We limit our groups to around four to six students per instructor. That means your coach can remember your name, your previous session and your specific challenges. On each wave they stand close enough to adjust the angle of your board, remind you to look forward or call you back if you drift into a rip. In a bigger group, those details are lost.
Small groups also create a more relaxed atmosphere on the beach. You feel part of a little team rather than a crowd of strangers. For families, solo travellers and couples alike, this intimacy is one of the reasons they return to our surf school Essaouira instead of trying somewhere else each year.
When you compare schools, always ask about maximum group size. Your progress and safety are worth more than a small difference in price.