5 Reasons Why Imagine Surf School Is the Best Surf School in Portugal

Portugal has many good surf schools, so saying that Imagine Surf School is “the best” is something I do with a little caution.

Surfing is not a competition between schools, and I do not believe we need to be the biggest to do a good job.

For me, being a great surf school means paying attention to people. It means making safe decisions, keeping groups small and adapting the lesson to the person standing in front of us.

It also means being honest. I cannot promise perfect waves or guarantee that everyone will stand up during their first lesson. The ocean does not work like that.

What I can explain is how we work and why so many people choose to surf with us.

What being “the best” means to me

Small groups, the right / safe decisions for the conditions, personal attention and giving each student enough time to learn, feel safe and actually enjoy being in the water.

1. We keep our groups small

A surf lesson is very different when one instructor has too many students to look after.

That is why our small-group surf lessons normally have a maximum of four or five adults per instructor.

For children under ten, we usually work with no more than three children per instructor. Depending on the children and the conditions, we may reduce that number even further.

This allows us to stay closer, correct mistakes more often and notice when someone is tired, nervous or simply needs a little more time.

It also means you are not waiting in the water for the instructor to finally look in your direction.

I have always wanted our lessons to feel personal. You should feel that the instructor knows your name, understands what you are trying to improve and is genuinely following your progress.

For anyone who wants individual support, our private surf lessons offer even more time with the instructor.

2. We take safety seriously

Catching a wave is exciting. But before that, you need to understand where you are, what the ocean is doing and how to use the equipment safely.

Every lesson starts on the beach with a warm-up, a short explanation of the conditions, safety rules and practice on the sand.

Before we enter the water, we look at:

The tide;
The wind;
The swell;
The currents;
The ability and confidence of each student.

Most of our surf lessons in Comporta take place at Praia do Pego (Pego Beach), where the school is based.

That does not mean Pego is suitable at every hour of every day. Sometimes we change the lesson time. Sometimes we move to a safer section of the beach. Occasionally, we need to postpone.

I would rather be honest and change the plan than take an unnecessary risk just because a lesson was already booked.

Our instructors are certified and trained in surf coaching and ocean safety. You can meet them on our team page.

All lessons also include insurance, a wetsuit and a board suited to your size and experience.

3. We adapt the lesson to you

Two students can have exactly the same level on paper and still need completely different lessons.

One person may understand the technique but feel nervous in the ocean. Another may be confident in the water but struggle with the take-off.

Children learn differently from adults. Someone surfing for the first time needs something different from a person who already catches waves independently.

That is why we do not teach everyone in exactly the same way.

Your experience	What we may focus on
First time surfing	Safety, board control, take-off and first waves
Beginner with some experience	Positioning, timing and choosing waves
Intermediate surfer	Reading the ocean, turns and progression
Advanced surfer	Technique, posture, rotations and wave analysis
Nervous student	Confidence, simple steps and closer support
Child	Safety, enjoyment and age-appropriate learning

We do not treat the lesson as a race to stand up.

Of course, standing up is a brilliant moment. But so is becoming less afraid of the ocean, learning to control the board or understanding why one wave is better than another.

Progress does not look the same for everyone.

Beginners can learn more about our beginner surf lessons, while more experienced students can continue through progression and advanced coaching.

4. We try to make surfing more inclusive and responsible

I never wanted Imagine Surf School to be a place only for confident athletes or people who already feel comfortable in the sea.

Surfing can be adapted. Teaching can be adapted. The level of support can be adapted.

Our adaptive surfing sessions are designed for people with physical or cognitive disabilities. We adjust the equipment, communication and assistance according to the person.

We have also worked with schools, municipalities and social organisations to bring children and young people closer to the ocean.

For me, this is not an extra project that sits separately from the school. It is part of what the school should be.

The same applies to the environment.

We spend almost every day on the beach, so it would be strange to teach surfing without also teaching respect for the place that makes it possible.

We encourage students to use the correct access paths, avoid walking over protected dunes, take their rubbish away and understand that the beach is a natural environment rather than just a playground.

Over the years, we have participated in beach clean-ups and environmental activities with children. We do not pretend that we do everything perfectly, but we try to make respect for the ocean part of the experience.

You can read more about our values and community work on our About Us page.

5. Our reviews say more than our advertising can

Imagine Surf School currently has a 5.0 rating on Google, based on more than 280 reviews.

I can tell you that we care about safety, small groups and personal attention, but I think our students explain it better than I ever could.

If you read our Google reviews, the same things come up again and again. People mention instructors who are patient, friendly and professional, who explain things clearly and keep a close eye on everyone in the water. Beginners often talk about feeling comfortable and confident, even when it is their first time surfing.

Safety is another point that appears regularly, particularly from parents and less experienced surfers. Several families mention how attentive the instructors were with their children, while others highlight the balance between feeling safe, learning and simply having a good time.

I also like seeing people talk about progress. Some caught their first waves with us, others improved their technique or returned to surfing after some time away. What matters is that the lesson adapts to the person in front of us rather than following exactly the same routine for everyone.

And then there are the simpler comments: great organisation, a welcoming team, good vibes, a beautiful beach and people saying they would come back. Some already have.

For me, that is what a good surf school should feel like. You should leave having learned something, feeling that someone was actually paying attention to you and, most importantly, wanting to get back in the water.

What to Expect from Your Surf Lesson

We want the experience to be simple from the moment you arrive. We provide the equipment, instruction and safety essentials, so you can focus on learning and enjoying the ocean.

Duration	Around two hours, including preparation
Group size	Up to 4-5 adults or three children under ten per instructor
Levels	Beginner, intermediate and advanced
Equipment	Surfboard, wetsuit and leash
Safety	Certified instructors and insurance
Main location	Praia do Pego, depending on conditions

You only need to bring swimming clothes, a towel, water, sunscreen and some willingness to learn.

We take care of the rest.

Ready to surf with us?

Explore our surf lesson options and prices or contact our team so we can help you choose the right experience.

Learn. Stay. Belong.

About the Author

Eduardo Ildefonso

Surf Instructor & Founder of Imagine Surf School

With more than 15 years of experience as a surfer, he created Imagine Surf School, dreaming of making a better world through surfing. For him, it´s more than just riding a wave. It´s a lifestyle. It´s becoming a better human being every day. In his lessons, you will have the opportunity to live and experience a total connection with the sea and with Nature.