If you are unable to take a lesson with a surf school, here is some advice on safety measures you can take for yourself.

Surfing takes a certain amount of physical fitness; if you are pushing yourself to your limit the consequences in the open ocean could be severe. A certain amount of fitness is essential. Make sure you stretch and warm up before going in the water.

Always surf at life guarded beaches, during the summer months there are many beaches to choose from and they are patrolled between 10am and 6pm daily. Ask the lifeguards about the conditions and suitable areas of the beach to surf, and be honest about your ability. Do not surf alone.

Obey the lifeguard flags. Red and yellow flags at the waters edge mark areas of water that are patrolled by lifeguards. These are the safest places to swim. When surfing you must stay out of these areas. The black and white chequered flags indicate the surf craft area, where swimmers are not allowed to bathe. This is the area you should use when learning to surf. The red flag indicates danger. Never enter the water when the red flag is flying.

You must be able to swim at least 25 metres unaided. When learning never go out of your depth. Stay within waist to chest depth at all times.

Be aware of what the tide is doing, is it going out, or coming in? If the tide comes in does this block off the beach and your exit? Buy a tide timetable they cost very little and are available at convenience stores in coastal areas.

When learning to surf you should use a soft skinned board. A hard fibreglass board could cause injury if it were to hit you. Make sure the board offers good flotation capabilities and remember it is also a buoyancy aid.

Make sure that the surfboard you use has a good quality leash in good condition. The leash needs to be at least as long as the board itself. The leash must be attached to your board and your ankle at all times whilst in the water.

If surfing in this country you should always wear a wetsuit, if you were to surf for an extended period even in the middle of summer you would be putting yourself at risk of hypothermia. Ensure that it fits correctly. It needs to fit tightly all over the body but still allow full movement and should not restrict your breathing in anyway.

If you have medical conditions that could be triggered by exercise or going in the sea take precautions, e.g. if you suffer from asthma make sure your inhaler is close at hand, maybe in a waterproof bag on the beach. If you are allergic to stings wear wetsuit boots to protect your feet. If you are unsure seek the advice of your doctor before undertaking a new activity like surfing.

You should understand rips before you go in the water. Once a wave has broken it pushes water up the beach, when the force of the wave dies out the water then returns down the beach and out to sea. The water looks for the path of least resistance. The water doesn't want to push back through oncoming waves but looks for deeper channels of water where waves aren't breaking. This forms a rip current. If you find yourself in a rip you cannot paddle directly against the current and back to the beach the force of the water is too great. You must paddle across the rip, parallel to the shore towards an area of white water waves, and catch a wave back to shore. Never let your board go, and try to swim in, remember your board is a buoyancy aid. If you start to get very tired, stay calm, hold one arm in the air to attract the attention of a lifeguard or another surfer and stay on your board, the rip will only take you out behind the breaking waves where its force will dissipate.

<< prev page | next page >>