HM03 Surf Location in Pokemon FireRed & LeafGreen

HM03 Surf is a Water-type Hidden Machine move in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen that allows trainers to swim across water. Obtaining HM03 Surf is a part of the core gameplay progression in FRLG and something all players will have to do at a certain point in the game.

This guide covers the exact location where players can find HM03 Surf, the best HM Slaves that can learn Surf, as well as the correct way to use it outside of battle to surf across rivers and ponds. Here are the details.

How to Get Surf in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen

In Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen, HM03 Surf can be obtained by talking to the NPC in the Secret House in the Safari Zone of Fuchsia City.

To enter Fuchsia City, you’ll need to use the Poke Flute to wake the Snorlax blocking the bridge on Route 12, then continue through Routes 13, 14, and 15 until you reach the city. The Poke Flute is given to you by Mr. Fuji after you save him from the Rocket Grunts on the top floor of the Pokemon Tower in Lavender Town.

Enter the Fuchsia City Safari Zone by paying the 500 Poke Dollar entry fee. Once you’re inside, turn right and go past the house and the grass patch. Enter the next zone using the fenced path.

In the next zone, go right until you enter the grass patch. Go up the stairs just above you to the rocky ground. Turn left, and then go down the second set of stairs back to ground level. Go left, and then up again until you see another rocky area with a staircase.

Go up the stairs, then left, then down again using the stairs. Hug the side of the rocky wall by going up, then left. Keep going in a straight line and enter the fenced path to the next zone.

In this area, keep going left until you come across a patch of grass. Go up to the rocky ground, then turn left and down to get back to the ground level. Go left towards the pond, then go up all the way until you can’t go any further.

From here, go right until you come across another Safari house next to a patch of grass. Go up to the very top of the zone, then go left all the way until you hit a wall. Then, go downwards past the patch of grass, and you’ll reach another fenced path leading to the next area.

Once you’re here, turn left, and you’ll immediately run into a large structure between some trees. This is the Secret House. Enter through the front door and talk to the NPC inside to receive HM03 Surf.

The Safari Zone area only allows players to take 600 steps per visit before they are forcefully ejected from the area. If you’re here for HM03 Surf, do not wander off to catch any Safari Zone Pokemon as it takes most of these 600 steps to reach the Secret House when you do not take any detours.

How to Use Surf in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen

HM03 Surf can only be used outside of battle after you have defeated Koga in the Fuchsia City Gym to earn the Soul Badge.

Surf can be used to swim on any body of water in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen, and some areas of the game are only accessible with this method. After you’ve obtained HM03 from the Safari Zone, you’ll be able to teach it to the Pokemon in your party who have the ability to learn the move.

To use Surf, walk up to any water surface like a pond or a river, and press A. If you have a Pokemon that knows Surf on your team, the Surf ability will immediately activate, and you’ll be able to start swimming.

Best HM Slaves for Surf in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen

Surf is one of the strongest Water-type moves in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen, perfect for Pokemon with a high Sp. Atk stat like Blastoise, Lapras, and Vaporeon. That said, it can also be taught to a large number of HM slaves that can learn other HM moves as well. The following are some of the best available options in FRLG.

• Psyduck
• Poliwag
• Tentacool
• Krabby
• Staryu
• Gyarados
• Lapras