Group vs Private Surf Lessons in Lombok: Which One Gets You Standing Faster?

Every surf camp offers lessons, but the format varies enormously. At one end: large group lessons where one instructor oversees 8 to 10 students and your individual session is reduced to one wave every 20 minutes. At the other end: dedicated one-on-one instruction where every wave you catch is watched, every fall is analysed, and every session plan is built around your specific needs. DHM Surf Camp sits at the private end of this spectrum.

How Group Surf Lessons Work

A typical group lesson groups 5 to 10 students of similar skill levels with one or two instructors following a standardised curriculum. Instruction time per student is shared across the group. If there are 8 students, you receive roughly one-eighth of the instructor’s attention. Group lessons are affordable, usually 30 to 60 USD per session, and the social element is genuine.

How Private or Dedicated Coaching Works at DHM

DHM Surf Camp operates on a maximum ratio of one coach to two students. Your coach’s attention is entirely on you. In practical terms: your coach watches every wave you paddle for and catches (or misses). Every wipeout is diagnosed. Your session plan is customised before you enter the water and adjusted in real-time based on what is happening. Post-session video review is specific to your footage.

DHM guests on 5-day packages with dedicated coaching consistently report achieving in one week what previous group lessons over multiple holidays had not delivered. The article Why a Surf Camp Is the Best Way to Learn Surfing explains the science behind why a structured, coached camp environment accelerates progression so dramatically.

The Progression Speed Comparison

Day 1 to 2: Both Formats

The first session covers the same ground in either format: whitewater waves, pop-up practice, basic paddle mechanics. At this foundational stage, the difference between group and private is small. Both get you in the water and standing briefly by the end of day one.

Day 2 to 3: Where the Gap Opens

By day two and three, a private coaching relationship has produced specific diagnoses of each student’s issues. The instructor knows that Student A has a back foot placement problem and designs the session around correcting it. Student B has a paddle timing issue, and the coach positions them specifically on waves where this can be isolated and corrected. In a group context, the curriculum moves forward on a group timeline.

By End of Week

In a well-documented pattern at DHM, private coaching students are often at Outside Gerupuk or Mawi by end of week one, attempting turns on green wave faces. Group lesson students from the same starting point are typically still consolidating basic green wave riding.

Who Should Choose Each Format

Group Lessons Are Right For You If:

• You want a casual, social introduction to surfing with no specific progression goals.
• Budget is a hard constraint and you just want to experience ocean waves.
• You are on a group trip and want to learn together with friends.

Private or Dedicated Coaching Is Right For You If:

• You have tried group lessons before and plateaued.
• You have specific technical goals such as turns, reef breaks, or reading waves.
• You are an older beginner who wants a pace-controlled, non-competitive environment.
• You have limited time and want maximum progression from a 5 to 7 day camp.

Browse the current coaching options and book on the DHM Surf Camp packages page. If you are unsure which format is right for you, check the

FAQ page or reach out directly through the contact page.