3 days ago
Ryan is passionate, unbelievably talented, professional, and devoted to his students. Surf lessons with Ryan were a gift to my son on his 13th Birthday.
Diane L. · GOOGLE REVIEW
Reading the water
Sunsplash Park Station · Daytona Beach
Surf Lessons in Daytona Beach
From $70 per session with pro surfer Ryan Ragan — all gear included, kids 7 and up, at lifeguarded Sunsplash Park.
01 — Surf lessons · Daytona Beach
Surf with the Pro
Vast Oceans Surf and SUP teaches surf lessons in Daytona Beach from $70 per session, taught or led by pro surfer Ryan Ragan.
Every lesson includes the board, leash, and rash guard, runs a full 1.5 hours with free extra board time after, and meets at lifeguarded Sunsplash Park.
Kids 7 and up, adults, and total beginners are all welcome — you will learn to surf, guaranteed.
02 — Same-day lessons
Book by morning, surf by noon — call now
Ryan is on the beach with his tent five to six days a week, so same-day lessons are usually possible if you call by mid-morning. Call or text and we'll tell you straight away if today works.
03 — What a lesson costs
Lesson Prices
Group Surf Lesson
$70
- Max 10 students — bigger groups run with two instructors
- Never more than 5 students per instructor
- All gear included
Semi-Private Surf Lesson
$80
- Your own small group of 2-4
- More waves and more feedback per person
- All gear included
Private Surf Lesson
$85
- One-on-one instruction
- Great for nervous first-timers and younger kids
- All gear included
The signature lesson
Surf with the Pro — 1 Hour
$95
- Taught personally by pro surfer Ryan Ragan
- 1 hour $95 · 1.5 hours $120
- All gear included
Surf with the Pro — 1.5 Hours
$120
- Taught personally by pro surfer Ryan Ragan
- The full hour and a half with the pro
- All gear included
Florida weather moves fast — if lightning or unsafe conditions come up, the lesson is cancelled on the spot and rescheduled with you directly. Safety first, always. Lessons are rescheduled, not refunded.
04 — Included, every time
What Every Lesson Includes
All gear included
Board, leash, and a rash guard on request — wetsuits in winter. He brings everything; you just bring sunscreen, water, and a towel.
1.5 hours + free extra board time
A beach-safety tutorial first, then guided time in the water — and free extra board time after the lesson to practice what you learned.
5:1 max ratio
Never more than 5 students per instructor. Groups of up to 10 always run with two instructors, so everyone gets waves and feedback.
05 — The meeting spot
Where We Meet: Sunsplash Park, South End
Lessons meet at the SOUTH end of Sunsplash Park, next to the picnic tables, the new showers and bathrooms, right by the beach stairs. Sunsplash Park is home to the Volusia County Lifeguard Headquarters at its north end, which makes this one of the safest stretches of sand in Daytona Beach to learn on.
There's tons of free parking, and the park sits just a few blocks from the International Speedway Boulevard beach approach — dead center of Daytona Beach, minutes from the Hilton and the Wyndham. Look for Ryan's tent on the beach.
Sunsplash Park — south end (where we meet)
Chasing smaller, cleaner summer waves? Ryan also teaches at Ponce Inlet when conditions call for it.
06 — Safety
Read the water before you trust it
Every lesson starts with a beach-safety tutorial before anyone paddles out, runs in waist-to-chest-deep water, and stays at never more than 5 students per instructor. Sunsplash Park is home to the Volusia County Lifeguard Headquarters — one of the safest stretches of sand in Daytona Beach to learn on.
NOTATION — Every student must be able to swim. There is no lifejacket option.
07 — The coach
Meet Ryan Ragan
Ryan Ragan is a professional surfer with a World Surf League athlete profile who has competed around the world — and he teaches every lesson himself or leads the instructors who do. Students describe him the same way in review after review: patient, encouraging, and somehow having you surfing by the end of the lesson. Don’t take our word for it: 586 five-star Google reviews say the same thing.
Vast Oceans is a 2022 Visitor's Choice Award winner, partners with Max Beach Resort, and has been featured by the Hilton Daytona Beach. Guests have also left more than 140 reviews on TripAdvisor.
08 — Booking is a phone call
How It Works
1. Call or text
Call or text (386) 308-9951 — or send a lesson request — and Ryan sets a time around the tide and your schedule.
