My 6 year old went to Makos surf camp for spring break and had an incredible experience! She had never surfed before but was standing up on a board, having a blast, on the first day. By the end of the week, she was confident on the surfboard and in the ocean. The instructors are awesome with kids; encouraging and positive. They reapply sunscreen throughout the day and there are plenty of options for the kids to rest and do other water/ beach activities if they get tired of surfing. We will definitely keep Makos in our camp rotation ! read more

Tom was wonderful and got my 7 year old son in for a surf lesson same day. He then paired him with a young man named Miller for the lesson. It was the perfect pairing. My son trusted him immediately. My son till two weeks prior was scared of the ocean and would not step near it. Miller made him comfortable and was playful with him. He was a great teacher and you can tell he really cared. I would highly recommend Mako Surf Club for lessons. Its a great location for learning and Tom and his team are so great. I thought they were especially safe and great with kids. Miller was so lovely to my son and even played soccer with him after the lesson. It was very generous and sweet. My son will have a core memory about this, I know it! We will for sure be using them again too. read more

Malibu Makos Surf Club - Surfing Near Me - Malibu, California

This place is amazing! Great instructors and Tom is incredibly communicative. We have booked even more lessons with Mikey and will be going to their surf camp. Thank you all for showing my son all of the joy that surfing brings. read more

Best surf lessons and kids' surf camp ever. This guy--Tom--has got it down. He's been doing it for years and has all the kinks worked out. Book a lesson on their site, show up, they'll find a wetsuit and board for your kid, and bam--it's all happening. Next thing you know, you're shooting videos on your phone of your kid standing up on their board... All the instructors are warm, friendly and easygoing. Tom is fantastic. Kid's gonna starve? They'll order lunch. Kid's gonna fry in the sun? They got serious sunscreen. Seriously, just stop. Stop searching. You've found the best surf school. Wish everything in life were this well-operated. read more

My 12 year old daughter has used Makos Surf Club for 3 years. We tend to go out 1-2 a week. The owner Tom is a superb business person and always ensures we have a great instructor. The service Makos offers is 5 star. We love the Zuma Beach location and my 12 year old daughter has become very comfortable in the ocean and riding waves. The memories Makos provides is unbeatable! Thank you Tom! read more

I cannot praise this camp and surf school enough. My teenage nieces and nephew came from the east coast to visit me this summer. They really wanted to learn how to surf. So I enrolled them for private lessons for one day just to try it their experience was amazing so we booked for the next day to. Daniel and Jerry did such an amazing job with them, the kids felt like they had two new friends. If they were here for the summer I would definitely enroll them in Surf Camp, I was watching the instructors out there with camp kids and I was blown away be how well they were doing also. But if you can only do the private lessons for a day it is well worth it. read more

If you want to learn to surf, whether for a one time experience or for a lifetime of fun. This is the place to go. I took my son here in the early summer for some private lessons and are still continuing to do so. He has fallen in love with the sport and cannot get enough of it. Mostly due to the instructors at this school. He has worked with a few different ones and has loved them all. They are all top notch professional people who make sure you learn and have a great time out in the water. The school provides everything you need to go out and have a blast at ANY age. read more

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MALIBU MAKOS Surf Club is the BEST surf camp around...hands down! This is another business where I want to give more then 5 stars! I happen to be a BIG fan of this very special Surf Camp. My oldest son Everett has been surfing there for 6 years now and he loves it! He actually can't wait to go each year. He has improved so much with the help of the amazing staff. He has always been safe there, it's a high priority for the staff and as a parent, I really appreciate that. I will have to gush a bit now about how great the camp counselors, staff and owners truly are. Tom Corliss is the man who founded Malibu Makos. He is always there and I like that he takes the time to interact with all of the kids. I have had some fun conversations with him as well-he is funny! You can see that Tom loves what he does and I see that a lot of the kids at camp joke around with him, and like to be around him. He has done an an excellent job of hiring great teams every year who are pros that truly give their all to the kids at camp. They are dedicated, playful, patient, energetic and caring. The counselors really get these kids excited to be up on their surfboards and they do it safely and with positive attitudes & helpful feedback. Malibu Makos is the ONLY surfing school permitted and licensed by the LA County Dept of Beaches & Harbors. They have many experienced Life Guards, Pro Surf instructors and educators who are committed to having fun, being safe and they will provide you and your family with the BEST surfing experience you could ask for. Since 1991, they have offered surf camps for kids ages 5-17 on the beautiful beaches of ZUMA. (the beach is awesome!) All equipment is provided, transportation is available for a fee, and the instructors are so great with the kids of all ages...why wouldn't you want to be there? By the way, they have PIZZA on the beach for the kids...and deliver good food as well. (I want to go there, but my son would be horrified-ha!) So...as a parent-I like to arrive to Makos a little early (pickup is 2:30-3) so I can see my son surf. It's fun to watch the kids surfing and I look for my son catching the waves. It's a peaceful, stunning view and I feel very lucky that we found this wonderful, and impressive surf camp. They have it dialed in! It runs smoothly and efficiently. Also, they make Surf Lessons available YEAR ROUND! They teach private and group surf lessons to kids and adults and they truly try to educate students on ocean safety, environmental awareness and coastal marine species. All instructors are CPR and first aid certified, insured and permitted and have up to date police reference checks. Malibu Makos is a great company! They also has PRIVATE EVENTS as well! If you are looking to host a fun corporate event, private birthday party, or beach party then you should come to their prime location on Zuma Beach and plan your event! They offer a wide variety of food options and tents, tables, surfing equipment, transportation and instructors are provided! His instructors will be positive, patient and experienced. They will teach you how to start in basics and you can watch your skills grow and soon you will be catching epic waves and you won't be able to wipe that smile off you face! Malibu Makos 310-317-1229 info@malibumakos.com Lifeguard Tower #16 30600 Pacific Coast Hwy Malibu, CA 90265 HAPPY SURFING! read more

