Before hitting the surf please make sure you have a good understanding of surf etiquette. We also recommend taking a few lessons to learn beach safety and how to control your board properly. We also cover surf etiquette during the surf lessons and at our surf theory classes.
RULE 1: RIGHT OF WAY
The surfer closest to the peak of the wave has the right of way. This means if you’re paddling for a right, and a surfer on your left is also paddling for it, you must yield to him or her.
RULE 2: DON’T DROP IN
This is related to Rule #1. This is probably the most important part of surfing etiquette. Dropping in means that someone with the right of way is either about to take off on a wave or is already riding a wave, and you also take off on the same wave in front of him or her.
This blocks their ride down the line, and is extremely annoying, not to mention dangerous.
RULE 3: PADDLING OUT
When paddling back out, do NOT paddle in front of someone riding a wave unless you’re well, well in front of him. You must paddle behind those who are up and riding and take the whitewater hit or duck-dive.
Sometimes you’ll just end up in a bad spot and won’t be able to paddle behind a surfer. Do your best to speed paddle to get over the wave and out of his or her way.
RULE 4: DITCHING YOUR BOARD
This is important, especially when it gets crowded. Always try to maintain control and contact with your board. Surfboards are large, heavy, and hard. If you let your board go flying around, it is going to eventually hit someone.. This means if you’re paddling out and a wall of whitewater is coming, you don’t have permission to just throw your board away and dive under. This is a hard rule for beginners, but if you manage to avoid picking up the habit of throwing your board it will help your surfing. Try walking out as far as you can and wait for the calm period (lull) in between sets and then paddle fast out the back
RULE 5: RESPECT THE BEACH
Don’t litter. Simple as that. Pick up your trash, and try to pick up a few pieces of trash before you leave even if it’s not yours.
RULE 6: IF YOU MESS UP
It happens. If you mess up and accidentally drop in or mess up someone’s wave, a quick apology is appreciated, why not ask them for some pointers.. the important part is that you recognised what happened, only then can you get better.