SURF , WAVE, SWELL AND BREAK TERMINOLOGY

wave guide

SURF, WAVE, SWELL AND BREAK TERMINOLOGY

THE ULTIMATE WAVE GUIDE

Topics covered and explained in the Surf, waves, swell and break terminology:

  • Understanding Swell
    • Ground Swell
    • Wind Swell
  • Understanding Wave Formation
    • Concave Refraction
    • Convex Refraction
  • Understanding Surf Breaks
    • Beach Break
    • Point Break
    • Reef Break
  • Wave anatomy
    • The Peak
    • The Shoulder
    • The Face/ Wall
    • The Lip
    • The Channel
understanding wave forecasts
Different types of waves

To a non-surfer, a wave is just a wave. In actuality, waves are like fingerprints; no two are alike. The same is true for wave setups; no single break is exactly the same as another one anywhere in the world. In order to improve one’s skills, a surfer must have a firm grasp on wave mechanics and an in-depth knowledge of a variety of different types of surf breaks.

WAVE GUIDE

To understand surf breaks and wave mechanics, we must look at how waves are formed by swell and where swell comes from.

UNDERSTANDING SWELL

The sun is the origin of all surf. Solar energy creates wind, and winds blow across vast areas of open ocean to create energy that eventually organizes itself into swell.

When swell travels great distances or combines with other swells, it can increase in size and interval. There are two types of swell that cause surf, groundswell, and wind swell.

GROUND SWELL

ground swell
Ground swell

Groundswell is the type of swell surfers hope and pray for; it often creates large and powerful surf.

Groundswell is created by large storm and weather systems or strong wind blowing over long distances of open ocean. Groundswell can travel for thousands of miles, and the wave energy can reach up to 1,000 feet in depth. Ground swells typically produce long interval swell and large surf once they make landfall.

WIND SWELL

wind swell
Wind swell

Wind swell is created by less powerful, more localized wind systems.

The wave energy from wind swells do not run as deep, and they only travel short distances across open ocean.

The result is usually smaller surf with a shorter interval.

UNDERSTANDING WAVE FORMATION

WAVE REFRACTION
Wave refraction

When swell finally reaches shallow water- whether that be a continental shelf, a reef system, or a sand bar- it is slowed and finally releases its energy in the form of breaking waves.

When swell bends horizontally as it breaks, it is called refraction. Refraction steers swell towards or away from shore. Some coves on the same coast during the same swell can have pumping waves while others are as calm as lakes.

This occurrence is caused by the varying ocean floor contours that cause different types of refraction. There are two types of refraction that can occur, depending on the ocean floor topography, concave refraction, and convex refraction.

CONCAVE REFRACTION

When open ocean swell comes into contact with an abrupt, protruding change in the ocean floor that is surrounded by deeper water- often a reef or sand bar- the swell will bend at its far ends as it turns into a breaking wave.

The center portion of the swell is slowed by the protrusion. The result resembles a bowl shape that travels towards the shore, with the “opening of the bowl” facing the shore.

CONVEX REFRACTION

When open ocean swell collides with a protruding headland, such as a cliff, jetty, or even a pier, the portion of swell confronting the headland slows, while the rest of the line of swell continues forward at pace.

The result closely resembles a “C” shape with the curved side moving towards the shore. This is known as convex refraction, and it nearly mirrors concave refraction in appearance.

UNDERSTANDING SURF BREAKS

Beyond refraction, ocean floor topography plays a role in determining how a wave breaks, not just how it bends. Surf breaks are categorized in three different ways: beach breaks, reef breaks, and point breaks. Understanding the differences between surf breaks is key to not only progressing as a surfer but staying safe in the water.

At Swell Surf Camp, our clients have access to a variety of surf break types that will match their surf skill level. The Dominican Republic is home to a vast system of reef and beach breaks.

BEACH BREAK

Beach break
Beach break

If you’re a first-time surfer, it’s best to find a mellow beach break to learn. Beach breaks are typically the safest types of surf break. Incoming swell breaks over sand bars versus harsh rocks or reef.

