Ten girls from year eight to year 10 took part in the course with Port Stephens Surf School.

The school's owner, Luke Michalak, said in the four weeks the girls learned how to surf better, how to be safe in the water and how to perform CPR.

"This was a chance for them to break out of the normal, everyday school routine," he said.

The girls took part in Surfers Rescue 24/7, a to-the-point course which provides a skillset to a surfer on how to rescue someone in the water.

Michalak said the information the girls took home from the course and the experience of surfing would in some part help them make better life choices.

"Hopefully the surfing bug will bite and they think it's better to go surfing than drinking on the beach."

On Sunday Michalak will have about 40 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel under his wing, teaching some to surf and guiding them through the Surfers Rescue 24/7 course.

Michalak said the call from the ADF had been "out of the blue".

"Thirteen guys from South Australia will do learn to surf but there should be about 20 in total learning the basics," he said.

"Forty of them will do Surfers Rescue.

"I haven't taught Army guys before.

"I reckon it will be pretty fun."

Michalak said the ADF's session with Port Stephens Surf School was in preparation for a defence surfing competition.