Surfing

Surfing puts you in moving water, often well beyond where you can stand — it rewards preparation and humility more than most board sports.

Top 10 Surfing Safety Tips

  1. Know your swimming ability first. Surfing puts you in moving water far from shore — you should be a strong swimmer before you're a surfer.
  2. Check surf reports and conditions. Wave size, tide, wind, and crowd level all change the risk.
  3. Learn to identify and escape rip currents. Paddle across them, not against them, back to the lineup.
  4. Wear a leash at all times. An unleashed board becomes a hazard to you and everyone around you.
  5. Know surf etiquette. Right of way belongs to the surfer closest to the peak — dropping in on someone is dangerous and rude.
  6. Protect your head when you fall. Cover your head with your arms in shallow or rocky breaks.
  7. Watch for other surfers and swimmers before paddling for a wave.
  8. Check for marine hazards — rocks, reef, and local advisories for jellyfish or stingrays.
  9. Wear a wetsuit matched to water temperature. Hypothermia risk exists even in "warm" climates during the off-season.
  10. Never surf alone in an unfamiliar break, and tell someone where you're going.

Recommended Items to Bring

  • Surfboard sized for your skill level
  • Leash
  • Wetsuit matched to water temperature
  • Wax or a traction pad
  • Rash guard
  • Reef booties (rocky/reef breaks)
  • Zinc-based, water-resistant sunscreen
  • Ear plugs (surfer's ear prevention)
  • Whistle or signaling device
  • First aid kit at the vehicle

New to surfing? A local surf school or instructor is the fastest, safest way to learn lineup etiquette and read conditions you can't yet judge on your own.

Relevant Terrain

  • Saltwater — tides, currents, and cold-shock risk

Relevant Months

See also: Scuba & Snorkeling.