Un Mar de Colores · San Diego, CA
Small Cohorts, Real Support — Surf Therapy in San Diego
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 San Diego youth ages 6–17, combining licensed mental health support with trauma-informed surf coaching. Sessions run at La Jolla Shores and Tourmaline (closest breaks to San Diego) with full safety coverage. Referrals come through San Diego Unified School District counselors and community partners including San Diego Unified School District and San Diego Junior Lifeguards. Cohorts are capped at 8 youth for safety and therapeutic depth.
Schedule — San Diego Program Days
Monthly cohorts, year-round · Completely free
You Might Be Feeling This
- —Kumeyaay and Indigenous healing practices matter to you, but commercial wellness programs erase coastal cultural roots.
- —Surf culture in San Diego looks like a club for confident kids — not a healing space for nervous beginners.
- —Mental health support in San Diego often defaults to English-only clinicians who don't grasp your family's cultural context.
What Changes When Youth Get in the Water
- Somatic and movement-based therapy integrated with surf — body literacy through ocean movement.
- Free means free — no insurance copays, no equipment fees, no 'scholarship' that still bills you.
- Kumeyaay-led healing modules developed with elders — culturally grounded, not generic wellness language.
Why We Run This Program in San Diego
San Diego is the second-largest city in California with a 30% Hispanic/Latino population and the 2nd-largest school district in the state. Our San Diego programming spans La Jolla Shores, Tourmaline Surfing Park, Mission Beach, and OB Pier, serving San Diego Unified's 98,000 students — with particular focus on Title I middle and high schools in PB, Mission Bay, and Point Loma.
- Population
- 1,386,932
- BIPOC residents
- 55%
- Spanish-speaking households
- 30%
- Distance to beach
- Coastal
Surf Therapy in San Diego — What You Should Know
Parents searching surf therapy near San Diego, CA find paid wellness retreats and uncertified beach programs first. Un Mar is different: clinical staff on-site, small cohorts, Title I and agency referrals from San Diego Unified School District, and bilingual instruction built for San Diego families.
Referrals from San Diego Unified School District counselors and mental health agencies streamline enrollment for San Diego youth — reducing the friction that keeps eligible families out.
Why San Diego Matters to Our Mission
When we say free for San Diego youth, we mean wetsuits, soft-tops, rashguards, sunscreen, transportation, and instruction — the full stack commercial programs charge $50–$150 per session for.
Whether San Diego is on the coast or on the coast inland, we treat transportation as part of the program — not an extra parents must figure out. That's how you build real access, not marketing copy.
Local San Diego Partners & Referral Sources
In partnership with San Diego Unified School District and local community organizations, we recruit youth from 5+ Title I schools.
School district & Title I partners
- San Diego Unified School District
- •Kate Sessions Elementary
- •Mission Beach Elementary
- •Pacific Beach Middle
- •Mission Bay High
- •Point Loma High
Community partners
- ◆San Diego Unified School District
- ◆San Diego Junior Lifeguards
- ◆Scripps Institution of Oceanography
- ◆San Diego Public Library
- ◆Mission Bay Aquatic Center
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 San Diego 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
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.
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 San Diego
Is surf therapy in San Diego bilingual?+
Yes — all programming is bilingual. In San Diego, where 30% of households are Spanish-speaking, bilingual staff lead every session and parent communications arrive in both English and Spanish.
Are family members included in surf therapy?+
Yes — family and caregiver support sessions are part of the program. San Diego parents and guardians receive bilingual updates and dedicated sessions — healing isn't isolated to the child on the board.
How many youth are in each surf therapy cohort?+
Cohorts cap at eight youth maximum. Small groups ensure therapeutic attention, peer trust, and trauma-informed pacing — especially important for anxious first-timers from San Diego.
Are surf therapy in San Diego really free?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs in San Diego are 100% free — including 3/2mm wetsuits, soft-top surfboards, transportation from partner schools like Kate Sessions Elementary, Mission Beach Elementary, Pacific Beach Middle, and certified bilingual instruction. Funding comes from the San Diego Foundation, community grants, and individual donors. No San Diego family has ever paid for our programming.
Where exactly do surf therapy happen in San Diego?+
Primary water sessions run at La Jolla Shores. Classroom components happen at San Diego Unified School District and other partner sites. All water activities happen within lifeguard-flag zones.
What ages can enroll in San Diego?+
We serve youth ages 6–17. In San Diego specifically, our recruitment runs through San Diego Unified School District — with priority enrollment for students from Kate Sessions Elementary, Mission Beach Elementary, Pacific Beach Middle and 2 other Title I schools. 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 La Jolla Shores, supervised by instructors certified by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division. Water comfort is built progressively. In San Diego, 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 San Diego?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs are bilingual — and in San Diego, where 30% 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 San Diego?+
Three ways: (1) everything is free, while most San Diego surf programs charge $50–$150 per lesson; (2) we are BIPOC-led and our coaches reflect the 55%-BIPOC San Diego 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 San Diego, not just those who can afford access.
How do I sign my San Diego child up?+
Visit our sign-up page or contact us directly. Priority enrollment goes to students of Kate Sessions Elementary, Mission Beach Elementary, Pacific Beach Middle and referrals from San Diego Unified School District and San Diego Junior Lifeguards. Summer cohorts fill 3–4 weeks before start, so early contact is recommended.
Ready to Get in the Water?
Volunteer, donate, or enroll — however you join, you're helping San Diego youth access the coast.
All Un Mar de Colores programs are free for San Diego 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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