NICE OF YOU TO DROP IN...

Surf Sanctuary is a bespoke surf and ocean adventure school based at The Headland Hotel on Fistral Beach, Newquay. From this vantage point over the Atlantic, we run surf, coasteering, snorkelling, spearfishing, stand up paddleboarding, Foil Drive training and ocean confidence sessions for individuals, families and small groups. There are no age limits, no ability thresholds and no fixed moulds you’re expected to fit.

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Established in 2014, Surf Sanctuary has quietly built a reputation around three things that actually matter: small ratios, experienced instructors and meaningful time in the right places. We keep student-to-coach numbers deliberately low, not as a marketing line but because it allows attention, judgement and adaptability when conditions or people change. The result is better learning, safer sessions and a calmer experience overall.

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The team at Surf Sanctuary have worked and surfed together for years. They bring depth rather than novelty; water sense rather than scripts. This shared experience translates into coaching that feels unforced and responsive, where decisions are made early and problems rarely escalate. Progress tends to happen naturally, and everyone tends to enjoy themselves in the process.

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Our base at The Headland Hotel gives us immediate access to Fistral Beach and uninterrupted views across to the Cribbar. Few surf schools operate from such a position, and fewer still use it as more than scenery. We are within walking distance of surf breaks, sheltered beaches, snorkelling and SUP routes, with no roads to cross and no logistical theatre to endure before getting into the water.

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Inside Surf Sanctuary you’ll find warm changing rooms, well-maintained equipment and a team who understand that comfort before and after the session matters just as much as what happens during it. We aim to remove friction wherever possible, so your energy is spent where it should be; in the ocean.

The aim is simple. To offer a start-to-finish surf and ocean experience that feels considered, well judged and tailored to you. Not bigger, louder or faster than it needs to be. Just done properly.