Reading the water
Sunsplash Park Station · 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
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 and meets at lifeguarded Sunsplash Park. A standard lesson runs a full 1.5 hours, with a free 30-minute practice session afterwards whenever boards are available.
Kids 7 and up, adults, and total beginners are all welcome. You will learn to surf, guaranteed.
02: Same-day lessons
Call and Ryan sets a time around the tide, the conditions, and your schedule. If today looks good, he'll tell you straight away.
03: What a lesson costs
The signature lesson
$95
$120
$150
$175
$200
$70
$80
$85
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
Board, leash, and a rash guard on request. Wetsuits in winter. He brings everything; you just bring sunscreen, water, and a towel.
A beach-safety tutorial first, then guided time in the water, and a free 30-minute practice session after the lesson, boards permitting, to work on what you learned.
Ryan teaches every lesson himself or leads the instructors who do, one on one for private lessons, and groups generally between 6 and 10.
05: The meeting spot
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.
Chasing smaller, cleaner summer waves? Ryan also teaches at Ponce Inlet when conditions call for it.
06: Safety
Every lesson starts with a beach-safety tutorial before anyone paddles out: ocean awareness, how to get through waves, and how to fall without hurting yourself. Sunsplash Park is home to the Volusia County Lifeguard Headquarters, one of the safest stretches of sand in Daytona Beach to learn on.
NOTATION: Not sure how confident you are in the ocean? Say so when you call. Ryan would rather set the right expectation than sell you the wrong lesson.
07: The coach
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: 589 five-star Google reviews say the same thing.
Vast Oceans is sponsored by the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort. Guests have also left more than 140 reviews on TripAdvisor.
08: Booking is a phone call
Call or text (386) 308-9951, or send a lesson request, and Ryan sets a time around the tide and your schedule.
Meet at the south end of Sunsplash Park by the picnic tables. Ryan brings everything: board, leash, rash guard.
Beach-safety tutorial first, then into the water. Most students are riding waves by the end of their first lesson.
09: The logbook
a day ago
Ryan was an incredible surf coach for our son, daughter, and my daughter’s friend during our vacation in Daytona Beach. He’s extremely calm, patient, and genuinely great with kids — the kind of instructor who makes everyone feel confident…
Kenny M. · GOOGLE REVIEW
3 days ago
Ryan was absolutely wonderful! He took my three little boys out to one of the most beautiful beaches in the area for a two-hour surfing lesson, and they had the BEST morning!
Katherine S. · GOOGLE REVIEW
3 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
a month 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
Straight answers
Surf lessons with Vast Oceans cost $70-$200 per session: group lessons are $70, semi-private $80, private $85, and Surfing with A Pro, taught personally by Ryan Ragan, runs $95 for an hour up to $200 for three hours. Every price includes the board, leash, and rash guard.
Lessons start at age 7, and there's no upper limit. We teach kids, adults, and retirees at every level, from first-timers with no ocean experience to advanced surfers.
Talk to Ryan about it when you call. Every lesson starts with a beach-safety tutorial before anyone gets in the water, and we teach at Sunsplash Park, home of the Volusia County Lifeguard Headquarters. If you're unsure about your own or your child's confidence in the ocean, say so on the phone. He'll tell you straight whether a lesson is the right call.
Group lessons are a large group, generally between 6 and 10. Semi-private puts you with just 2-4 other surfers, and private lessons are one on one with one of our instructors.
A standard lesson is 1.5 hours: a beach-safety tutorial first, then guided time in the water, plus a free 30-minute practice session afterward, if boards are available, to work on what you learned. Surfing with A Pro is the exception: $95 buys an hour, $120 the full 1.5, and longer sessions run out to three hours.
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.
Shark bites in Volusia County are rare and minor, mostly nips at ankles, with a single fatality on record, in 1981. 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.
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 if today works.