Summary: This guide outlines 10 essential surfing safety rules and ocean awareness tips to help beginner surfers prevent accidents, understand wave priority, and stay safe in the water.
1. Knowledge of the Ocean
As simple as it sounds, the ocean and waves can be unpredictable at the best of times. Understanding different types of waves and how waves break will help you determine which waves to catch and which ones to stay away from.
2. Don’t Get Washed Away
Rips and ocean currents are major hazards for inexperienced surfers. They can carry you far out to sea or into large breaking waves. Make sure you can identify where rip currents are and stay away from them. Patrolled beaches usually have signs on the sand identifying rips and currents—always look out for them.
3. Learn the Surf Lingo
Surfing has a language all of its own. Experienced surfers use specific surfing terms, shouts, and hand signals out in the water. If you are paddling out and hear a shout or whistle, it is likely an experienced surfer riding a wave towards you. It usually means: "Watch out, I’m coming through!"
4. Develop Surfing Awareness
Don’t be a UFO—an "Unidentified Floating Object". This is the term experienced surfers use for beginners who lack surf awareness. When in the water, stay constantly aware of your surroundings so you do not become a dangerous obstacle to other surfers and swimmers.
5. Understand Surfing Etiquette and Rules
Just like any sport, surfing has rules to keep everyone safe. The primary rule in surf etiquette is avoiding "dropping in"—which means catching a wave when another surfer already has priority. Make sure you understand wave priority so you do not take someone else’s wave.
6. Don’t Overdo It
Surfing requires a high level of physical fitness. You get an intense workout as you constantly use energy to paddle and catch waves. Experienced surfers are well-tuned fitness machines after spending thousands of hours in the water. Know your limits and do not overdo it. When you get tired, you may struggle to stay afloat if you lose your surfboard. When fatigue sets in, head to shore, rest, and only return to the water when fully recharged.
7. Stay Cool in the Water
If you find yourself in a situation where experienced surfers are heading straight towards you, keep calm. Experienced surfers will usually see you and adjust their line to go around you. Stay on your surfboard—do not panic or jump off. Jumping off can prevent experienced surfers from adjusting their path at the last second, and a loose surfboard creates a serious collision risk.
8. Avoid Surf Rage
Don’t contribute to surf rage. Surfing is a sport designed to be in harmony with nature. Surf rage generally occurs when inexperienced surfers break surf rules or panic, putting others in danger. Chill out, learn the rules, develop surf awareness, and keep it fun.
9. Respect Experienced Surfers
Experienced surfers have built a deep understanding and respect for the ocean over thousands of hours in the water. Their goal is to ride good waves, have fun, and stay safe. If an experienced surfer offers you advice, listen. They may be sharing pearls of wisdom to help perfect your surfing technique or keeping you and others safe.
10. Be Surf Savvy
Expanding your surf knowledge ensures a safer experience in the ocean. Taking lessons with an ASI Accredited Surf School will help refine your technique and provide crucial safety information.
Surfing is a fantastic pastime that anyone can enjoy. The more educated you are about surfing, the safer, easier, and more enjoyable it will be.