Bodysurfing is riding a wave using only your body, with no board between you and the water. You use your arms, chest and a pair of swim fins to catch the wave and glide along its face. It is the oldest and most direct form of wave-riding, and the easiest to start: there is no board to balance on, only you and the ocean.
At The Bodysurf School in Costa da Caparica, it is the whole point. Take the board away and what is left is a simple, playful way to feel a wave move through you.
How is bodysurfing different from surfing and bodyboarding?
All three ride the same waves. The difference is what is under you, and how quickly you can start.
| Bodysurfing | Bodyboarding | Surfing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment | Swim fins and a small handboard. Nothing else. | A foam bodyboard and fins. | A surfboard. |
| How you ride | Lying in the water, body along the wave. | Lying or kneeling on the board. | Standing up on the board. |
| Time to first wave | Minutes. Most beginners ride on day one. | Fast, usually the first session. | Slower. Standing up takes practice. |
| Best for | Feeling the ocean directly, all ages and levels. | Speed close to the wave. | Learning to ride standing. |
Because there is no board to master first, bodysurfing puts a complete beginner into a real wave faster than any other form of surfing.
Do you need fins to bodysurf?
For anything beyond the shorebreak, yes. Swim fins give you the extra kick to match the speed of the wave and catch it before it passes. You can bodysurf small, close waves without them, but fins are what let you read and ride a wave properly. A handboard (a small plank held in one hand) adds lift and helps you plane along the face. We provide both, so there is nothing to buy to try it.
Is bodysurfing hard to learn?
It is one of the easiest ways into the ocean. There is no balance to learn and nothing to fall off. The skill is in reading the wave and timing your kick, and that comes quickly with someone beside you. Most people who come to us have never caught a wave in their life and are riding by the end of the first session.
Is bodysurfing safe for beginners and children?
Yes, when it is taught in the right water. We start in gentle, waist-deep water where you can stand, and only move further out when you are ready. Children from age 3 can take part, with a grown-up in the water too. Every session is led by a certified instructor trained in basic life support.
What do you need to start bodysurfing?
Very little. To take a lesson with us, you only need a swimsuit and a towel. We provide the wetsuit, the fins and the handboard. To be comfortable in the ocean you should be able to swim a little and float without panicking, though you do not need to be a strong swimmer.
Where can you bodysurf near Lisbon?
The coast around Lisbon has some of the most consistent beach waves in Europe, which makes it one of the best places to learn. Our home beach is Praia da Sereia in Costa da Caparica, about 25 minutes from Lisbon by car, with a sandy bottom and waves gentle enough for first-timers.
We also run sessions at other beaches near Lisbon when the conditions suit:
- Praia da Sereia, Costa da Caparica – our home beach, best for beginners.
- Carcavelos – an easy, popular beach break close to the city.
- Guincho – more exposed and wind-blown, for stronger days.
- Ericeira – a World Surfing Reserve, with a range of waves.
- Sintra – quieter beaches along the natural park coast.
How do you learn bodysurfing?
The fastest way is with someone who can read the ocean for you while you learn to read it yourself. The Bodysurf School is Europe’s first dedicated bodysurf school, founded in Costa da Caparica in 2017. Lessons are led by Henrique, a national bodysurf vice-champion with a degree in sport sciences and over seven years teaching in the water, alongside a small team of certified coaches.
You can start with a private one-to-one lesson, join a Saturday group session, or bring children from age 3 to Little Surfers. See all the options on the lessons page, or book a lesson and feel a wave for yourself.
