History of Trinidad and Tobago Surf Experience


My love for the ocean began with my father. We often spent weekends at our small beach house on one of the islands off Trinidad. These islands are commonly known to the locals as, “Down the Islands”. Placed in this atmosphere, along with my fearless sprit, it was not long before I transformed into Aqua Boy! I took interest in a variety of water sports from an early age. Knee boarding, Wake boarding and Spear fishing were among some of my favorites. As the years progressed, I picked up skate boarding for a while, but could not stay away from the ocean for too long.
I returned to my ocean roots this time as a Body boarder; this is where my love for riding waves began. I stuck with body boarding all the way through university in Orlando. I managed to earn a Bachelors’ Degree in Oceanography while combing the Atlantic coast of Florida for waves every chance I got. After I graduated, this new love took me to places everywhere in search of the perfect wave. It is during this relentless quest I found myself in the Canary Islands where it finally happened. As fate would have it, my board bag containing my two new pro body boards got lost in luggage. Stuck in the Hawaii of the Atlantic with no boards I decided to do what I always inevitably wanted to do but was too scared to: Stand up on my first surf board!!


I spent the summer of 2005 in the Canary Islands. It was the best 3 months of my life! The first week I was there, I managed to get a job with the Calima surf school at Famara beach in Lanszarote. At first, I was an assistant instructor in charge of equipment maintenance (washing surfboards, rash guards, surf van etc.). When I was not working, I was surfing every chance I got. Thanks to my enthusiasm, the other four instructors took a real interest in my progression as a surfer. There is nothing like an enthusiastic instructor helping you progress! I had four of them!
I unofficially became an instructor my 3rd week there. We got a big group of Scottish students that booked a 3-week surf course with room and board on short notice. The only two instructors that spoke English, left for a one-month vacation to Bali that same week. The two instructors left (Jose and Erica) did not speak much English, so it was left up to me. The next 3 weeks, with the supervision of Jose and Erica, I proved myself a very competent instructor. In fact, when Roger and George (the other 2 instructors) found out how good I did, they extended their vacation for another month. In the end, I arrived Canary Islands a Body boarder and left a surfer and an accomplished surf instructor for Calima surf school in Lanzarote!

After leaving the Canary Islands, I continued homing my skills as an instructor and a surfer. I soon learned that becoming a surf instructor is an on going process. I officially became an instructor in Sept 2008. I received my certification with the ISA (International Surf Association) as a level one Coach/Instructor. However, to be honest, experience has been my greatest teacher. To this day, every time I teach I learn something new. However subtle it may be. You see, not everyone is cut out to be a surf instructor. A good surf instructor is aware of each student’s ability, is patient, dedicated, passionate, confident, personable, professional, comprehendible, must possess the right equipment and a good knowledge of the ocean’s dynamic nature, the list goes on. Therefore, being a surfer does not make you a good surf instructor. This is one of the biggest misconceptions in surfing and the major reason why most people have a bad experience their first time around if they do not attend a proper surf school. For this reason, I would more than likely hire an experience instructor that surfs half-decent with no accreditation, than a newly accredited instructor that surfs professionally.
Armed with this new ability, a Bachelor of Science and Oceanography and all my years of wave riding experience, I returned to Trinidad and Tobago with one thing in mind, starting a professional surf school!
Therefore, on behalf of everyone here at TTSE, I hope you'll join us for a unique fun filled challenging but intensely rewarding tropical surf experience that will last you a lifetime.

Thank you,
Owner and Chief Instructor

Dominic Ferdinand