Exiting the Water Safely: A Guide for Beginners

As a beginner surfer, exiting the water can be one of the most intimidating parts of the experience. You've spent hours catching waves and riding them, but now you need to know how to safely exit the water without getting wet or falling off your board.

Let's consider an example scenario. Say you're out on the beach with a buddy, and you both decide it's time to paddle back to shore. However, as you're paddling, you accidentally get caught in a rip current (a powerful channel of fast-moving water that can pull you away from the shore).

As you struggle to stay afloat, your friend tries to swim towards you, but gets pulled further out to sea. You realize you need to act quickly to save yourself and your buddy.

Example:

You're sitting on your board, waiting for a wave, when a strong current suddenly sweeps through the water, sending you tumbling underwater. As you resurface, you see that a large wave is approaching, and you know you have to get out of the water fast. You quickly paddle towards shore, but your friend is being pulled away from you.

You shout for help, "Help! I'm trying to get out of the water!" Your friend responds, "I've got this, just hold on!" However, they're not listening to you. Instead, they start swimming straight into the current, which is now even stronger than before.

You realize that your friend is in danger and needs help. You quickly assess the situation and remember a vital piece of surf etiquette: getting out of the water safely requires coordination with others.

Getting Out of the Water Safely

To get out of the water safely, you must act together as a team. Here are some essential steps to follow:

1. Assess the situation: Make sure you have a clear escape route and that your friend is in danger.
2. Call for help: Shout for assistance, using a code word like "Help!" or "Rescue!"
3. Signal for help: Use hand signals or shouts to alert others of your position and needs.
4. Work together: Help each other paddle towards the shore or wait for a lifeguard or other emergency responders to arrive.

Additional Tips

• Always exit the water with a buddy, so you can provide assistance if needed.
• Stay close to your friend and work together to navigate the situation.
• If you're unable to get out of the water quickly, don't try to swim back in. Instead, wait for help or a lifeguard to arrive.

By following these steps and practicing surf etiquette, you'll be well on your way to becoming a confident and safe surfer. Remember, safety is everyone's responsibility when it comes to surfing – always act with caution and work together as a team. Here is the information in a table format for comparison:

Additional Tips

By following these steps and practicing surf etiquette, you'll be well on your way to becoming a confident and safe surfer. Remember, safety is everyone's responsibility when it comes to surfing – always act with caution and work together as a team.

Join our community on Discord: