Surf camps in Bali are a great way to learn the basics of surfing and have fun in the water. But what happens when you want to take it further? If you’ve spent time at a surf camp but feel ready for more serious progression, or want to gain the skills to become a surf instructor, joining a surf academy in Bali is the next step.
Surf Camps vs Surf Academy: What’s the Difference?
Surf camps are usually short, casual, and focused on having fun in the water. They normally consist of a week of daily lessons aimed to get you catching waves and feeling more confident on a board. They’re perfect for beginners or a surf-focused holiday.
A surf academy is a structured, longer-term surf training programme, usually running for several weeks, with a structured coaching system that’s designed to take surfers to the next level through a proper curriculum. A surf academy can also include the option to finish as an ISA-certified instructor which allows you to follow a career as a surfing instructor!
About Sōleïa Surf Academy
If you’re considering joining a surf academy in Bali, one of the best is Sōleïa Surf Academy Bali who are based in Canggu, one of Bali’s most popular surf towns.
Sōleïa is so much more than just a surf camp, it’s a performance-focused training ground for surfers of all levels with a program that blends daily coaching, modern techniques, and a thriving community to give you everything you need to level up.
Groups typically stay small, around 12 participants, and every coach is ISA certified. Accommodation is based in Sōleïa’s own Canggu surf house, with options from shared twin rooms through to private cabins and deluxe suites. The Academy is one part of a wider set of packages Sōleïa runs and it’s rated 4.9/5 across more than 550 Google reviews.
If you’re looking for serious progression there’s no better place to head than Sōleïa Surf Academy Bali. Here’s why.
8 Reasons to Join Sōleïa Surf Academy in Bali
1. ISA-Certified Coaching, With the Option to Get Certified Yourself
Every coach is certified by the International Surfing Association (ISA) and trained in surf rescue, so instruction quality stays consistent throughout your programme. The bigger draw for many, though, is the option to get certified yourself. The ISA Level 1 qualification is one of the most recognised surf instructor certifications globally, and intakes are timed so everyone finishes together and sits the exam as a cohort, with exams running in February, May, August and November.
Certification isn’t required; plenty join purely to improve their surfing. For those who do want it, the exam fee (€675, paid directly to the ISA presenter) is the only extra cost. Getting certified is very achievable and many past graduates have gone on to work as surf instructors.
2. A Structured Progression System
Most surf coaching is organic. You are pushed into waves, told to “bend your knees,” and left to improve through repetition. Sōleïa takes a different approach with its Surf Progression System, teaching specifics like correct hand entry, the catch, pull and recovery, consistent pop-ups, and the four phases of a proper bottom turn. Every drill has a clear purpose, and each session builds on the last, so you know exactly what you’re working on and why.
3. Land-Based Training to Build Muscle Memory
Progress doesn’t only happen in the water. Wednesdays include a surfskate session at Amplitude, rehearsing turns and movement on land. It’s training that most casual surf camps skip, but one that coaches point to as making the difference between plateauing and progressing. Thursdays add pool practice, covering paddle training, board control and duckdiving in a controlled setting.
4. Video Analysis, Three Times a Week
It’s one thing to be told what you’re doing wrong. It’s another to see it. Sōleïa builds video analysis into the schedule three times a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. They use land, water and drone footage for an all-round view of your technique and every participant leaves with professional video edits showing their progress.
5. Apnea and Breathwork Training for Ocean Confidence
Confidence, not technique, is often what holds surfers back. Sōleïa’s apnea and breathwork workshops help you stay calm through wipeouts and hold-downs, conserve energy, and paddle back out with confidence. It’s things like this that set a proper surf academy in Bali apart from the standard surf camp.
6. Included Surf Trips Across Indonesia
Every month, the Academy runs a guided, coached surf trip to a different island, and these are built into the programme. Trips include Lombok’s quieter reef and point breaks, Nusa Lembongan‘s world-class reef breaks, and G-Land and Red Island in Java, home to one of the world’s most legendary left-handers. Being coached through different wave types and conditions is exactly the kind of accelerated learning a surf academy in Bali is meant to offer.
7. A Welcoming Built-In Community
Community is everything and at Sōleïa every intake is timed to finish together, whether you opt for the 4, 8 or 12 week program. This fosters a strong sense of community as participants share the final weeks of the programme and sit the ISA exam as a cohort. This is something past graduates consistently cite as a highlight. Saturday BBQ nights and a fully free Sunday reinforce this, and with groups staying small (around 12 people), coaches actually know each person’s name, level and progress.
8. An All-Inclusive Setup
Accommodation, airport transfers, a full surfboard quiver, rash guards, yoga six days a week, video edits, daily breakfast and a farewell party are all included in the programme price. You’re based in Canggu, walking distance from beaches, restaurants and nightlife. The only additional cost is the optional €675 ISA exam fee, which goes directly to the ISA presenter.
Want To Know More About Sōleïa Surf Academy in Bali?
If you’ve outgrown the surf camp stage and want something more serious, a surf academy in Bali is worth real consideration, and Sōleïa is one of the best.
Whether you’re a gap year traveller, taking a career break, or simply a surfer done plateauing, the Academy is designed to meet you where you are and take you to the next level. With programmes running 4, 8 or 12 weeks and an all-inclusive price, it’s a low-friction way to commit to serious progression.
If it sounds like the right fit, you can find full pricing, intake dates and booking details on Sōleïa’s Surf Academy page.
By the way: This post was written in partnership with Sōleïa’s Surf Academy
