Un Mar de Colores · Sunset Cliffs, CA
Sunset Cliffs's Free Surf Therapy by Un Mar de Colores
Peer mentorship in small groups builds trust — Sunset Cliffs youth heal alongside others who share their experience.
Un Mar de Colores offers free surf therapy sessions for Sunset Cliffs youth ages 6–17, combining licensed mental health support with trauma-informed surf coaching. Sessions run at Sunset Cliffs and Ab Seven Stairs (closest breaks to Sunset Cliffs) with full safety coverage. Referrals come through San Diego Unified School District counselors and community partners including Sunset Cliffs Natural Park Council and Point Loma Surfers Association. Cohorts are capped at 8 youth for safety and therapeutic depth.
Schedule — Sunset Cliffs Program Days
Monthly cohorts, year-round · Completely free
You Might Be Feeling This
- —You've hesitated because your child doesn't swim confidently — and nobody explained how beginner therapeutic sessions start.
- —Your family is navigating instability — housing, work, immigration — and you need support that doesn't add another bill.
- —Your teen sees surfing as escape on social media but has no trauma-informed pathway in Sunset Cliffs.
What Changes When Youth Get in the Water
- Monthly cohorts year-round — support isn't summer-only when Sunset Cliffs youth need it in November too.
- Small cohort size — eight youth maximum — ensures therapeutic attention and peer trust.
- Trauma-informed certified surf coaches pace for anxiety, grief, and first-time ocean exposure.
Why We Run This Program in Sunset Cliffs
Sunset Cliffs is an advanced-only surf zone — we do not teach beginners here. Instead, our Sunset Cliffs programming focuses on our Surf Athletic Scholarship athletes and shoreline environmental stewardship at Sunset Cliffs Natural Park, partnering with the San Diego Park & Recreation Department on tide-pool conservation days.
- Population
- 14,000
- BIPOC residents
- 34%
- Spanish-speaking households
- 15%
- Distance to beach
- Coastal
Surf Therapy in Sunset Cliffs — What You Should Know
How much does surf therapy cost in California? Commercial wellness and equine-adjacent ocean programs often charge premium rates. Un Mar de Colores charges $0 — including gear, transport, licensed professionals, and caregiver support for Sunset Cliffs families.
Ocean-based therapy near Sunset Cliffs and Ab Seven Stairs for Sunset Cliffs youth runs monthly cohorts year-round. Inland families rely on shuttles (on the coast) so distance doesn't become another stressor when a child needs support.
Why Sunset Cliffs Matters to Our Mission
Whether Sunset Cliffs 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.
The ocean off Sunset Cliffs 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.
Local Sunset Cliffs Partners & Referral Sources
In partnership with San Diego Unified School District and local community organizations, we recruit youth from 1+ Title I schools.
School district & Title I partners
- San Diego Unified School District
- •Point Loma High
Community partners
- ◆Sunset Cliffs Natural Park Council
- ◆Point Loma Surfers Association
- ◆San Diego Park & Recreation Department
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 Sunset Cliffs 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
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.
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 Sunset Cliffs
Where do Sunset Cliffs surf therapy sessions happen?+
Sessions occur at lifeguard-covered beaches chosen for beginner safety — sandy bottoms and manageable conditions near Sunset Cliffs and Ab Seven Stairs. Sites vary by cohort and daily conditions.
Who can enroll in surf therapy from Sunset Cliffs?+
BIPOC youth ages 6–17, especially those navigating anxiety, grief, immigration-related stress, and family instability. Referrals welcome from San Diego Unified School District counselors, mental health agencies, and community organizations in Sunset Cliffs.
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 Sunset Cliffs participants start with limited pool experience.
Are surf therapy in Sunset Cliffs really free?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs in Sunset Cliffs are 100% free — including 3/2mm wetsuits, soft-top surfboards, transportation from partner schools like Point Loma High, and certified bilingual instruction. Funding comes from the San Diego Foundation, community grants, and individual donors. No Sunset Cliffs family has ever paid for our programming.
Where exactly do surf therapy happen in Sunset Cliffs?+
Primary water sessions run at Sunset Cliffs. Classroom components happen at Sunset Cliffs Natural Park Council and other partner sites. All water activities happen within lifeguard-flag zones.
What ages can enroll in Sunset Cliffs?+
We serve youth ages 6–17. In Sunset Cliffs specifically, our recruitment runs through San Diego Unified School District — with priority enrollment for students from Point Loma High. 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 Sunset Cliffs, 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 Sunset Cliffs?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs are bilingual — and in Sunset Cliffs, where 15% 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 Sunset Cliffs?+
Three ways: (1) everything is free, while most Sunset Cliffs surf programs charge $50–$150 per lesson; (2) we are BIPOC-led and our coaches reflect the 34%-BIPOC Sunset Cliffs 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 Sunset Cliffs, not just those who can afford access.
How do I sign my Sunset Cliffs child up?+
Visit our sign-up page or contact us directly. Priority enrollment goes to students of Point Loma High and referrals from Sunset Cliffs Natural Park Council and Point Loma Surfers Association. Summer cohorts fill 3–4 weeks before start, so early contact is recommended.
Ready to Get in the Water?
Every Sunset Cliffs child deserves the ocean. Start with a single conversation — we'll handle the rest.
All Un Mar de Colores programs are free for Sunset Cliffs 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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