Blessed with swells 365 days a year, Bali is an amateur surfer’s dream.Technically, Nov-Apr is off-season, but we’ve been there in December and had a great time. While you can just rent a boogie board and wing it on your own, a few hours with an instructor can save you a lot of frustration.

Pick the Right Beach
Surf schools are abundant on the island, ranging from those run by iconic surf labels like Quiksilver to local family-run operations. Try to steer clear of schools in Kuta Beach, though, as the waves there can be a little too rough for beginners—not to mention the crowds of rowdy tourists. Head instead to the more forgiving and more mellow Legian Beach, also known as Double Six, where well-established schools by Quiksilver and Rip Curl are located.

What Your Money Gets You
If you’re on a budget, opt for locally operated schools like Double D and Odyssey Surf School (see Essentials). Surf brand giants like Quiksilver Surf School offers a 2.5-hour lesson at US$39 (B1,200), though it’s cheaper to buy a package (US$100 for 7.5 hours over the course of three days). Rip Curl School of Surf, on the other hand, charges almost double the price (starting from B2,250), but you do get a well-equipped facility and nice little perks like a transfer to surf at a less crowded spot, a towel and even some sunscreen. Most places will also provide you with a rashguard, but make sure to wear board shorts long enough to cover the knees. Trust us, you want to keep nasty board rash to a minimum.

Just One More Wave, Dude
Regardless of where you’re enrolled, the first lesson usually covers basics like ocean safety, surfboard anatomy, how to lie down and how to pop up on the board. After practicing on the beach, you’ll be paired with a sturdy beginner’s board—with a soft top—and then led into the ocean where the fun really begins. Standing up may be the Holy Grail for novices, but the real challenge, as you’ll soon discover, is trying to brave the oncoming breaking waves with a cumbersome 9-foot board beside you. And most of the time, you’ll be riding mushy whitewater straight back to the beach. As tedious as it may seem, once you’ve ridden one wave all the way through, the sensation is unbeatable. Ask any surfer about the infamous “just one more wave” syndrome.

Like any other sport, surfing takes a lot of practice. Wipeouts are inevitable, and you simply won’t learn without inhaling and swallowing some saltwater in the process. If you just want to have fun, one lesson should give you enough basics to catch a few waves. Those aspiring to master fancy moves like duck diving and bottom turning are best off taking a continuous course. Make sure to allow yourself at least one rest day after a lesson, though, because as effortless as it looks, surfing is a very intense workout, using muscles you never knew you had.

Surfing in Thailand
While it’s pretty much flat half the time, Phuket turns into a temporary surfers’ playground during the monsoon season (May-Oct). Surin, Kamala and Kata are all rideable, but Kalim and Nai Harn are the top spots. Beginners should look for a school at Kata, where rides are fairly short. Andaman Sea Surf (Taweewong Rd., Patong Beach. www.andamanseasurf.com. Contact Day at 089-9732161 or [email protected]) offers a one-on-one lesson (3 hours/day or 1 hour/3 days) for B2,800, or, if you're hoping to turn pro, go for the one-week package (B8,150), which includes lessons, room and airport transfer.

SURG SCHOOLS 
Odyssey. Jl Pantai Kuta. Kuta. www.odysseysurfschool.com
Quiksilver Surf School. Jl. Pantai Legian Kaja (next to Jayakarta Hotel), +62 361 731 078. www.quiksilversurfschoolbali.com
Rip Curl School of Surf. Jl. Arjuna, Kuta, +62 361 735 858. www.ripcurlschoolofsurf.com
Double D. Double Six Street, Seminyak Beach. www.surfschoolbali.com

GETTING THERE
Air Asia (www.airasia.com) flies to Bali daily. Rates start from B1,990 one-way.
A roundtripticket from THAI Airways (www.thaiairways.com) is from B18,454.

VISA
No visa required for Thai nationals. Some 30 countries are eligible for a visa on arrival (US$25) that can be purchased at the airport immigration counter. Details at www.indo.com/tplan/visa.html