Canggu: 3-days surf course with ISA certified instructor

Canggu’s Batu Bolong Beach is a forgiving place to start surfing, and this three-day private course gives you enough time to build a real skill rather than simply stand up once for a photograph. Instructor Yahya adjusts the lesson time to the tides, waves, weather, and your progress.

I especially like the flexible scheduling, which can put beginners in the water during calmer, less crowded conditions. The other strong point is Yahya’s calm, encouraging teaching style, with several students progressing from softboards to hardboards by the third lesson. The main consideration is that the course is for non-beginners only, and Batu Bolong can still produce bigger waves alongside its learner-friendly sections.

Key points to know before booking

• Three two-hour lessons: You get about six hours of instruction, practice, and water time across three days.
• Yahya is the main instructor praised by name: He focuses on clear advice, safety, patience, and building confidence.
• Flexible start days and times: You can choose which three days suit you, with timing shaped by tides, weather, and your schedule.
• Private-group format: The booking is for a group of up to one person, so confirm the exact arrangement and price when selecting your date.
• Equipment and sun protection included: A surfboard, rash shirt, water, zinc cream, sun cream, and GoPro photos or video are provided.
• Convenient Canggu setting: Meet near Old Man’s Bar at Batu Bolong Beach, with cafés and restaurants close by after the lesson.

Six hours to learn the basics properly

A single surf lesson can be fun, but it often ends just as your body and balance begin to understand what is happening. This course spreads instruction over three two-hour sessions, giving you time to remember what worked, correct what did not, and return to the water with a clearer plan.

The course is built for beginners and early-stage surfers. You will not simply be pushed into the waves and left to work things out. Each lesson combines a short land briefing with practical work in the water, and the instructor adjusts the plan to your ability.

The private format matters here. Surfing has a lot of moving parts: board position, paddling strength, timing, balance, wave choice, and basic ocean awareness. With one learner or one booking group, the instructor can focus on your habits instead of splitting attention among a large class.

The advertised price is $98 for a group of up to one person. That makes the value depend on how much personal instruction you want, but the package includes the board, rash shirt, water, sun protection, and GoPro photos or video. You are paying for six hours of guided learning, not just rental time.

Meeting at Batu Bolong Beach

You meet at the parking area below Old Man’s Bar at Batu Bolong Beach, or at Warung Magic Wave, described as about 200 metres from the car park. The school is also identified as Matahari Surf School, with the meeting area referred to as Warung Bagus or Waring Bogus in the directions.

That naming variation is worth noting. From the main Batu Bolong car park, face the beach and walk to the left for roughly 200 metres. The school and Warung Bagus are shown on Google Maps, so check the exact meeting point with the instructor before setting out.

This is a useful location for a surf lesson because you are close to Canggu’s cafés and restaurants. You can walk to food and coffee after your session instead of arranging a separate trip across town. The area can also be busy, so leave enough time to find the car park and meeting spot.

No hotel transfer is listed, so plan to reach the beach on your own. Bring swimwear and a towel. The school supplies the board and the main sun-protection items, but you will still want dry clothes for afterward.

Day one: safety, board control, and your first wave

The first two-hour lesson begins with a meeting at the beach and a land-based introduction. You go through basic surfing guidance, health and safety points, and warm-up exercises before entering the water.

The land practice is more useful than it may sound. Standing on a moving board is much easier when your feet already know where to go. You practise paddling and the stand-up movement on the board, with close instructor guidance, before trying to use those actions in waves suited to your level.

For a first lesson, the aim is not stylish turns. It is learning how to handle the board, paddle with purpose, keep your balance, and understand the basic rhythm of a wave. The instructor’s role is also to help you feel safe in the water, especially when you are still thinking about every movement.

Batu Bolong has many beginners, but it can also have larger waves. That makes the instructor’s reading of conditions important. Yahya is repeatedly praised for choosing suitable conditions and placing beginners in lower-tide sessions when needed.

You should expect some trial and error. Falling is part of the lesson, and you may spend as much time resetting your board and position as standing up. That is normal. The useful question is not how many times you fall, but if you understand more after each attempt.

Day two: better paddling and choosing a wave

The second session starts with a quick recap of the first lesson. The instructor then sets out the specific skills for the day, with more attention on paddling, positioning, wave choice, and basic turns.

Paddling is where many new surfers lose energy. You need enough speed to match the wave, but you also need to be positioned correctly. A small change in where you lie on the board can affect whether the board glides smoothly or the nose catches.

You will work on entering waves with better timing and learning to identify waves that match your current ability. This is a major step because not every wave is a good wave for a beginner. The course does not treat the ocean as a conveyor belt of identical rides. You learn that wave shape, size, timing, and position all matter.

Basic turning is introduced on this day. Do not expect sharp manoeuvres after one lesson. At this stage, turning means learning how to guide the board rather than simply travelling straight toward the beach.

The second lesson is also when the course can begin to feel less like a first-day experiment. You already know the basic stand-up motion, so the instructor can spend more time correcting small issues. Yahya is described as giving clear advice and adapting his teaching without rushing you.

Day three: confidence, timing, and harder waves

The final session focuses on confidence and more advanced techniques. That wording should be understood in context. You are still developing beginner skills, but you may be ready to work with larger waves, unbroken waves, and more demanding positioning.

You recap the key skills from the first two lessons, then work on selecting and catching larger waves when conditions allow. The instructor also introduces strategies for entering an unbroken wave and refining your timing.