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Such a fantastic camp! I sent my young sons here for the week and the older was standing on waves by mid week (my younger said he preferred party waves and boogie boarding) but I love that they had different preferences on activities and both still came home so happy, so exhausted, covered in sunblock (they didn't burn at all after a full week in August which shows how careful the counselors were), full of stories about new friends and their counselors. The bus was very convenient, as was the lunch you can purchase daily. Both kids loved the lunches. I was so worried about the safety of a beach camp for young kids and picked up at the beach one day to see it and there were tens of huge beach umbrellas set up so that each kid had a shaded area to rest in, all the counselors were super engaged and when I arrived and asked a random counselor with another group of kids where I could find my sons, they knew exactly where they were immediately! I'm so impressed by this camp and so excited for the boys to go back next year! read more

Great consistent and safe surfing instruction, we've been going there for about a decade so far! What ever your skill level or your age, you're sure to have a great time! I was looking for a surf school for my daughter back when she was in 6th grade and she got hooked on surfing at a school surf trip with the county, but I needed to find surf school available to the public. After doing research, I tried out Malibu Makos, and we never looked back! Over the years we've had epic surf birthday parties, group lessons for family, and because of our schedule, my daughter who is now in college, still does private lessons each summer at our convenience as we have done for the last decade. (It's so fun to see the younger kids at the camp having a blast!) Tom the owner and his son are great, and each instructor is highly qualified and so enthusiastic, always a great experience. The section of the beach he has his camp and does private lessons is not over crowded, you won't feel intimidated. We always make a day of it and feel like we went on a vacation for the day! I highly recommend Malibu Makos! read more

Malibu Makos Surf Club - Surf day at Malibu Makos, July 2022! - Surfing Near Me - Malibu, California

My 5 year old son loves this camp!!! I love the flexibility of drop in days, the coaches are great with the kids, and they 100% reapply sunscreen during the day. I have a feeling this will become a summer ritual! read more

Five plus stars! Incredible experience! My daughter participated in surf camp this summer and gained confidence, strength, and skill in the water! All instructors she worked with were great. They provide wet suits and boards. The camp is very well organized and a lot of fun, while teaching real skills. Tom and his team were friendly, approachable, and professional. Very highly recommended! read more

This is the best surf camp we have tried in the area! Tom and his staff are great-very professional. Both my kids are having a great time learning to surf! The shuttle service they use is amazing as well! read more

We are from Texas and my kids have never touched a surf board. They were hesitant and scared of sharks when we dropped them off, but then they met some instructors during check in and the fun began. Some cool people taught them how to pick out and out on a wetsuit and apparently the highlight was learning how to dive through waves, boogie boarding, and surfing. We are going to make an annual trip to California for this camp because my boys loved it so much! Thank you! read more

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This is the BEST CAMP EVER. The staff and Tom are such a positive group for the kids and make them all feel special. It is hours and hours of pure fun and water safety. This is also a camp that gives back to under privileged kids read more

I have a special needs son and Tom was absolutely wonderful along with Chase great instruction!