The shape and size of the wave are directly influenced by the sand bars that are constantly shifting. Beach breaks typically offer a variety of peaks compared to reef or point breaks that might only have one take off zone.

POINT BREAK

Point Break
Point Break

Point breaks, as the name suggests, are waves that break on a point, a protruding land mass that is perpendicular to the wave’s direction.

This point can be natural or manmade, such as a jetty. The wave at most point breaks is slow forming and offers surfers a long ride with a carve-worthy wall. Point breaks are great for surfers who are looking to progress and learn to carve / turn.

REEF BREAK

Reef break
Reef break

A reef break is created by a wave breaking over a rock or coral formation under water. Reef breaks can either have submerged reef or exposed reef.

A submerged reef is a rock formation that has been covered by sand. Submerged reefs are typically safer to surf over than any other type of reef. The exposed reef is often sharp and dangerous to step on. Additionally, reef systems can have other hazards, like sea urchins.

Reef breaks do, however, offer a consistent peak and wave shape that you would not find at a beach break.

WAVE ANATOMY

In order to successfully catch and ride waves, a surfer must comprehend basic wave anatomy. Where should you take off? What parts of the wave have the most speed? Where is a safe place to wait for incoming surf? All of these questions can be answered by digging a little deeper into the anatomy of a wave.

THE PEAK

One mistake many first-time surfers make is paddling for any incoming wave no matter where they are positioned compared to the peak. The peak of a wave is its highest point and the ideal take-off point for surfers. A wave begins to break at the peak making it the steepest portion of the wave and the easiest place to take off.

THE SHOULDER

The shoulder of a wave is a flatter and more mellow section of the wave that sits down the line from the peak. The shoulder is a great place to sit and watch your friends score waves.

THE FACE/ WALL

The face or wall of a wave is the steep, vertical section of a breaking wave just in front of the “pocket.” Our goal as surfers is to ride on the face of the wave just in, or slightly in front of, the pocket. Once a surfer gets too far down the face of the wave (closer to the shoulder), they cut back so that they can ride in the pocket of the wave. Beginner surfers will find that their rides will be cut short if they ride in front of the face of the wave, rather than on it. The vertical section of the wave has the most power.

THE LIP

The lip of the wave is the cresting portion that comes down as the wave breaks. With offshore wind and a decent sized swell, surfers can pull into barrels behind the lip of the wave.

THE CHANNEL

While the channel is not technically part of the wave, it is vital to a surfer’s ability to paddle out. Paddling out can be difficult, especially in large surf. The channel is where all of the incoming surf flows back into the sea. This is the best place to paddle out, as it is often calmer than other parts of the break.

LEARNING MORE ABOUT WAVES

The most effective way to learn about waves, different surf breaks, and varying surf conditions is to surf as much and as often as possible. At Swell Surf Camp, we not only teach our clients to surf in the warm Caribbean Sea, but we provide the ultimate surf experience through stellar lodging, tasty food, and a welcoming community.

For 2020 a new destination is offered by Swell: Swell Bali Surf camp will open in Bingin, a very short walk to some of the best surfing beaches that Bali has to offer, catering for people that have never surfed before to people that want to catch some perfect barrels.

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THE TOP 5 OCEAN ACTIVITIES

Stand up paddle surf

THE TOP 5 OCEAN ACTIVITIES

(WHEN THE WAVES ARE FLAT)

Like it or not, sometimes, there are just no waves to be surfed. On the North Coast of the Dominican republic this is very rare, but 5 to 10 days per year the waves get smaller than knee high. This is something which is naturally disappointing if you have travelled to a particular destination intent on catching some swell, though there are many other exciting and fun ocean activities which you can certainly try if the waves are flat. These will perhaps provide you with an altogether different experience and feel of the ocean than surfing. Nonetheless, they still have the potential to be amazingly fun and increase your overall appreciation of the ocean when the surf is not up.

SUP

Stand-up paddleboarding is something which many surf enthusiasts have likely already tried. If not, then anyone with some decent experience on the board will take to this ocean activity in no time at all. There is something very tranquil and peaceful about SUP. This activity allows you to glide, almost effortlessly across the ocean.

