- Wave height
- 1.3 m
- Period
- 9.4 s
- Sea temp
- 29.5°C
- Swell from
- SSW
The surf school
The sea keeps the notes.
We translate.
Soft sand bottom, a gentle beach break, and two patient instructors who make every session safe and fun, even if you've never swum before.
Two ways in
Wherever you are,
the ocean has a next step.
- 01
Private Session
Up to 90 minutes · max 2 surfers
One instructor and no more than two surfers, so nobody waits their turn. This is the one for fast-tracking. Every wave gets watched, every mistake gets named while you can still feel what caused it. Ideal if you want personalised feedback rather than encouragement shouted from thirty metres away.
₹2,000per person
- 02
Group Session
Up to 90 minutes · small group
Learn in a fun, social setting with a small group. Great for families or friends who want to experience the thrill of surfing together. Group sizes are capped deliberately, so you still get proper coaching and not a headcount.
₹1,500per person
Prices exclude GST, which is added at the applicable rate.
Beginner-friendly · board included · beach transfer included · max five per instructor
One morning, start to finish
This is what your first
lesson actually looks like.
What's included
Bring sunscreen.
That's the list.
Everything else is ours. Turn up in something you don't mind getting wet and we'll handle the rest.
- Surfboard
- Rashguard
- Beach pick-up & drop-off
- Instructor from an SFI-accredited school
- Safety briefing on the sand
Your morning
Ninety minutes is the whole lesson.
Nothing about it is a surprise, which is rather the point. Here is exactly how it goes.
07:30
Leave the house
Boards loaded, transfer to the beach. Included in the lesson price.
08:00
Twenty minutes on the sand
Warm-up, pop-up technique, paddle technique, and individual corrections. Even the pros warm up on land, the best sessions start before anyone gets wet.
08:20
Seventy minutes in the water
Catching waves, with your instructor in the water beside you the whole time. Max chest-height, sand bottom, nobody watching you fall.
After
Chai with our favourite chechi
Where the whole Varkala surf community gathers to review the waves of the day. This part is not on the schedule and it is the best part.
Kids
They're going to love this.
We teach kids from age seven. Lessons run in calm, waist-to-chest-height water on a soft sand bottom, no experience needed, and non-swimmers are absolutely welcome. One parent or guardian should be on the beach during the session. Safety comes first. Fun comes a very close second.
Ask about kids' lessons
Board rental
Already surf?
Take one out.
Soft-tops, funboards and shortboards. Ding repair on the bench out back. We've fixed most of what the rocks can do.
Not sure which beach to take it to? Our guide to surfing in Varkala goes through the breaks from Kappil to Papanasam.
Rentals & ding repair2 hours
₹1,000
Half day
₹1,500
Full day
₹2,000
Prices exclude GST, which is added at the applicable rate.
A known name here
before the door opened.
Kuma Surf School was running well before the guesthouse. Already a name up and down Varkala. Two young, patient instructors take small groups into the water and keep every session safe and fun. And on a good day, Kuma himself jumps in and teaches, which is exactly as good as it sounds.
The school is accredited by the Surfing Federation of India, and Kuma himself holds ISA/ILS aquatic rescue and water-safety certification for surf and SUP instructors.
While you're wondering
The questions everyone asks.
I've never surfed. Can I learn here?
Edava is one of the friendliest places in India to learn: sand bottom, gentle beach break, no crowd watching you fall. First-timers usually stand in their first lesson.
Do I need to be a swimmer to surf?
No. You don't need to be a strong swimmer, or a swimmer at all. Lessons run in max chest-height water on a sand bottom, and your instructor is in the water with you the whole time. If you can wade in, you can surf.
Is Kuma an accredited surf school?
Yes. Kuma is accredited by the Surfing Federation of India for 2026, certificate SFI-KL-26-SS-009. SFI is India's national surfing federation, recognised by the International Surfing Association, and it renews accreditation every year. Hareesh, who founded Kuma, also holds ISA/ILS aquatic rescue and water-safety certification for surf and SUP instructors, from the International Surfing Association and the International Life Saving Federation.
What do I need to bring to a surf session?
Nothing. Board, rashguard and the beach transfer are all included. Bring sunscreen, a bottle of water and good energy.
How old do kids need to be?
We teach from age seven, in calm waist-to-chest-height water on a soft sand bottom. Non-swimmers are welcome. One parent or guardian should be on the beach during the session.
How do I get to the beach from the house?
Edava beach is about 50 metres away, a two-minute walk. For lessons we run a beach transfer anyway, and it's included in the price.
More on surfing at Edava
Ninety minutes, board and rashguard included, with beach pick-up. Beginners welcome.
Never surfed? Non-swimmers welcome, chest-height water, kids from age seven.
An SFI-accredited school at Edava beach. Small groups and soft-top boards.
The breaks from Kappil and Edava to Papanasam, who each suits, and rip current safety.
Month by month: clean-wave odds, wind and water temperature, from the October to April season to the monsoon.
Soft-tops, funboards and shortboards, by two hours or the day. Ding repair quoted on inspection.
Pop-up practice in a line on the sand, then a first ride in the whitewater with instructors close by.