One of the best things we've done as a family. Makos provided Joe to teach the 4 of us how to boogie board (body board), me, my husband, our 10 year old, and our 7 year old. He was phenomenal! We all had an amazing time, learned how to have fun on the board, and walked away with good safety information about rip currents to boot. They provided the wet suits and boards. Highly recommended. read more

Booked private lessons three days in a row in June 2017. Tom assigned me to Daniel, who was phenomenal. Super patient, super helpful by providing just one or two specific things to work on. The teaching style is like training wheels - if you need the help, the instructors will body surf on the tail of the board to stabilize it. Makes getting up so much easier and builds confidence in a hurry. I've been to surf lessons in a bunch of places over the years and this was hands down my favorite experience. On my last day two of my colleagues joined me and they worked with Sam and Joe, both of whom were also awesome. Both of my colleagues mentioned after the session that, because of the method, they basically caught every wave possible. I don't get to Malibu very often but I am definitely coming back here any time I can. read more

My kids have been going to Malibu Makos for over 10 years ... I can not believe the level of Fun and Professionalism that continues year after year ..! Keep It Up Tom. Your doing something Right .. read more

Malibu Makos is one of the best summer experiences my daughter has had. The instructors are so experienced, fun and create such a fun environment. She tried the camp for the first time last summer and has been talking about going all year. Tom runs a truly amazing program!! We also used him for private surf lessons when we had family in town and the instructor he provided was fantastic. read more

My 11 year old son and 7 year old daughter took surf lessons here. They provide everything you need. Just show up w bathing suit. Couldn't have been easier. Parents can take lessons or just relax on beach. Great staff! Everybody so helpful. Instructor was professional, encouraging and fun! Children were stoked! So laid back. So easy! read more

Malibu Makos Surf Club - Surfing Near Me - Malibu, California

The customer service at this establishment was excellent. We had an unusual circumstance and they bent the rules in order to accommodate us. I would definitely recommend this company to anyone who values customer service! read more

Tom is very knowledgeable and provided my boyfriend and I with a topnotch instructor. We will continue do do private lessons with this company read more

My dad, brother in law and boyfriend had a 1.5 hour surf session this past weekend and have not stopped talking about what an amazing experience it was for them. Skyler was an absolute hit when they got back and they would not stop raving about him. He gave them the tools they needed to stand up on a wave and my dad loves the surf terminology he uses being from Chicago!!! We recommend Tom and team to anyone in the area looking for a lesson!!! Thank you for teaching the mid westerners a little something about the west coast! read more

The best camp ever. My nieces have been going to Malibu Makos surf camp for 3 years. They finally convinced my 8 year old son to try it. I signed him up for 3 weeks as a trial run. Omg, he loved it. The program is AMAZING! They had him surfing in no time. He loved it so much that we ended up doing his birthday party with the MAKOS. Tom, the owner, did a great job with the special event. All the kids got lessons and were in the water for over 2 hours, non-stop surfing. We got the package that included the food (gluten free options are available). All of the kids that attended said that it was the " BEST PARTY EVER". Tom also gave my son a super pair of Hoven sunglasses as a b-day gift. How cool is that. The team of counselors/instructors are the best. Very attentive and knowledgeable. My son only wants to go to Malibu Makos camp next summer and we'll be doing private lessons throughout the year. I highly recommend Malibu Makos. read more

Tom and his crew of lifeguards and instructors are amazing. We stopped by for a private surf lesson for my husband and the lesson was awesome. Professional, personal and generous with time - we'd absolutely come back again. Book a lesson! read more

Malibu Makos Surf Club - Surfing Near Me - Malibu, California

Love all the instructors and the owner is incredibly attentive, professional and kind. My sons had a blast! Thank you Makos! We'll be back!!

Wow, what a day Tom and his team organized..! As part of my sister's bachelorette party we booked a private party event with Malibu Makos Surf Camp. Tom was really service-minded and professional. On the day of the party we met at Zuma beach and they had organized a tent, beach chairs, a whole lot of chilled drinks to help ourselves to as well as a delicious (and very generous!) lunch we devoured after the surfing. We had such a AWESOME time, the surfing instructors are all lifeguards and so good at what they do, I think almost everyone stood up on the surf board on the first try! A shout out to the whole crew that really made my sister-s bachelorette party such an awesome day, we had a blast! Really recommend Malibu Makos Surf Camp - they are the best! read more

I was recommended this place by a friend. They are located at Zuma beach close to where I live with my family. My kids like to attend Makos summer camp as they are eager to learn how to surf with experienced instructors and if you need a transportation they stay on top of everything and take care of it asap. Makos is an amazing surfing camp and great location. read more

