The group surf lesson in Toubab Dialaw takes place on the beach tucked between the red cliffs, the art galleries and the village gardens, about 40 km south of Dakar. The session lasts 2 hours for adults and teens, 1 hour for children, with a surf coach and the equipment provided.

Learning in a group, facing the cliffs

From the moment you arrive, the welcome is relaxed: each group is formed by age and technical level. Exercises begin with dynamic warm-ups and balance movements. The first steps on the board are taken in manageable waves, with collective encouragement and technical advice suited to each person. The session often ends with a shared snack of fresh fruit or local juices.

The equipment and the surf coach are included: foam boards, wetsuits and insurance. Bring a suitable sunscreen, light clothing, water and a local snack. Multi-session packs are named and usable over 3 months.

Toubab Dialaw is an artists’ village: it is common to come across workshops or shows at the weekend, and the beach sometimes hosts painting, dance or sculpture gatherings. If you live in Dakar, it is a Saturday-morning lesson that extends into a village visit. If you are visiting, it is a first wave in a place people come to as much for the culture as for the sea.

Toubab Dialaw, a lébou village and an artists’ village

Toubab Dialaw is a lébou village (the lébou are the traditional fishing people of the Dakar coast) in the commune of Yenne, in the Rufisque department, about 40 km south of Dakar. Set against an ochre cliff, it is a former fishing town that has become a key spot on the Senegalese cultural scene. It is part of the Dakar region, and people come for its calm beaches as much as for its studios.

After the lesson

Between sets, you take in the colourful houses, meet artists on the beach and end up at the market or in a studio. African dance classes and percussion workshops extend the morning on the cultural side, and other surf lessons and courses offer other formats.