What is Dedicated Surf Coaching? Why DHM’s Model Gets Results

The word coaching in surf instruction is used loosely. At most surf schools, a single instructor supervises 6 to 10 students simultaneously, watching from the beach, occasionally shouting corrections, distributing attention across a group whose needs are entirely different from one another. This is group supervision, not coaching.

DHM Surf Camp in Kuta Lombok operates differently. The maximum ratio is one coach per two students. For students with specific requirements, one-on-one instruction is standard.

For an overview of DHM Surf Camp’s full offering including accommodation, packages, and the coaching philosophy, start with our main camp guide: DHM Surf Camp Lombok: Ride the Waves of Paradise.

The Problem with Group Surf Lessons

Consider what is happening in a typical group lesson of 8 students. Student A has a back foot placement issue. Student B has a paddle timing problem. Student C is fine technically but panics in the wave and abandons the ride early. Student D’s pop-up is good but their stance is too narrow. Student E has none of these problems and is ready to progress to more challenging waves.

One instructor cannot address all five different issues simultaneously. The lesson follows a generic curriculum that helps the average student at the average issue. By the end of the week, everyone has improved slightly. Nobody has been coached.

Our article Why Surf Camps Are the Best Way to Learn and Travel explains the broader research behind why a structured camp environment with personalised instruction accelerates surf progression so dramatically compared to self-directed learning or generic group lessons.

How Dedicated Coaching Works at DHM

The Initial Briefing

Every guest at DHM begins with a detailed briefing: a structured conversation about your surf history, your physical condition, any injuries or limitations, your specific goals for the stay, and your anxiety level around ocean conditions. From this information, your coach builds an initial session plan customised to your profile.

Maximum 1:2 Coach-to-Student Ratio

With two students maximum per coach, the attention allocation is fundamentally different from group instruction. Your coach watches every wave you paddle for. They see the wave you caught, the way you popped up, the balance adjustment you made, and the reason you fell. Feedback is immediate: a hand signal in the water can correct positioning in real time. Post-set feedback gives specific technical correction.

Video and Photo Analysis

After each session, DHM coaches conduct video and photo review with their students. You watch yourself surf. Not a highlight reel: the full session including the falls, the awkward stands, and the rare moments where everything works. Surfers who have been told look forward, not down for three consecutive sessions and have not changed their habit often watch the video and immediately see themselves looking down in every wave, every time. The correction becomes self-evident.

The DHM Guest Experience in Practice

Javier, the owner of DHM, described the model in a recent conversation: ‘We differentiate from competitors through our expertise. One-on-one dedicated coaching: that is what we call it. Other surf camps offer group surfing. Basically, we have a briefing and through that we get to know the person and decide who needs special attention, who needs to be with only one coach. Maximum two people per coach, no more than that.’

The coaches are local Sasak surfers who have been surfing Kuta Lombok’s breaks for a decade or more. To get a sense of who they are, visit the Meet Our Team page.

Who Benefits Most from DHM’s Model

• Beginners who have tried group lessons and plateaued: you need individual diagnosis, not generic instruction.
• Intermediate surfers with specific technical goals such as turns, reef break comfort, or reading waves.
• Older beginners (35 and above) who need a patient, non-competitive coaching relationship without pressure.
• Guests with physical conditions or injuries requiring adapted technique.
• Advanced surfers who want performance-focused coaching targeting specific manoeuvres.

Ready to experience the difference that dedicated coaching makes? Browse the current packages on the DHM Surf Camp packages page and see the FAQ for answers to common questions before booking.