Malibu Makos Surf Club - Surfing Near Me - Malibu, California

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Attended surf lessons with Tom and his crew. Very informative about the safety of the ocean, and how to respect it before going out. Great step by step guidance and leadership from the Malibu Makos Team! I highly recommend anyone of any skill level to contact them to surf some waves !!!! read more

Loved this place. Roman, Alex, Tyler, and bearded Tyler were the best! Definitely will be going back soon read more

Malibu Makos Surf Club - Surfing Near Me - Malibu, California

Awesome team! Instructor was very good, patient, helpful, and got us all up on the board surfing a few waves. They let us keep using the boards and wetsuits after the lesson. Some instructors in the water even gave us some tips passing by. Great experience! read more

Five stars is not enough for Tom and his crew. I have never given a yelp review before, but created an account just to review this place. We flew in from New Jersey and had never surfed before. The instructors (Kale and Eric) were fantastic. Truly a well run, caring operations that I would enthusiastically recommend to anyone that wants to learn to surf and spend quality time with the family! read more

We booked a surf lesson for our 11-year-old son on Thanks Giving Friday. Thursday was pretty windy, and we haven't been sure, whether the lesson could take place. But Tom communicated with us multiple times via text about the weather conditions, and this on Thanks Giving day! Eventually, he gave the green light. My son's coach was John, and he did a great job teaching my son the technique, but more importantly to adjust to my son's skill level. He could get up and surf pretty fast and was absolutely pumped about the 90 min he spent with the coach. We can highly recommend the surf lessons with Makos. read more

I love Malibu Makos. I love Tom and all the instructors. His program is great. They teach the kids safety, awareness and how to surf, boogie board, body surf and have fun. They are constantly checking and making sure the kids have sunscreen on, name roll and if any rip currents calling the kids out of the water. And did I mention the luxury buses they ride in. We started with Tom when my middle daughter was 4-1/2 years old. She was the youngest they took at that time. But I had assured him that she was a strong swimmer. Now 5 years later and all three of my kids go. The best place to spend the summer. I have recommended him to so many of my friends and to their friends too. Everybody loves what he has to offer. read more

Anytime I would consider leaveing my children with any type of instructor i always would speak to students & parents past,with that said i discovered someone who was always spoken highly of not just past cutomers but peers as well Lifeguards ,firefighters,local police & sheriffs who patrol & keep our beaches safe all spoke highly of this surf camp & Tom corless & staff .The ocean is no joke i knew this from serving 6 years in the navy never underestimate the power of it ,, Its also the most beautiful thing that we as humans are blessed to enjoy. My Twin boys learned to surf, swim ,respect, & last but not least have fun! Tom & his staff we awesome from drop off to pick up ,the most respectful professional surf camp in LA. and so cal . This is the only camp i would endorse read more

If your child loves the ocean, there is no better option for summer camp than Malibu Makos! Inexpensive, convenient transportation, flexible schedule, friendly and helpful staff - and, most importantly, tons of fun! Our son absolutely loved spending summer with Tom and his crew. And the end-of-summer BBQ events for the whole family are always wonderful! Give it a try and you, too, will become a Malibu Makos fan for life. read more

All 3 of my kids have gone to Malibu Makos for years and they have created the best memories because of it. We love Tom and the whole Makos Crew. read more

My daughter has participated in Malibu Makeos camp for the past 3 summers and absolutely LOVES it! My daughter is a child who sings, dances, swims, and is very active in theater.. and every summers asks to attend this camp and no other camp for the summer! She hangs up all the other hobbies to participate in her favorite summer activity- surfing! My daughter gains confidence, strength, and skill in her surfing abilities each summer at this camp. Tom, the owner and founder of the camp, runs a tight ship and is extremely organized with running the camp. Tom, and all of his surf instructors, love what they do and are super passionate about surfing. They are all an awesome staff- super friendly, helpful, professional, and knowledgeable. Safety is their number one priority. They provide wet suits and boards. The camp is very well organized and a ton of fun, while teaching real skills. Malibu Makeos camp provides transportation from all over LA County and Ventura County to make sure geography is no barrier from children being able to attend this incredible camp. I cannot say enough great things about Malibu Makeso Surf Camp!! I recommend this outstanding camp to any child who wishes to learn how to surf and wants to have a fun time while doing so! read more

My son has spent the summer the last couple years with the Makos. They are awesome. It's, by far, the best, and most unique, summer camp experience you can get for you kids. It's phenomenally safe, but at the same time allows kids to explore and learn and push themselves. All the locals use Makos for their kids and many are now second generation. You can't go wrong with them. read more