bilingual — and in Point Loma, where 17% 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.
How is Un Mar de Colores different from other surf therapy in Point Loma?+
Three ways: (1) everything is free, while most Point Loma surf programs charge $50–$150 per lesson; (2) we are BIPOC-led and our coaches reflect the 34%-BIPOC Point Loma 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 Point Loma, not just those who can afford access.
How do I sign my Point Loma child up?+
Visit our sign-up page or contact us directly. Priority enrollment goes to students of Point Loma High, Cabrillo Elementary and referrals from Cabrillo National Monument (NPS) and Point Loma Nazarene University. Summer cohorts fill 3–4 weeks before start, so early contact is recommended.
Ready to Get in the Water?
Every Point Loma child deserves the ocean. Start with a single conversation — we'll handle the rest.
All Un Mar de Colores programs are free for Point Loma 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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