Stand up paddle surf

During this experience, you are bound to experience some moments of peaceful enlightenment. SUP is growing steadily in popularity with many beautiful global destinations keen to offer this for periods during which the waves are calm. It is also relatively easy for a novice surfer to pick up.
As mentioned, it is a great way to improve board confidence which you can then transition into your surfing experiences. Check out the center for surf research for some awesome information on all things sustainable, and some great information on the best paddleboards to suit your style. As with any activity, it takes some learning and practice which is best performed with the right equipment. Once you get the hang of paddleboarding though, it is perfect for those days when the waves are flat, or you just feel like a more relaxing cruise along the coast. Some have even been known to commute via paddleboard.

KAYAKING

Another water-based sport for the times when the ocean is calm, although this can be either relaxing or exhilarating depending on your preference. Naturally, you can have some great experiences kayaking the oceans when the waves are low. There are many different types of kayak suitable for one or two people which are usually highly durable and easy to transport to your destination.
watersport holiday
Besides just paddling around, you could explore some nearby caves, or just admire the views and the stunning ocean from your location.
Kayaking is very easy to pick up for beginners in terms of a learning curve, and you can be out on the ocean in no time at all. The fantastic thing about kayaking is thanks to the safety and security of most kayaks, you can go out in groups and enjoy a really fun day in the ocean.

Why not bring some lunch and aim for a nearby sandbar or beach to explore for the day. All of this will be possible depending upon your location. This is one of the most enjoyable pursuits for many who want a break from surfing but still wish to enjoy the qualities of the ocean from above. Certain forms of kayaking can also provide the thrill which many surfers often seek, although these are most often found in rivers rather than with ocean kayaking. Either way, it presents a great opportunity to view the ocean from the surface in all of its splendour.

SNORKELING

Moving below the surface, snorkelling can be an easily accessible, yet life-transforming experience under the correct conditions when the waves are not on your side for surfing. With just a few easy to acquire pieces of equipment, you can begin exploring what lies beneath that beautiful ocean which you often surf. For many, this can be a truly transformative experience. Seeing the beauty of life, flora, and fauna which is just below our feet can be a powerful moment.

snorkeling sosua
Ultimately, snorkelling is a fun activity which you can also enjoy at your leisure with a partner or younger family members without any fear of injury or accident, and if you are lucky, you may get to capture some picturesque moments along the way. Certain areas are of course more suitable than others. These include areas such as Cebu, the Philippines which is famous for its amazing snorkelling experiences where swimmers can interact with whale sharks up close.

There are many of these types of experiences offered, usually in the deeper waters, but if you are just curious to check out what is beneath the usual surf, this is the ideal activity of choice for you on the next calm ocean day.
Swell offers snorkeling trips to Sosua for our clients, see more information on the adventure day trips we offer

SCUBA DIVING

If you have tried and enjoyed snorkelling but wish to go quite a lot deeper and become fully immersed, then scuba may be the ideal direction for you. Naturally, this is not something which you can decide to do on a whim. It will take a lot of learning and dedication to become an accomplished diver. Even getting started as a beginner can be a daunting task. It is also though, one of the most rewarding experiences which any ocean lover can undertake.

Suba Diving dominican republic
Exploring deep below the surface, you will likely encounter many breathtaking scenes which you simply could not comprehend from above. This gives most of us an entirely new perspective on ocean life, and can greatly enhance our future surfing experiences. From having the ability to view shipwrecks to the most diverse ranges of aquatic life, this is certainly one of the most impressive and energizing experiences you can engage in, and in fact, it goes much further beyond just something to do when the surf is not good. Both activities though can certainly be learned and enjoyed at the same time.
You can also check an interesting article on underwater scooters for scuba diving on Cape Boating

SAILING

If all of the above sound like a lot of hard work to you, you could always decide to take to the ocean in a different form of transport entirely. One activity loss is another’s gain. Sailing is one activity which certainly relies on calm seas, quite the opposite to what would be ideal for surfing. Of course, this is another activity which requires some preparation, you need to have the use of a sailing boat for a start. Once this is the case, however, there is often no better or more exciting way to traverse the open sea, depending on the type of sailboat you are using.

