Hilton Head Surf Lessons and Surf Shops
Surfing in Hilton Head means small, gentle waves and warm water: where to take a lesson, rent a board and shop for surf gear.
Book Hilton Head Surf Lessons and Rentals
Live availability for surf lessons, camps and surfboard rentals. Booking opens here on HHI.com, with the operator’s own booking system.
Hilton Head Outfitters - Bike Rental
Surfboard / Paddleboard Rental
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Surfing on Hilton Head
The surf on Hilton Head is usually small and gentle, which makes it a good place to learn. There is no big Atlantic swell here, so beginners stand up on soft, rolling waves in warm water, and most lessons and rentals start on the south-end beaches by Coligny and Forest Beach. Bigger days come with a passing storm or a hurricane swell, and a lifeguard flag tells you when to stay out. For other ways to play in the waves, see our Hilton Head water sports guide.
Surf Lessons and Camps
Surf lessons book online, and the three schools below each teach a little differently. Surfboards, bodyboards and paddleboards also rent by the day for those who would rather go on their own. Our beach guides show where to park and where the lifeguards are.
Read the guideBook a lesson or rental
Private surf lessons, plus surfboard, bodyboard and paddleboard rentals delivered along with its bikes.
136 Beach City Rd. (843) 384-3727.
Read the guideCaptain Byron Sewell teaches surfing to all ages, and runs summer surf and adventure camps for 8- to 18-year-olds on the beach.
Shelter Cove Marina.
Read the guideSurfboard and paddleboard rentals alongside its kayak and paddle trips.
Shelter Cove Harbour.
Hilton Head Surf Shops
For a board, a rash guard, swimwear or a souvenir shirt, the island’s surf shops are in the beach neighborhoods near Coligny. Quiet Storm Hilton Head, in Coligny Plaza, is the island store of a surf shop chain that began in Ocean City, Maryland, in 1983.
Read the guideSurfboards, skimboards and skateboards, plus surfwear, swimwear, hats and shirts from surf brands and its own label, in Coligny Plaza.
1 N Forest Beach Dr.
Visit Website ↗A Pope Avenue beach shop with surfboards, beach gear and bike and chair rentals.
77 Pope Ave.
Visit Website ↗A surf and skate shop with skimboards, bodyboards and delivered paddleboard rentals.
1032 William Hilton Pkwy. (843) 247-0004.
Visit Website ↗A small shop at the Beach Club for sunscreen, flip-flops and beachwear.
87 N Sea Pines Dr.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you surf on Hilton Head?
Yes. The waves are usually small and gentle, so Hilton Head suits beginners, and lessons and board rentals are available from several shops. Larger surf arrives with storms, when the lifeguards fly warning flags.
Where can I take surf lessons on Hilton Head?
Forest Beach Surf & Cycle gives private surf lessons, and Native Son Adventures teaches surfing and runs summer surf and adventure camps for ages 8 to 18. Lessons book online on this page.
Can I rent a surfboard on Hilton Head?
Yes. Forest Beach Surf & Cycle rents surfboards, bodyboards and paddleboards and delivers them to your rental, and Soul SUP rents skimboards and bodyboards.
Where is the surf shop near Coligny Beach?
Quiet Storm Surf Shop is at 1 N Forest Beach Dr, Unit 107, a short walk from Coligny Beach Park. Beach and Surf Depot is on Pope Avenue nearby.
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