Reading the water
Ponce Inlet station · 29.08°N 80.92°W
Yes, we teach surf lessons at Ponce Inlet. Vast Oceans Surf and SUP is based in Daytona Beach, and we also teach at Ponce Inlet when conditions call for it. Lessons start at $70 per person, the board, leash, and rash guard are included, and every lesson is taught at a lifeguarded beach by pro surfer Ryan Ragan or one of his instructors.
587 GOOGLE REVIEWS
Most of our lessons meet at Sunsplash Park in Daytona Beach, see our Daytona Beach surf lessons page for the home setup. Ponce Inlet is the spot we save for the days it's working: it sits at the southern tip of the peninsula, about 25–30 minutes down the coast from our shop on International Speedway Blvd. Call or text (386) 308-9951 and we'll tell you straight which beach is the better call for your lesson day.
01: The east-facing fact
The chart is today’s actual sun track over this stretch of sand: sunrise at 6:47 AM over the open Atlantic, 70° on the compass, straight off the beach, and the sun stays over the water all morning before crossing behind the land for the afternoon.
West-coast surf towns get their light show at the end of the day. Here it starts the day: paddle out early and the sun comes up out of the lineup in front of you.
02: A conditions call
Ponce Inlet is a conditions call, not a second storefront. The jetty on the north side of Ponce de Leon Inlet grooms the sandbars, so in summer, when much of the Daytona Beach coastline goes small and soft, Ponce often holds a smaller, cleaner swell with a little more shape to it. That is exactly the wave you want when you are working on timing, positioning, and your first real turns.
It's also where Ryan takes his coaching clients. When a surfer he's coaching needs a wave with a wall to practice on rather than whitewater to stand up in, Ponce is usually the answer. Surf coaching is arranged by conversation: age, skill level, and goals first.
One thing we'll say plainly: Ponce Inlet gets crowded. The same sandbars that shape the wave draw surfers from all over the county when the swell lines up, and weekends can feel busy. Part of teaching here is picking a peak away from the pack, and knowing when the honest answer is that Sunsplash Park will give you more waves with less company.
The inlet itself is a wild place. Dolphins work the channel, pelicans trade along the jetty, and manatees turn up in the calmer water inside the inlet. Keep your eyes open between waves.
03: Getting there
For Ponce Inlet lessons we typically meet at the public beach access inside Lighthouse Point Park, the county park at the very tip of the peninsula beside the jetty. We confirm the exact meeting spot with you when you book, it moves with the sandbars.
From 815 E International Speedway Blvd in Daytona Beach, head south on S Atlantic Ave (A1A) through Daytona Beach Shores and Wilbur-by-the-Sea. The road runs straight into Ponce Inlet and ends at Lighthouse Point Park, about 11 miles, usually 25–30 minutes. If you pass the lighthouse, you're nearly there.
04: What a lesson costs
Same lessons, same prices as Daytona Beach: one price list, no beach surcharge. A standard lesson runs an hour and a half, starts with a beach-safety tutorial on the sand, and ends with a free 30-minute practice session when boards are available. Group lessons are a large group, generally between 6 and 10; semi-private and private lessons are smaller. That approach is backed by 587 five-star Google reviews.
$70
Learn to surf with a large group, generally between 6 and 10.
$80
Share the lineup with just 2–4 other surfers.
$85
One-on-one, at whatever pace suits you.
$95
Surf one-on-one with Ryan himself, $120 for a full hour and a half.
Prefer to write instead? Send a lesson request and we'll get back to you, or browse the full price list , rentals and surf camps included.
05: The logbook
2 weeks ago
We received a call from Ryan to verify the authenticity of a receipt that had been submitted to our airline for a damaged surfboard claim. He took the time to speak highly of his customer and was incredibly helpful throughout the process.
Charleta J. · GOOGLE REVIEW
3 weeks 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
a month ago
very fun had a great time
Wyatt G. · GOOGLE REVIEW
a month ago
Great instructor with amazing interaction and attention to detail
Ellyjah F. · GOOGLE REVIEW
a month ago
Ryan is awesome. Lots of extras and tips for a great trip.
Beth L. · GOOGLE REVIEW
2 months 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
2 months 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
3 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
3 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
3 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
4 months ago
Ryan was a good and enthusiastic surf coach. I learned a lot at my first lesson.
Connor B. · GOOGLE REVIEW
4 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
4 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
4 months ago
Ryan was a great instructor and it was a fun day at the beach.
Kelly B. · GOOGLE REVIEW
5 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
Straight answers
Here are the calm facts: shark bites in Volusia County are rare and almost always minor, and the county has one fatality on record, in 1981. The “shark bite capital” statistics mostly come from the south side of the inlet at New Smyrna Beach, where surfers crowd the sandbar beside the channel. We teach at lifeguarded beaches, and Ryan reads the water before every lesson, and if the bait fish are thick, we adjust.
In summer, often yes: the jetty holds a smaller, cleaner swell when Daytona goes flat, and a clean waist-high wave is a friendly teacher. But it's a conditions call. Most first-timers do well at Sunsplash Park in Daytona Beach, and we'll tell you honestly which beach suits your lesson day when you call.
We typically meet at the public beach access inside Lighthouse Point Park, next to the jetty. The park has paved parking, restrooms, and showers, with a per-vehicle county entry fee at the gate. We confirm the exact meeting spot when you book.
The same as our Daytona Beach lessons: group lessons are $70 per person, semi-private $80, private $85, and Surfing with A Pro runs $95 for an hour up to $200 for three hours. Boards, leashes, and rash guards are 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.
Ryan answers his own phone. Call, and he'll tell you straight whether Daytona or Ponce Inlet is the better call for your lesson day.