Laser sailing
Sailing can be smooth and relaxing or also hard work. It really depends on who is doing the sailing, however, as a passenger it can provide a fantastic sense of freedom and adventure. There are many stories of solo or tea sailboats travelling the world. This open approach to the ocean provides a sense of escape which is unattainable through an activity such as surfing. With someone else in control, it can also be a relaxing way to experience your surroundings from a more distant and comfortable viewpoint.

CONCLUSION

Of course, under ideal circumstances, the waves will be fantastic and perfect for surfing. As experienced surfers, however, we know that this is not always the case and that unexpected changes in conditions can drastically alter your plans for the day. As we can see from the above ocean activities, though, there is no shortage of other options to pursue when the sea conditions are calm. Whichever other activity you choose to spend your time on will open up your eyes to viewing the ocean in a new light, and will likely also provide the entertainment or relaxation you require.

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STAFF: MEET RICCI AND ALEXANDRA

At Swell we want to make sure our clients get the best surf experience possible, and the best way to guarantee this is by having top staff work for us. Last year Ricci was at Swell for 3 months, and he left a great impression on the clients and the rest of our staff. Because Ricci had commitements in Europe as a Snowboard instructor & guide in the Alps he had to leave us for a season in the snow.

Ricci Swell Surf Instructor
Ricci Swell Surf Instructor

Ricci was keen to come back to Swell, and we are very keen to have him back. for the full 2018 / 2019 winter season.

Alexandra (Alex) is Ricci’s partner and she is the new surf photographer at Swell taking photos of our clients who are interested in the photo packages she offers. And additional bonus is that Alexandra also takes video footage of the clients during their lessons, so after the lessons are done the footage can be played back to analyze where improvements can be made in the surf technique of the clients.

Alexandra has years of experience as an action and lifestyle photographer, and so far the lifestyle and surf photos she has produced are of great quality.

Here are some sample photos of here first few days in Cabarete

Surfing Encuentro
Morning at Playa Encuentro
Encuentro surf lessons
Encuentro surf lessons
Swell Surfboards
Swell Surfboards
Groups Shots
Groups Shots
Playa Encuentro
Playa Encuentro
Swell visitor
Swell visitor
Playa Encuentro golden morning light
Playa Encuentro golden morning light

As you can see Alexandra is a great photographer, so if you want to have your surf photos taken and a surf video analysis during your stay at Swell, sign up for the photo package and go home with your memories in HD photo format.

OTHER SWELL NEWS

Normally when one surf instructor arrives another instructor leaves, this winter we have deceided to change this, since it’s looking like it’s going to be a very busy winter season for us here in the Caribbean. As a result Lee, our lovely English surf instructor has decided to stay on for the rest of our high season.
So our team for the winter season 2019 is:

    1. Lee (english) – Surf Instructor
    1. Ricci (Italian) – Surf Instructor
    1. Neno (Dominican) – Surf Instructor
    1. Jeffrey (Dominican) – Surf Instructor
    1. Alexandra (French) – Surf photographer

So if you are interested in learning to surf, then have a look at the learn to surf courses we offer at Swell and contact us today to secure your surf holiday.

CARIBBEAN SURF HOLIDAY EXPIRIENCE


About Swell: We provide active holidays for adults in the Caribbean. Ideal for solo travelers and couples who are looking for a fun and social vacation.
See our video below.


We hope to see you soon in the Caribbean
Clare & Jeroen Mutsaars

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CABARETE IN SURFING PICTURES

Sunrise Playa Encuentro

CABARETE IN SURFING PICTURES

We have a lot of text describing what a surf vacation on the north coast of the Dominican Republic is all about, but instead of writing about how pretty the scenery is here, we thought we’d show you the scenery , landscapes and action you can expect when you visit us.

All Surfing pics and scenery pics are taken by Swell staff in and around Cabarete.

( sorry there’s a fair few sunrise and sunset shots, because we never get tired of them)

25 VISUAL REASONS FOR A (SURF) HOLIDAY TO CABARETE

 

#1

La Boca at Sunset
La Boca at Sunset

Taken at La Boca, a few minutes east of Cabarete. They have a nice restaurant in a local ambience here. Enjoy the Seafood and Dominican food

#2

Presidente Beer
Presidente Beer

Presidente, the local beer of the Dominican Republic. Available everywhere and very tasty.

