Surf Lessons & Surf Gear

Build confidence, ocean awareness, and lasting memories through safe, encouraging surf instruction and coastal apparel inspired by faith and the water.

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Why Choose Walks On Water Surf Co.?

More Than Surf Lessons.

When you book with Walks On Water Surf Co., you're learning from someone whose entire life has been shaped by the ocean.

A Life Shaped by the Ocean

My name is Ryan Lewis, and I grew up in Huntington Beach, California—Surf City USA, where surfing wasn't just something I did, it became part of who I am. For more than 30 years, I've surfed coastlines around the world, and today I'm blessed to share that passion on the beaches of Charleston, South Carolina.

Professional Water Safety

As a retired U.S. Coast Guard Chief with 20 years of active-duty service, I've spent my career training and mentoring hundreds of students in water safety, leadership, and maritime operations. Every lesson combines decades of surfing experience with professional water safety instruction.

Experience You Can Trust

✓30+ Years of Surfing Experience
✓20 Years of U.S. Coast Guard Service
✓Certified U.S. Coast Guard Instructor
✓Water Survival Instructor
✓Lifeguard Certified
✓First Aid Certified
✓CPR & AED Certified

Safety Comes First

My goal isn't simply to teach someone how to surf. It's to build confidence, teach respect for the ocean, and help every student feel comfortable progressing at their own pace.

A Christ-Centered Mission

My faith in Jesus Christ guides every lesson. Walks On Water Surf Co. exists to encourage character, perseverance, humility, courage, and servant leadership while helping students experience the beauty of God's creation.

About Ryan

Rescued by Grace. Called by the Ocean.

"The ocean became my refuge. Jesus Christ became my Savior."

Ryan Lewis • Founder • Walks On Water Surf Co.

I didn't grow up in the kind of home most people would choose. My childhood was marked by addiction, alcohol, violence, broken relationships, and instability. Like many kids growing up in difficult circumstances, I searched for a place where I could breathe, belong, and find hope.

For me, that place became the ocean.

Surfing was much more than a sport—it became a refuge. It gave me an escape from the chaos waiting at home and introduced me to lifelong friends who became a source of encouragement, accountability, and support. Looking back, I can see that God was using surfing long before I understood He was pursuing my heart.

As life went on, the brokenness of addiction continued to leave its mark on my family. I experienced the unimaginable loss of both my older brother and younger brother, as well as my mother, because of addiction. Those losses brought a level of heartache and trauma that words can hardly describe. There were moments when I questioned everything and wondered how anyone could carry that kind of pain.

It was during those seasons that I truly turned to Jesus Christ.

I discovered that no amount of success, achievement, or even surfing could heal the wounds inside my heart. Only Jesus could. He became my refuge when I felt broken, my strength when I felt weak, and my hope when grief seemed overwhelming. Through His grace, He carried me through the darkest seasons of my life and transformed my pain into purpose.

Today I know without question that God delivered me from the cycle of brokenness that surrounded my childhood. He gave me a new identity, a new purpose, and a new life. What once served as an escape through surfing has become a calling—to use surfing as a way to encourage others, build confidence, create genuine community, and point people toward the hope that can only be found in Jesus Christ.

After more than 30 years of surfing and 20 years of service as a United States Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer, I founded Walks On Water Surf Co. with one mission: to create an environment where every person feels welcomed, encouraged, challenged, and valued. Whether someone is catching their first wave or refining their skills, my hope is that they leave with more than a great surfing experience—they leave knowing they are loved, capable of overcoming adversity, and never alone.

The ocean has always reminded me of God's power, His peace, and His faithfulness. Surfing may have been the tool God used to pull me out of a broken environment, but Jesus Christ is the One who rescued my life.

Everything we do at Walks On Water Surf Co. flows from that truth.

"He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along."
— Psalm 40:2