Odeceixe Surf School

Odeceixe Surf School has been operating since 2008 and is based on Odeceixe beach, where the Seixe river meets the sea on the border between the Alentejo and the Algarve. It is licensed to teach at several beaches nearby and uses Odeceixe, Amoreira, Arrifana and Monte Clérigo depending on conditions, picking students up and driving them back.

Lessons

Lessons last two and a half to three hours, with a maximum of eight students per instructor, and the focus is on beginners: after a few lessons, students move out to deeper water with an instructor. Coaching sessions are available for surfers who already ride waves.

Instructors and equipment

Instructors are certified by the Federação Portuguesa de Surf and hold lifeguard licences. The school keeps a large range of board sizes and new wetsuits, and provides sunscreen. Lessons in English or Portuguese.

The beach

At low tide the inside river bank gives a gentle, protected wave for learning; the open-sea side is a heavier west-coast beach break.