#3

Sky over the mountains behind Cabarete
Sky over the mountains behind Cabarete

Pretty skies over the mountains just back of Cabarete. Photo is taken from Swell, and most nights the sky will turn some incredible colour.

#4

Fishing boat Las Terennas
Fishing boat in Las Terrenas

Ok so technically this is not Cabarete, however if you are doing an adventure holiday on the north coast then Las Terrenas should be a place to stop for a night. No waves here but a very pretty Caribbean town, some nice restaurants too.

#5

Sunrise Playa Encuentro
Sunrise Playa Encuentro

Playa Encuentro is just a few miles west of Cabarete. This is where we take our guests surfing every day, and since we are pretty much always the first ones at the surf beach, we love taking pics of the sunrise. Palm trees, no development, chill vibes; we are blessed to call this our local surf spot. Want to see more surfing pictures of Cabarete? See our surf pictures gallery

#6

View of Cabarete Bay
View of Cabarete Bay

The stunning bay of Cabarete captured with a drone flying over Swell. Windsurfing, kite surfing and sunbathing is all done at Cabarete Bay. It’s a few minutes walk to the beach where you can also find tons of good restaurants and bars

#7

Swell surf road trip
Swell surf road trip

This surf spot is also not in Cabarete, but it’s only 45 minute drive away. It’s stunning white sand beach, lined with Palm trees. With the right Swell direction it’s also a world class surfing spot.

#8

Playa Encuentro
Playa Encuentro

This is the scenery at Playa Encuentro where we surf. No high-rise condos or McDonald’s signs here, just palms trees and good waves.

#9

Cabarete sunset
Cabarete sunset

The Sky over Cabarete bay at Sunset. This photo is taken on the west side of the bay, looking over Cabarete and kitebeach

#10

Snorkelling in the Dominican Republic
Snorkelling in the Dominican Republic

Just a 10 minute drive west of us is Sosua bay.  No surfing in Sosua but there are some very nice snorkelling spots with plenty of fish to see. At Swell we can organise this snorkelling trip for our guests ( diving and diving courses can be organised too)

#11

La Boca
La Boca

When there is no wind (kitesurfers love kiting at La Boca Lagoon where there is wind), it’s very quiet and peaceful at La Boca. Stroll along the lagoon, sunbathe on the beach or have  lunch at the local restaurants.

#12

Waves at Encuentro
Waves at Encuentro

Playa Encuentro is one of the most consistent surfing spots in the Caribbean. Warm water so leave your wetsuit at home. Have a look at the surf seasons page to see when is the best time to visit the Dominican Republic

#13

North coast scenery
North coast scenery

Drive an hour east of Cabarete and you will come across this stunning viewpoint.

#14

Playa Grande
Playa Grande

Swell regularly organises day trip to Playa Grande and Laguna dudu, See #15

#15

Laguna Dudu
Laguna Dudu

Swim in the amazing deep blue water of Laguna Dudu. There’s a zipline that can launch you into the refreshing deep water.

#16

Kitesurfing in Cabarete
Kitesurfing in Cabarete

Cabarete is considered one of the best spots in the world for kitesurfing, as a result, the local Dominicans are amongst the worlds best. Take a kite lesson in Cabarete or just watch the locals do their incredible moves a few meters from the shoreline. Cabarete beach and Kitebeach are the best places for kite surfing.

#17

Bonfire at la Boca
Bonfire at la Boca

Swell can organise a trip to La Boca, where there will be local food, cold beers and a bonfire. What more could you ask for?

#18

want a coconut?
Want a coconut?

Want a refreshing coconut? ask a local and you’ll have a refreshing drink and bite a few minutes later.

#19

Kitebeach Cabarete sunset
Kitebeach Cabarete sunset

Watch the sunset over kitebeach after a day of surfing or kitesurfing as a great way to end the day.

