Ashan K.
Google
Hiriketiya Bay is easily one of the best places in Sri Lanka to learn surfing. The bay is naturally set up for all levels, and you can actually feel that when you’re out there - beginners have space, intermediate surfers aren’t getting in the way, and advanced surfers can do their thing. It makes the whole experience feel safer and way less intimidating.
We booked lessons with Dinesh’s Surf School (right on the beach at Hiriketiya) and it ended up being one of the highlights of the trip.
We surfed for three days, and what surprised me most was how different the waves were each day. Some sessions had bigger, faster waves that were more challenging, and other sessions had totally different conditions. So it never felt repetitive - it felt like we were learning and improving in real time with whatever the ocean was doing that day.
My girlfriend was surfing for the first time, and she wasn’t even fully comfortable swimming in the ocean. She started off nervous, but the way the instructors handled that was perfect - calm, encouraging, and genuinely supportive. That alone changed everything. After the first session, her fear was basically gone. She went from hesitant to actually enjoying being in the water, and she stood up and rode her first wave within just a few tries. That kind of progress doesn’t happen without good coaching.
For me, this was my third time surfing, and I can honestly say this was the smoothest learning process I’ve had. Not just because the waves were fun, but because the instruction was super clear and practical - no confusion, no over-complicated theory, just simple steps that actually work.
Big shoutout to Chami, Sandun, and Sasanka. The vibe with them was a huge reason the experience felt so comfortable. They’re chill, easy to talk to, and they make you feel like you’re learning with friends - not being “trained” in a strict way. That matters a lot when someone’s nervous or overthinking.
They also ran the sessions properly. We started with warm-ups and mock practice on the sand first - getting the steps, stance, and movement right before going into the ocean. Then once we were in the water, they gave constant feedback after every wave and every fall regarding balance, foot placement, paddling technique, timing, board position, how to conserve energy, and how to read when to go for the wave.
They also taught things that a lot of people skip: surf etiquette and safety. How to be mindful of other surfers, not cutting into someone’s line, keeping your route clear, and what to do when you fall (and what not to do - like ditching your board). Those small tips make a big difference for safety and confidence, especially in a shared lineup.
One day my girlfriend and I took the boards out ourselves and I tried helping her by pushing her into waves and giving her paddle timing cues and that’s when it hit me: teaching surfing is not easy. Waves roll over you, you get pulled around, you’re watching timing, position, safety, and the person’s confidence all at once. The effort these instructors put in is seriously impressive, especially because they stayed in the water with us for long sessions (even when the water was freezing) and kept the energy up the whole time.
The rest of the team was just as helpful too - we kept our phones and belongings there, everything felt safe and secure, and they even helped take photos/videos for us. It was genuinely a wholesome experience from start to finish.
If you’re in Hiriketiya and want to surf, whether it’s your first time ever or you’ve tried a couple times before - we'd recommend Dinesh’s Surf School.