Positioning becomes more important here. You need to think about where you are on the wave, when to begin paddling, and how to set the board up for a turn or other basic manoeuvre. These are useful habits even if you remain on a softboard.

Some students progress to a hardboard by the third day. That is not guaranteed, and it depends on your progress, conditions, and the instructor’s judgment. It is best to view it as a possible next step, not a promised part of the package.

The final lesson should leave you with a better sense of what to do when the instructor is not holding or directing the board. One student described going from never surfing to catching waves independently after the course. Your result will depend on fitness, balance, conditions, and practice, but the three-day structure gives you a fair chance to build that independence.

Why Yahya’s teaching style matters

The most consistent strength of this course is the instructor’s approach. Yahya is praised for being patient, cheerful, encouraging, and careful about safety. He also uses clear explanations rather than relying only on repeated demonstrations.

That matters because beginners often struggle with too much information at once. A good instructor gives you one or two useful corrections, lets you try them, and then adds the next piece. Yahya’s teaching is described in those practical terms, with attention to your confidence as well as your technique.

He also communicates through WhatsApp about lesson times. This allows the session to fit the tide, wave conditions, weather, and your schedule. Early starts are available, and these can help you get into the water before the beach becomes as busy and the sun feels as strong.

The instructor speaks English, Indonesian, and Czech. That gives you a little more flexibility when booking or discussing technique, especially if one of those languages is more comfortable for you.

What is included, and what you still need

The course includes the main equipment and several useful extras:

• Surfboard
• Rash shirt
• Drinking water
• Zinc cream
• Sun cream
• GoPro photos and video

The rash shirt helps protect your body from the sun and reduces rubbing from the board. Zinc and sun cream are practical additions in Bali, where two hours in the water can expose you to more sun than you expect.

GoPro photos and video add value because surfing is hard to watch while you are doing it. Seeing your stance, falls, and board position can help you understand what needs to change. The information also notes that photographers may offer separate services, so confirm what is included in your booking and what might involve an extra fee.

Bring your own swimwear and towel. Since no other personal equipment is listed as included, pack only what you need for the beach and keep valuables to a minimum.

Who will get the most from this course

This course suits a first-time surfer who wants more than a quick introduction. Three lessons give you a chance to build a habit, and the private setup makes it easier to ask questions and receive repeated corrections.

It also suits a beginner couple or a small private booking that wants flexible timing. The lessons can be arranged around your schedule rather than forcing you into three fixed days, although you still need to check availability and coordinate with the instructor.

An active person with reasonable comfort in the water should get the most from it. You do not need to be an athlete, but you should expect paddling, repeated stand-ups, falls, and time in moving water.

This is not suitable for non-swimmers. If you are uneasy in the ocean, be honest about that before booking. The instructor can adjust the surfing challenge, but the course remains an ocean activity.

What could be better or require care

The course is not a guaranteed path to advanced surfing after three days. Conditions can change, and your progress may be slower than expected. The itinerary can be adjusted for weather and learning progress, so the final lesson may not follow every planned technique.

Batu Bolong is popular with beginners, but it can also produce larger waves. That mix is useful for progression, yet it may feel intimidating on your first morning. Trust the instructor’s choice of area and wave, and do not treat a bigger wave as a test you must pass.

The flexible timing is a strength, but it requires communication. You may not receive a fixed daily start time until you and the instructor discuss tides, weather, and your schedule. Keep some flexibility in your Bali plans.

The price information is presented for a group of up to one person, so confirm the final booking details before payment. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance, and you can reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Canggu plans are still moving.

Should you book the Batu Bolong surf course?

Book it if you want a careful introduction with enough time to improve, rather than a single stand-up lesson. The strongest reasons are Yahya’s patient instruction, the ability to choose suitable lesson times, and the included board, rash shirt, sun protection, water, and GoPro media.

It is also a good choice if you value personal attention and want to learn how to read waves, not just copy a stand-up motion. You may finish still needing plenty of practice, but you should have a clearer idea of how to paddle, position yourself, choose a wave, and stay safer in the water.

Skip it if you cannot swim, need a fixed timetable with no changes, or want an advanced surf camp. For a beginner who has three days in Canggu and wants a friendly, practical start, this course offers a sensible balance of instruction, practice, and fun.

FAQ

Where does the surf course meet?

You can meet the instructor in the parking lot of Old Man’s Bar at Batu Bolong Beach or at Warung Magic Wave, about 200 metres from the Batu Bolong car park. The school is also identified as Matahari Surf School, with directions referring to Warung Bagus or Waring Bogus.

How long is each surf lesson?

Each lesson lasts two hours. Across three days, the course provides about six hours of instruction and surfing practice.

Can I choose which days I take the lessons?

Yes. The three lesson days are optional, so you can choose days that suit your schedule, subject to availability and coordination with the instructor.

Are lesson times fixed?

No. Lesson times may be adjusted according to tides, weather, wave conditions, and your schedule. Early timings may be available.

Who teaches the course?

Yahya is the instructor named in the supplied information and is an ISA-certified instructor. The school also provides instruction in English, Indonesian, and Czech.

Is the course private?

Yes. The activity is described as a private group experience, with a group size of up to one person.

What equipment is included?

The course includes a surfboard and a rash shirt. Water, zinc cream, sun cream, and GoPro photos or video are also included.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear and a towel. These are the only items specifically listed as things to bring.

Can non-swimmers take the course?

No. The course is not suitable for non-swimmers.