2. Meet on the beach
Meet at the south end of Sunsplash Park by the picnic tables. Ryan brings everything: board, leash, rash guard.
3. Surf
Beach-safety tutorial first, then into the water. Most students are riding waves by the end of their first lesson.
09 — The logbook
Reviews
a week ago
very fun had a great time
Wyatt G. · GOOGLE REVIEW
a week ago
Great instructor with amazing interaction and attention to detail
Ellyjah F. · GOOGLE REVIEW
a week ago
Ryan is awesome. Lots of extras and tips for a great trip.
Beth L. · GOOGLE REVIEW
a month ago
Was a great time! Really shows you what you need to get done to properly be out there in the waves! Was surfing by the end of the lesson!
carlos Z. · GOOGLE REVIEW
a month ago
Ryan was super responsive and worked with us on our schedule and location. Super cool guy. The boards were very nice quality as well. He even provided us with Rash guards. Great experience
Logan H. · GOOGLE REVIEW
2 months ago
Booked with Ryan for my husbands birthday. He was very communicative and my husband had a great time. Highly recommend Ryan for all your surfing needs, he’s a great instructor and passionate about what he does.
Megan · GOOGLE REVIEW
2 months ago
Ryan was absolutely amazing! He was there every step of the process to help me in the process of surfing. He came prepared with everything we would need.
Lauren E. · GOOGLE REVIEW
2 months ago
Wow! Ryan was an incredible instructor. From the moment we met him, my son and I knew we had found the perfect professional surfer to guide us on our surfing adventure.
Wayne L. · GOOGLE REVIEW
3 months ago
Ryan was a good and enthusiastic surf coach. I learned a lot at my first lesson.
Connor B. · GOOGLE REVIEW
3 months ago
Ryan and his team were fantastic. We had no experience and they were very patient and took time to help. Great experience. Awesome!
Lee B. · GOOGLE REVIEW
3 months ago
Ryan and his staff were great had a bigger group and felt that he and his crew were very on top of it and attentive to everybody!
fiona B. · GOOGLE REVIEW
3 months ago
Ryan was a great instructor and it was a fun day at the beach.
Kelly B. · GOOGLE REVIEW
4 months ago
Just talking with Ryan I know this is going to be a killer experience. Ill finish the review after we surf. But so far, phenomenal customer experience.
Nick R. · GOOGLE REVIEW
5 months ago
Ryan made everything so easy. Gave me great recommendations around the area as well!
Sam H. · GOOGLE REVIEW
Straight answers
Frequently asked questions
Q.01How much are surf lessons in Daytona Beach?
Surf lessons with Vast Oceans cost $70-$120 per session: group lessons are $70, semi-private $80, private $85, and Surf with the Pro — taught personally by Ryan Ragan — is $95 for an hour or $120 for 1.5 hours. Every price includes the board, leash, and rash guard.
Q.02What age can kids start surf lessons?
Group lessons start at age 7. Kids aged 5-6 can take a private lesson with a parent present. There's no upper limit — we teach plenty of adults and retirees.
Q.03Do I need to know how to swim?
Yes. Every student must be able to swim — there is no lifejacket option. Lessons run in waist-to-chest-deep water at lifeguarded Sunsplash Park.
Q.04What is the student-to-instructor ratio?
Never more than 5 students per instructor. Groups of up to 10 always run with two instructors.
Q.05How long is a surf lesson?
1.5 hours: a beach-safety tutorial first, then guided time in the water — plus free extra board time afterward to practice what you learned.
Q.06What's included — do I need to bring anything?
The board, leash, and a rash guard on request are all included, and wetsuits are provided in winter. Just bring sunscreen, water, a towel, and something to swim in.
Q.07Are there sharks — is it safe to surf in Daytona Beach?
Shark bites in Volusia County are rare and minor — mostly nips at ankles — and there has never been a fatal shark attack recorded in the county. Lessons run at Sunsplash Park, home of the Volusia County Lifeguard Headquarters. The "shark bite capital" tag belongs to the inlet at New Smyrna Beach, not our teaching beach.
Q.08What happens if the weather turns bad?
Florida weather moves fast — if lightning or unsafe conditions come up, the lesson is cancelled on the spot and rescheduled with you directly. Safety first, always. Lessons are rescheduled, not refunded.
Talk to a pro before you book anything
386-308-9951Ryan answers his own phone. Call, and he'll tell you straight if today works.