I’m just an ordinary guy from Durban, South Africa who had a dream of travelling the world. Like most people, that dream felt complicated. Travel depends on money, visas, and time — and most of the time those obstacles make taking the first step feel impossible. I came to the conclusion that I couldn’t just quit my job and travel for years. I simply didn’t have the money. But the desire never went away. My first experience of solo travel was at 18, when I visited family in the UK for Christmas before heading to the Netherlands to work as an au pair. I quickly realised that wasn’t for me, so I returned to the UK and worked as a builder during the day and in hospitality at night. I saved everything I could. For about eight months in London, I lived cheaply, often on cereal and the couches of distant friends and family, all so I could afford a one-way ticket to Indonesia. ​ I spent four months surfing in Indonesia before my money ran out and I had to return home to start my studies. But something stuck with me. I couldn’t stop thinking about the waves and routine I had when I was in Indonesia . I kept asking myself why I had worked so hard for eight months just to experience four months of freedom. Why couldn’t life feel like that all the time? ​ After finishing university, I found myself working long, late nights at a bar and constantly questioning whether this was really the life I wanted. One day I woke up and decided something had to change. With the idea of surfing in warm water still stuck in my head, I applied to a few surf camps in Australia and booked a ticket the next day. ​ I was lucky enough to land a job with no prior experience in the industry, with training and certifications included as part of the role. I had always assumed you had to be the best surfer in town to become a surf coach. But I quickly realised that the surf industry values much more than just surfing ability. People skills, energy, and attitude matter just as much, if not more. That first job changed my life. It opened doors I didn’t even know existed and completely changed my perspective on work and travel. I was working, meeting people from all over the world, and surfing almost every day. Somehow, work didn’t feel like work anymore. ​ I spent seven months in Australia before travelling back through Indonesia, surfing along the way. That’s when it hit me. I had funded a surf trip through surfing. That realization changed everything. From Indonesia, I moved to Sri Lanka where I worked as a surf coach and camp manager at a surf hostel in Weligama. I spent another seven months there, living a lifestyle I had once thought was impossible. The waves were great, the people were incredible, and every day felt different. I was living the dream. But I kept wondering why more people didn’t know this was possible. ​ Surf Camp International was born out of this journey. Two years of travelling, surfing, and working through Australia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Europe. ​ Along the way, I built skills that allowed me to work in some of the most beautiful places in the world. More importantly, I built friendships and connections within the surf and travel industry. I realised that many opportunities aren’t advertised online but they’re shared through communities and relationships. Surf Camp International exists to help people access those opportunities. ​ This is a community of like-minded people and businesses who share a passion for the ocean, travel, and experience. The goal is to make these opportunities more accessible and to help people take that first step into the lifestyle they’ve been dreaming about.