No school will fail you for not knowing this, but the sea has a code — and those who respect it are welcomed differently, on any beach.
Rule one: priority
The wave belongs to whoever is closest to the peak. If someone is already riding it, it's taken. Dropping in is the biggest offence in surfing.
Paddle wide
To get back to the peak, go around the breaking zone — never through it.
Never ditch your board
A loose board in a wave is a projectile. Dive WITH it, or flip it — but hold on.
Beginners have their spot
The whitewater, on the inside, where schools teach. That's the right place to learn — no stress, no one in your way.