All roles/Specialist crew/Surf Instructor
Specialist crew
Surf Instructor
A Surf Instructor coaches guests in the water, reads breaks and conditions, and runs safe surf sessions from the yacht's tenders, so the owner's surf trip delivers good waves without anyone getting hurt.
- Department
- Specialist crew
- Reports to
- Chief Officer / First Mate
- Yacht size
- 50m to 120m+
- Contract
- Seasonal, trip based or permanent
- Starting pay
- €3,500 per month
What the job is
You are the yacht's surf specialist. Owners and charter guests who chase waves in the Maldives, Indonesia, Fiji, Costa Rica or the Azores want someone who knows the breaks, can coach a nervous beginner and keep up with a strong surfer. You choose the spot, time the tide and swell, set up boards and leashes, and stay in the water with guests for every session. On most yachts you also help the deck team with tenders and toys.
Safety comes first. You brief guests on reef, currents and rip channels, decide when conditions are beyond someone's level, and work closely with the tender driver who sits outside the line-up. You carry out water rescues if needed and give first aid for reef cuts, which are common. You also look after the quiver: waxing, repairing dings, rinsing and storing boards, wetsuits, rash vests and reef boots so everything is ready for the next tide.
Full time surf roles exist mainly on large explorer yachts with owners who surf seriously. On smaller yachts the job is often combined with deckhand or watersports duties, or offered as a freelance contract for a single trip. The guests you coach may be children, beginners or experienced surfers, so you need to adjust your teaching and still keep the session fun. Discretion and good manners matter as much as your surfing.
What makes a good one
- Strong surfing in reef and beach breaks
- Clear coaching for all levels
- Reading swell, tide and wind
- Water rescue and first aid
- Board repair and equipment care
A day in the life
- 05:45Check the overnight swell, wind and tide forecasts and look at the nearest breaks from the bridge wing. Agree the morning plan with the Chief Officer.
- 06:30Load boards, leashes, rash vests, sunscreen, water and the first aid kit into the tender. Check the radio with the bridge.
- 07:15Run the dawn session at a right-hand reef break with two experienced guests. You surf with them, call sets and watch the line-up while the tender holds outside.
- 09:30Back on board, rinse and dry all equipment. Fix a small ding on a guest's board and report a cut foot to the Chief Officer after cleaning and dressing it.
- 11:00Beginner lesson for the owner's children on a soft-top at a sandy inside break. Short beach and in-water instruction, then pushing them into whitewater waves.
- 13:00Crew lunch, then help the deck team wash down the tender and refuel the jet skis.
- 15:30Afternoon session as the tide fills in. Film the guests from the tender so you can review their surfing with them later.
- 18:00Show guests clips on the aft deck and talk through the next day's swell and spot options with the Captain.
- 19:30Final equipment check, log the day's sessions and any incidents, then off watch.
Pay by country
Monthly crew salary on a 50m to 120m yacht, usually paid in EUR or USD. Freelance trip contracts are often paid as a day rate. Charter tips apply on charter yachts and can add significantly in a busy season.
- France and Monaco
- €3,500 – 5,000
- Spain
- €3,500 – 4,800
- Italy
- €3,500 – 4,800
- United Kingdom
- £3,000 – 4,300
- USA (Florida)
- US$3,800 – 5,500
- Caribbean
- US$3,800 – 5,500
- UAE
- AED 14,000 – 20,000
- Australia
- A$5,800 – 8,400
- New Zealand
- NZ$6,400 – 9,200
Required
- STCW Basic Safety Training
- ENG1 medical
- ISA Surf Instructor Level 1 or national equivalent
- Surf lifesaving or beach lifeguard award
- RYA Powerboat Level 2
Recommended
- ISA Surf Instructor Level 2
- RYA PWC
- Medical First Aid
- PADI Open Water Diver
- PDSD (Proficiency in Designated Security Duties)
- Efficient Deck Hand (EDH)
Visas
- Schengen
- US C1/D
- US B1/B2
- Australian MCV
Where it leads
Surf Instructor jobs open now
Questions crew ask
Do I need yachting experience to get a surf role?
It helps, but strong surf coaching credentials matter more for trip based roles. For permanent jobs, a season as a deckhand or watersports instructor makes you far easier to hire.
Will I surf every day?
Only when guests want to and conditions allow. On passages or flat days you work with the deck team on tenders, toys and maintenance.
Which surf qualification do captains look for?
An ISA Surf Instructor certificate or a national body award such as Surfing Australia or Surfing England, plus a current surf lifesaving or lifeguard award. Proof of coaching hours and video of your own surfing also help.