With both our flagship South Africa Surf Instructor course and our Sri Lanka Surf Academy offering the same qualification, you may be wondering which course is right for you?
So let’s break it down, comparing all the key features of an ultimate life-changing experience to help you decide which suits what you want from your surf instructor course and adventure. Have a read, check out the experience pages and then get in contact if you have any other questions.
South Africa v Sri Lanka – The Showdown
Food
Sashimi time
They say the best way to a person’s heart is through their stomach and the same rings true to most surfers. After spending all day paddling, riding and getting your stoke on you’ll need to make sure that you’re well fuelled. Fortunately for you, when it comes to food in SA and Sri Lanka you’re pretty spoilt for choice.
With SA’s food add-on pack (5 dinner and 7 breakfasts per week) you’ll be well fed on a variety of dishes from BBQ to curry and there is a huge food movement happening in Cape Town right now with heaps of incredible restaurants walking distance from our base. Also, local Biltong (similar to beef jerky) is possibly the best thing edible on the planet for carnivores and all of the above can be washed down with some beautiful South African wine.
Sri Lanka isn’t caught short on the food front either, the world renowned Curries blew the socks off famous Chef Marko Pierre-White and they are more than likely to be a firm favourite on your weekly menu which includes daily breakfast and five evening meals (excluding the Hill Country week which is just breakfast as we are on the move quite a bit).
The local diet has been developed by taking influence from colonisers and immigrants, so meals can have a European feel (pastries, afternoon cakes) with Asian flavours (curried fish puff anyone?) but the Sri Lankan staple condiment is spice, coming in all forms. So if you’re palette is on the more sensitive side, when ordering food ask for no spice as this will always have a bit of a kick to it.
Strangely enough curries are eaten more often than not in the morning and at lunchtime, but this can work if it’s post surf and will definitely encourage that afternoon nap. There’s a lot of Western influence growing on the food scene these days in Sri Lanka and you will get a lot of bang for your buck. A decent pizza will cost you around £2.50, Burger about the same and if you’re keeping it local you can expect to have five veggie curries with either fish or chicken and rice for £1.50. Unfortunately there’s only a couple of beers available in the whole country Lion goes down well, however you’ll probably find yourself addicted to the sweet nectar of steaming hot milk tea – perfect post-meal or pre/post surf.
Accommodation
TTR Surf House, home away from home
A good nights sleep is always key to a good surf session too and both SA and SL will provide just that. The structure of the SA experience means you’ll be bouncing through a few locations – sampling a wide variety of hostel dorms along the way. They’ve all been hand-picked by the TTR Team so you can expect a solid level of comfort, with the added adventure of quirky hostel VIBES varying from place to place.
In Sri Lanka we are mainly based out of the Ticket to Ride Surf House, in either comfortable triple, twin, double (if you’re booking on as a couple) or single rooms, all en suite with AC. The Surf House is only a couple of seasons old and is going through a refurb right now so it’s pretty fancy and the beds are super comfy. When ‘on the road’ enjoying the tours that break up the course, the accommodation remains at a decent level, you might get a private single room in one location, or be sharing single sex 10 bed dorm but they will be comfortable and spacious with AC.
Surf
Oh lonely African waves we love you
With a surf instructor course, the actual waves are going to be the key to your experience and with that in mind, both locations serve up an amazing array of breaks.
The road trip style of South Africa means you’ll cover a huge variety – from the famous points of J-Bay to the hidden gems of Coffee Bay and up into Mozambique where Ponta D’Ouro offers uncrowded right hand perfection.
Sri Lanka isn’t short of variety of waves either and your Ahangama base is a slap in the middle of some of the most surf rich coastline in the country, slowly gaining a reputation as a ‘Golden Mile’ with ten breaks along the stretch. Our local breaks Sticks and Marshmallow are right out the front of the Surf House, you’ll be walking distance to spots like ‘Animals’ and ‘The Rock’ and within a 10-minute drive either side you can hit up several spots ranging from the mellow right hand peelers of South Point to the Heavy slab known as ‘Rams right’.
Basically, both offer up all levels of waves, allowing you to confidently build up your skills and progress throughout your trip.
Extras
Community projects are at the heart of TTR South Africa
When it comes to inclusions, both courses are pretty packed with activity offering authentic experiences of both countries.
South Africa boasts Table Mountain, meeting penguins, the worlds highest bungee jump and a proper African safari. Not only that but if you opt for the Mozambique 3 week extension you’ll also go snorkelling with whale sharks and manta rays outside of your time spent flying down the right hand point breaks.
If you’re join us in Sri Lanka this October, after checking into your room at the Surf House and crashing for the night you will head over to the other side of the country to catch the last taste of the Surf Season in Arugam Bay where you will also visit Yala National park (hopefully see some Leopards), take a sunset Lagoon Tour and experience a real Sri Lankan cookery class. Back ‘down South’ local excursions are organised on day’s off to the Tea Plantation, Turtle Beach, Matara Temple and Galle Fort. For the week in the Hill Country you will experience what is known as one of the most beautiful train rides in the World, hike numerous (mini) mountains, visit the most famous temple in the country, take a tour through Kandy’s Botanical Gardens, watch a Kandyan Dance, climb the infamous ‘Adam’s Peak’ at 3am in time for an epic sunrise and recieve a traditional Ayurvedic Massage.
Cost
Can you put a price on this?
Money is always a big issue when it comes to travel.
Our 10 week South Africa Surf Instructor course starts at £5,395 and the SA & Mozambique 13 week course starts from £7,095, both with payment plans available and offering plenty of bang for your buck. These really are a true gap year adventure, with the offer of a job at the end so you’ll actually be able to pay back your course with a solid Summer of work.
Sri Lanka is gentler on the wallet with the 10 week Instructor course costing just £5,495 or you can do a shorter version of the surf instructor course running for five weeks, which costs £3,295 and is designed for those who have previous surfing experience and may not have as much cash or time on their hands.
Either way, both will be amazing experiences and give you the opportunity to gain the internationally recognised ISA Level 1 qualification allowing you to coach worldwide and what’s more, we will offer you employment opportunities upon graduation of either course, working in Cornwall, UK, or Surf Camp Australia. Take a read of what our last bunch of Grads say about their new lives!
Sri Lanka – Best If…
If money is a big deal breaker then Sri Lanka is the best bet, with a lower starting price and also a cheaper flight from the UK. If you are really interested in receiving the best training available to become a surf coach and like the idea of having a ‘base’ for nearly three months then you’ll feel at home at the Surf House.
South Africa – Best If…
South Africa is the option if you’re looking for an all-round gap year surf adventure. With an emphasis on the word adventure. Plenty of road tripping, a variety of surf breaks and loads of included extras which have nothing to do with surfing it’s more of a trip of a lifetime than it is just a surf instructor training course.
Whichever option you choose we can guarantee you’ll have an amazing time, share the adventure with heaps of new, friendly faces and enjoy months of surf, sun and fun. If you’d like more information or to book onto any of our courses, compare them all here.