Learn how to surf and have surfing lessons at SUB6, an ASI accredited surf school, located at Portstewart Strand in Portstewart.

Just a 12-minute drive from Portrush, this prime location on Northern Ireland’s breathtaking Causeway Coast offers the perfect setting to learn and ride the waves.

SUB6 is owned and led by Carl Russell, an experienced advanced-level surfer and highly qualified coach. Holding an ASI Level 3 Surfing Coach certification, personal training credentials, and registrations as a Fitness Instructor, Lifeguard, and Life Support 3 First Aid professional, Carl brings expertise and passion to every lesson.

Since founding the school in 2005, Carl has built SUB6 into an award-winning, well-respected surf school in the local community. He has delivered thousands of hours of coaching to surfers of all backgrounds and skill levels, from beginners to advanced riders.

Beyond coaching, Carl is also an ASI Surfing Instructor trainer, mentoring future surf instructors, as well as an RLSS beach lifeguard and first aid trainer, preparing others for lifeguarding roles.

Supporting Carl is a dedicated team of highly qualified ASI surfing instructors, ensuring every student receives top-tier training.

SUB6 is also an ASI accredited SUP School, offering SUP lessons, tours and rentals.

SUB6 offers a diverse range of group and private surfing lessons for all skill levels, from beginners to advanced surfers. Their programs include birthday parties, adult beginner sessions, intensive courses, private family lessons, corporate days, hen and stag parties, and progression training.

Kids summer camps – always popular - caters for beginner and intermediate lessons.  Teaching progressive fun surfing skills with surf safety. 

For school groups—whether primary, secondary, or youth sports clubs—SUB6 provides customized programs lasting up to eight weeks, helping students develop safe surfing practices and water knowledge.

Aspiring competitors or elite surfers can benefit from high-performance workshops designed to refine technique and elevate skills. For those seeking relaxation alongside adventure, the special Surf 'n' Spa sessions offer a complete getaway—get fit, unwind, and enjoy some well-earned pampering.

SUB6 offers a surf shop with top-quality gear at great prices.

Try the surf an sauna experience located right on the beach,

To capture the experience, they provide professional photo and video packages of your surfing journey.

Beyond surfing, SUB6 offers stand-up paddle lessons and guided tours, expanding the ways you can enjoy the ocean.

As an ASI Instructor Training Centre (ITC), SUB6 is also a hub for surf instructor education, with Carl Russell authorized to train future ASI-accredited instructors.

SUB6 operates at Portstewart Strand, a stunning National Trust-protected beach on Northern Ireland’s breathtaking Causeway Coast.Spanning two miles along the northern Atlantic coastline in County Londonderry, Portstewart Strand is known for its golden sand, towering dunes, and panoramic ocean views.

With gently rolling waves and a soft sand bottom, it provides the perfect environment for beginners to gain confidence in the water.

For those seeking a challenge, intermediate and advanced surfers can take advantage of nearby breaks that offer more demanding waves.

The beach holds a prestigious European Blue Flag award, recognized for its excellent water quality and top-tier beach management.

Portstewart Strand has:

• toilets and changing facilities

• a beachside café offering refreshments

• dogs are welcome, with designated zones for off-leash walking.

• ample parking.  Cars are permitted on the beach.

• accessible beach equipment

Portstewart Strand beach break produces reliable swells, with the best waves forming when northwest swells meet offshore winds from the southeast. Spring, particularly April, provides optimal conditions for clean surf, while winter months deliver larger swells for advanced surfers.

It is a designated Area of Special Scientific Interest, meaning surfers may encounter seals, dolphins, and even basking sharks.

Explore the 6,000-year-old sand dunes and see the abundance of wildlife, from wildflowers and butterflies to waterfowl and wading birds near the Bann Estuary, creating a breathtaking natural backdrop for every surf session.

Portstewart Stand is the starting point for the 33-mile Causeway Coast Way to Ballycastle, a scenic walking route showcasing the region’s dramatic coastline and leading past iconic sites like Dunluce Castle and the Giant’s Causeway.

The Giants Causeway is a breathtaking natural wonder, famous for its 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic fissure eruption.  It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, surrounded in myth and legend.  

Low Rock Castle is also nearby: A historic site dating back to 1820, known as the birthplace of Field Marshal Sir George White VC.