About Us - Shaka Surf Branksome
DMB TOURISM ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR 2024
Welcome to Shaka Surf Branksome. & the premier surf school on the South Coast! Based in the heart of Bournemouth and Poole at the beautiful Branksome Dene Chine Beach. Celebrating 10 years of being at the beach in 2025.
We’re proud to be the best surf school in Dorset, offering unmatched experiences for surfers of all levels. Whether you're picking up a surfboard or Paddleboard for the first time or refining your skills, Shaka Surf is your gateway to unforgettable surfing & paddleboarding adventures.
We offer a variety of water sports and we’re set up on the golden sands of Poole and Bournemouth Bay, on a seven mile stretch of beautiful golden sand. The award winning water offers great waves or great flat water fun - beautiful Blue Flag beaches, that are dog friendly all year round. All our instructors are ISA & Surfing England fully qualified with SLSGB & RLSS lifeguards qualifications taken yearly , and all have a passion for the ocean, our customers, and our service.
Why Choose Shaka Surf?
At Shaka Surf, we're not just another surf school – we’re a multi-award-winning surf school that stands out for all the right reasons. In 2024, we were honoured to be Silver winners of The DMB Tourism Award for “Attraction of the Year” in the Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole (BCP) area, a testament to our commitment to delivering exceptional surf experiences.
But that’s not all! We’re also the only Surfing England-accredited surf school in Dorset, ensuring that all our instructors are highly qualified and that our lessons meet the highest standards of safety and quality. As the only 5-star Google rated surf school in the South, we take pride in our outstanding reputation for customer satisfaction, with countless surfers, Paddleboarders & watersports lovers returning for more lessons year after year.
Mark Reeves Founder: I learnt to surf when living in Huntington Beach, L.A California many years ago. Having travelled the world surfing, I was inspired to create and launch Shaka Surf in 2015 to help others enjoy the water as much as I do.
Im also a Teaching accessor for Surfing England helping Surf instructors on the South coast become trained surf instructors.
We welcome you to try our activities, which include:
Surfing
(Hire, lessons and parties) - Our lessons help paddle techniques, stamina and pop-up techniques (how to get up on to the surf board), tailored to each individual as we know everybody learns at a different rate. If you prefer you can hire a board and try it out for yourself.
Stand-up paddle boarding (SUP)
(Hire and lessons) - During our paddle board lessons, we assess each client’s ability and offer learning that’s right for them. From basic learning drills, stamina building, sprint training and surf supping. Boards available for hire too.
Kayaking
(Hire) - Don’t feel confident with a surf or paddleboard? Why not have fun in the sea by hiring a kayak instead.
About us
Meet the team
Mark Reeves (Owner Founder)
Living and learning to Surf in Huntington Beach L.A. California and travelling to the best surf beaches worldwide, added to Mark’s natural love of surf and the ocean. This coupled with his work with the Wave-project, a charity helping kids and young adults Surf as a therapy for mental health, inspired Mark to create and launch Shaka Surf Branksome Beach Water-sports in 2015, with over 35 years Surfing experience.
Level 1 & 2 ISA Surf Instructor/Surfing England/ RLSS Lifeguard.
Mark is also a Teacher Assessor for Surfing England, He mentors and trains all new Surf instructors on the south coast.
Nick name Owen Wilson or Rod Stewart
Alex Worrall
Alex has been with Shaka for 3 years now and is a awesome Instructor. ISA Surf & Sup Instructor/ RLSS lifeguard.Alex has been teaching Surfing in Byron Bay Australia all Winter 2024/25 .Alex will be back raring to go again with even more international experience for the Shaka season in 25.
His legendary Shaka Surf reports are a big hit on socials.
Alex has the most calming voice and a brilliant instructor. He also is amazing on a skateboard.
Nickname ‘Alex The Lion”
Jonny Tutton
Jonny has been with Shaka on and off since when we opened in 2015. In between his travels surfing all over the world, Jonny is a ISA Surf Instructor & SLSGB Surf Safety lifeguard trained for over 10 years, One of the most experienced instructors at Shaka. Jonny is also fluent in Spanish. Jonny Tree Trunk Surf reports are a hit on socials.
He’s the brainiest of us all. Plus he’s also a Yoga instructor that teaches yoga sessions on the beach in the summer months in our Surf & yoga sessions.
You will see his cute dog Jarob hanging around the beach most days.
Nick name Jonny Tree-Trunk)
India Mccrudden
India has been with Shaka for 4 years now She is a ISA Surf Instructor with a SLSGB Lifeguard certified. Great addition is India came from Branksome Lifesavers and we trained her to become a ISA Level 1 Surf Coach. India has incredible strength and swimming ability. She’s always happy to be teaching and in the Ocean, India has been teaching Surfing all winter in Byron Bay Australia in 23/24.
In 2025 she is now at Uni in Oxford. But will still teach at Shaka all summer and occasional weekends.
Nickname “India The Machine”
Daina Bosch
Daina has been a Level 1 Surfing england Surf Instructor & SLSGB lifeguard at Shaka for 3 years.
Daina grew up and learnt how to surf on the coastline of South Africa. This really engraved her love for the ocean from a young age, she has been involved in lifesaving and water-sports for over 10 years. Daina holds a SLSGB Lifeguard award and Surfing England Surf Instructor qualification.
Nick name Daina Mouse
Harry McPhee
Harry has spent months doing nothing but surf. If he’s not teaching young and old alike to surf, he’s improving his craft at the closest beach with waves. Harry spent 8 months on the gold coast teaching Surfing /Sup at Snapper Rocks, Australia surrounded by some of the best and has worked for Shaka for 7 years now.
Harry is also a Postman Full time, so only teaches some Sundays when he’s available now.
Nick name “Harry The Hammer”
Rupert Parkin
Rupert has been with Shaka for 5 years now after coming back from coaching at Bondi Beach in Australia, As all of our Instructors he is a ISA Surf Instructor with a SLSGB Lifeguard certified. Great calm confident Surf Coach everyone likes. His nick name is “Posh Rupert” for his legendary “Posh Surf Report” He speaks the Queens English very well.. Lead coach at Shaka this season 2022, Rupert is going travelling in 23 so will be available when in the UK. Rupert is now in his final year at Uni studying Marine Biology. so only teaching rarely at Shaka this year 2024.
Nickname Posh Rupert