Welcome
At Surf & Solace, we’ve seen firsthand how the ocean can lift spirits, calm the mind, and bring people closer together. In our little slice of paradise in Daytona Beach Shores, Florida, and beyond we’re creating a space where wellness flows as naturally as the tides, where caring for the ocean feels like caring for family, and where every shared laugh, cleaned beach, and encouraging high-five builds a stronger, kinder community. Volunteering here means stepping into a place that genuinely feels good to give back to others who are in need — a warm, welcoming crew that’s as grateful for your heart as they are for your help. Come be part of the good vibes.
About
Surf & Solace is a nonprofit organization (501(c)(3), EIN: 39-3454162) founded by Dr. Jeffrey Steel, PhD, focused on using ocean and surf therapy to support healing from grief and loss.
Surf & Solace is a heartfelt nonprofit dedicated to supporting individuals navigating profound loss—whether the death of a loved one, the end of a significant relationship, personal trauma, or any form of deep grief. Founded on the belief that healing doesn’t have to happen in isolation, we create safe, supportive spaces where people can reconnect with themselves, nature, and community through the transformative power of the ocean and surfing.
At the core of our mission is ocean and surf therapy, a gentle yet powerful approach to emotional recovery. Surfing invites participants to step into the present moment—feeling the rhythm of the waves, the salt on their skin, the push and pull of the water—while letting go of the weight carried on land. These experiences foster resilience, build confidence, and open pathways to joy amid sorrow. We draw inspiration from established programs that use the ocean as a partner in healing, helping people process grief, reduce anxiety, and rediscover a sense of purpose and connection.
Central to our philosophy is the Blue Mind theory, pioneered by marine biologist Dr. Wallace J. Nichols in his groundbreaking book Blue Mind. Blue Mind describes the mildly meditative, calm, and contented state our brains naturally enter when we’re near, in, on, or under water. Backed by neuroscience, psychology, and real-world stories, this state reduces stress, quiets the “Red Mind” of anxiety and overthinking, boosts creativity, enhances emotional regulation, and promotes feelings of unity, happiness, and awe. The ocean, in particular, acts as a natural antidote to grief’s turbulence—its vastness reminds us we’re part of something larger, while its soothing patterns help regulate our nervous system and invite peace.
Through guided surf sessions, beach gatherings, mindfulness practices in the water, and peer support circles, Surf & Solace harnesses these Blue Mind benefits to help participants:
• Honor their losses in a nurturing environment
• Build physical and emotional strength one wave at a time
• Forge meaningful connections with others who understand
• Find moments of lightness, hope, and renewal
Whether you’re a beginner dipping your toes in the surf or someone seeking solace in the familiar rhythm of the sea, our programs are inclusive, trauma-informed, and rooted in compassion. We believe the ocean doesn’t erase pain, but it can help carry it—softening edges, restoring balance, and reminding us that healing is possible, even after the deepest storms.
Healing hearts one wave at a time. Join us in the water, where solace meets the surf, and hope begins to rise.
Barton Lynch
ASP World Tour Champion (1988), Rip Curl Pro (1991)
Barton Lynch is an Australian former professional surfer born in 1963, renowned for his competitive prowess, fluid style featuring vertical maneuvers, and unflappable drive during his 15-year career on the ASP World Tour (now WSL). He achieved his greatest success by winning the 1988 ASP World Championship title, along with 17 tour events including prestigious contests like the Op Pro and Rip Curl Pro. Today, he remains influential in surfing as a coach, mentor, commentator, and role model, with a video game named in his honor, Barton Lynch Pro Surfing.
Our Team.
Our team at Surf & Solace is a dedicated group of passionate individuals united by a shared belief in the transformative power of the ocean. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we are committed to fostering healing, resilience, and hope for those navigating grief, loss, trauma, or life's profound challenges through surf therapy, compassionate community support, and nature-based wellness experiences.
The Blue Mind Effect
Imagine standing at the water’s edge as the waves roll in, each one smoothing the edges of your thoughts until the mind grows quiet and spacious. This is the heart of ocean therapy—sometimes called the “blue mind” effect—where the sea becomes a natural medicine for stress, anxiety, and emotional weariness. Whether through swimming, surfing, floating in its embrace, or simply sitting within earshot of the tide, the ocean offers a kind of restoration that few other places can match.
Yet the healer is itself in need of healing. Pollution, plastic accumulation, coastal erosion, overfishing, and warming waters are steadily diminishing the ocean’s vitality and biodiversity—the very qualities that allow it to continue soothing and renewing us.