#20

Stand up paddle boarding (SUP) at Cabarete Bay
Stand up paddle boarding (SUP) at Cabarete Bay

Flat water inside Cabarete Bay make it an ideal place to take a SUP lessons at one of the SUP Schools in Cabarete. Want some waves. Cabarete reef also has some perfect mellow waves.

#21

Sunset at Cabarete Bay
Sunset at Cabarete Bay

Wander out of Swell and within minutes you are at Cabarete Beach. Stroll along the bars and restaurants where there’s always 1 place that has a happy hour with some good Mojito’s or cold  Presidente on offer.

#22

Pretty beaches
Pretty beaches

The north coast has too many pretty beaches & coves to name them all here. You are never far away from the next spot that is ideal for your instagram shot.

#23

Dinner under palmtrees in Cabarete
Dinner under palmtrees in Cabarete

At Swell we cook dinner 4 times per week for our clients, the other evenings all our clients usually go for a short walk to Cabarete beach to choose one of the many restaurants located right on the beach, so you can enjoy fish or a fine steak ( or pizza) with a cold beer under the palm trees.

#24

Enjoy the tropical plants and animals
Enjoy the tropical plants and animals

The Dominican Republic has very fertile soil, plenty of sun and refreshing rains, as a result there are some stunning plants & trees to be admired. This is a pic taken in the gardens at Swell.

#25

Catch good waves on the north coast
Catch good waves on the north coast

There are many different surf spots to choose from. From easy and mellow spots for a  learn to surf  vacation to reef breaks that are great for advanced and experts surfers looking to get barreled. To see more surfing pictures in and around Cabarete, Dominican Republic go to this page

 

I hope this “Cabarete in surfing pictures” post got you excited for a vacation to the north coast of the DR. There’s a good reason the saying here is

“The Dominican Republic has it all!”

 

We hope to see you soon in Cabarete

See what Swell Surf Camp is all about

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SWELL HOLIDAYS

surf school

LEARN TO SURF HOLIDAYS

What’s new at Swell Surf Camp

May 2018 Swell Surf Holiday news

  • News
  • Why go to Swell on a learn to surf holiday
  • Summer kitesurf season in cabarete

NEWS

About 2 months ago we launched the Swell 2018 website, aftre some initial technical difficulties the site is now running smooth and we see visitors stats are good, people are finding the pages and info they are looking for easier and quicker to find on the new website. We have updated the Swell Gallery page so it’s now real easy to see what Swell Learn to surf holidays are all about. have a look at the galleries and let us know what you think.

iNSPIRE DR AND SWELL SURF CAMP

We are also very proud and happy to announce that we have partnered up with Inspire DR, A US non-profit organisation based just a 100 yards from where Swell is based. Inspire teaches young Dominican and Haitian boys essential skills to become the community leaders of the future.

The boys learn vitally important skills for life; critical thinking, respect, timeliness, responsibility, leadership, entrepreneurship and teamwork, using a variety of methods.

The programme also teaches them some valuable practical skills; woodworking, swimming, English, surfing (that’s one of the ways we help) and many more.

We love the way InspireDR reward the boys when they have reached certain goals; each day, the boys have to demonstrate the values and skills listed above.

As they must be demonstrated every day, with no exceptions, these values just become normal for the boys. They must also have an attendance record at the school of more than 90% so consistency and reliability also becomes normal.

InspireDR have so far helped 97 boys from the local community, with 62 currently in the programme and a waiting list of 71 more boys hoping to join.

Winter season has come to an end in the Dominican Republic, but that doesn’t mean the surf season has

The Dominican Republic has waves year round, no distinct rainy season and the water is always warm, have a look at this page, and this page for more info on when to go to the DR

WHY GO ON A LEARN TO SURF HOLIDAY WITH SWELL?

Here at Swell we are all fanatical about our surfing (well not all, Haudy our lovely manager doesn’t surf, her passion is food and cooking, and the Swell clients love here for it!)

When we started Swell we had 1 goal:

“To provide the best luxury surf camp experience available on the market”

swell surf camp

We designed a building from scratch that is comfortable, stylish and a social place to stay, we wanted it to be a place where we ourselves would be very happy to stay on our holidays.

Even though we have many years of surfing experience between us, we also know our weakness: we are not the best surf instructors ourselves, so we were the first surf camp in the Dominican Republic that employs fully qualified ISA surf instructors. The minimum requirement for surf instructors at Swell is to be ISA level 1 qualified, but most of the time we have ISA level 2 coaches working for us.

A STRUCTURED APPROACH TO LEARNING TO SURF

learn to surf holidaysBefore we opened Swell we had visited many surf camps around the world (we used to run a successful surf travel company).At a lot of those surf camps in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama and Bali we saw practises that were not very beneficial for the students that wanted to learn to surf

Why?

  • Classes with student to instructor ratios over 10:1
  • Instructors that were not qualified
  • Instructors that barely spoke english
  • Instructors that didn’t want to teach, instead they wanted to surf themselves
  • No safe soft top surfboards

*Definitely not all Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua and Bali Surf camps give , what is in our opinion, bad surf lessons. There are some very good surf camps and surf schools in those countries (I’d be very happy to send a list of highly recommended surf camps and schools , just send us an email).

We at Swell want to make sure that every Swell clients get a top learn to surf holiday from us, so that’s why we use qualified ISA surf instructors for our ” learn to surf holidays “.

INTERESTED IN JOINING SWELL

Have a look at the following pages to see if the learn to surf holidays we offer are something that would suit you.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON!

 

Swell learn to surf holidays

 

Swell learn to surf holidays/span>
Written by: Reviewer
Date Published: 12/01/2017
Swell’s learn to surf holiday is a perfect way to learn the sport of surfing in a fun, safe and quick way
9.7 / 10 stars
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Surfing Cabarete

SURFING  CABARETE

INFO AND SURF SPOT GUIDE FOR CABARETE AREA

Introduction

Cabarete was put on the map a few decades ago as a windsurfing spot, and it still is a very popular place in the Caribbean for windsports like sailing, windsurfing and kitesurfing. However Cabarete has more to offer than wind sports, it’s in fact the mornings where the trade winds are not present that surfing is the most popular sport for expats, local dominicans and tourist of all different surfing levels.

 
Ideal Conditions!

WHY GO ON A SURF TRIP TO CABARETE?

The Dominican Republic is not known for the biggest or longest waves in the world, but 1 feature that makes the DR such a popular spot for surfers is that it caters for 99% of the surfers: from complete beginners to experts surfers.
The other aspects that make Playa Encuentro such a unique surf spot is the consistency of the waves, we have no ‘off’ season, on 350 days per year there’s a surf able wave to be found at Playa Encuentro.

 

THE SURF SPOTS IN AND AROUND CABARETE

Playa Encuentro
Is about 4 km ( 2,5 miles) west of Cabarete. It’s the most consistent surf spot for surfers in the mornings,  several different surf spots for different surfing abilities. See More info about Surfing Cabarete on this page

The bottom is a flat limestone rock, reef, so we provide surf booties for our beginners. For forecasts check magicseaweed, windguru and the webcam at kitebeach for current conditions

Kitebeach
Good surf spot for good surfers, if you don’t mind the distant paddle out, and the shallow reef with fire coral. Only good on North Swells. Bring a good leash.

Mananero
Punchy beach break a few miles east of Cabarete, best in summer months, and when there’s zero wind.

 

BEST SURF EUIPMENT FOR CABARETE / ENCUENTRO

What is the best equipment for surfing in Cabarete?
Standard shortboard or longboard will do, for winter months or hurricane season maybe bring something that can handle some bigger waves. For summer months bring a board with a bit of extra volume, so it floats you trough the flat sections.

 

SWELL AND SURFING

We, the owners of Swell, are avid surfers ourselves, and love the variety of surf conditions that the Cabarete area brings. Reef breaks, beach breaks, offshore empty reefs, the North coast of the Dominican republic has something to offer for everyone. Are you interested in a surf holiday in the Dominican republic? Check out our surfing package holidays

More Info:
Kitesurfing in the Dominican Republic
Caribbean Surf & Yoga Holiday
Our accommodation

We hope to see you soon at our purpose built yoga and surf retreat

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