3 Essential Tips for Safe Surfing in San Diego

Surfing in San Diego can be a fun and engaging sport for kids and adults alike and is one of the best surf destinations in North America. With an abundance of beaches, and so many waves to choose from, what’s to keep you from getting outside and surfing?

Even in cozy San Diego, there are a number of surfing safety precautions to take into consideration.  Everything from currents and rocks to sun exposure can leave a lasting impact after a day filled with surfing.  Here are a number of tips to make sure you’re staying safe out in the surf and enjoying your time in the water to the fullest…

Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle.

The coastal waters of San Diego get warm during the summer months, so occasionally surfers encounter stingrays.  Stingrays are flat and equipped with a serrated barb on the end of a thin tail and if surfers step on them, as a defense mechanism they may use that barbed tail to sting you. They do not actively patrol the water looking for someone to sting. With that being said, there are a few simple tricks that can help you avoid stingrays when surfing in San Diego.

The best thing to protect yourself from a stingray is to shuffle your feet.  Dragging a big toe or your whole foot across the bottom of the sand sends out vibrations warning neighboring stingrays of your presence.  Properly executed, a sting ray shuffle can be more than enough to protect the average San Diego surfer from a close encounter.  

In addition to shuffling or dragging your feet you can also do some “heel stamps” (aka “elephant stomps” for the kids), stamping your heel into the ocean floor three to four times to send warning vibrations.

Another trick is pounding on your surfboard, the noise and vibrations will also act as an early warning for stingrays in the area.

Lastly, the best way to avoid things on the bottom, like sting rays, is to get on your surfboard and paddle. Once your surfboard has enough clearance for the fins you can belly down and begin paddling whenever you chose to start.

If you do get stung, immediately seek help from the lifeguard. Do not attempt to take the barb out yourself. The affected area is put in hot water to start , which denatures the protein that is causing the pain of the sting. The sting can be like a bee sting or quite painful, depending on the circumstances.

Currents Galore

I remember my grandmother telling a story of the “under-toad” that would sneak up from the deep to grab unsuspecting surfers.  While we don’t have to worry about mythical creatures sneaking up to steal you away, currents do have a tendency to take sedentary surfers by surprise. When surfing in San Diego we encounter two main types of currents, longshore currents and rip currents. 

Longshore currents will pull a surfer parallel with the beach, sometimes very swiftly and other times the current is subtle. This can make it challenging to stay in your desired surf area or if you are not careful you could be pulled in the direction of a hazard. For this reason it is important to give yourself visual landmarks on land to act as your boundaries. We recommend that you check to make sure you are still “in bounds” after every wave you catch or every two minutes, which ever comes first.

Rip currents are common at beach breaks across the globe and San Diego is no exception. Rip currents are formed when water swiftly flows from shallows to the deep.  This will pull a surfer or wader out to sea towards deeper water. Surfers may be inclined to head towards shore, but we wouldn’t advise it. It is important to remember that rip currents are usually not too wide across, like a narrow river. If you were trying to get out of a river you wouldn’t swim up the river, you would swim towards the river bank, at which point you could head in either direction up the bank with ease. Similarly, the best way to escape a rip current is to paddle parallel to shore to get out of the current before heading towards the beach.

Any time you find yourself in a current it is important to remind yourself to stay calm, take a few deep breaths and remember that you know what to do when you are in a current. Additionally, one should never hesitate or feel embarrassed to ask for help if you feel you are in danger. You can wave your arms over your head to signal for help and you can always use your voice and shout for help.

Lather up and Chug-a-Lug

San Diego experiences more sun than just about any other city in the nation.  As a result, you can expect sun to take a toll on your surfing experience. The best way to protect yourself from the sun?  Lather up. We recommend using sunscreen that is SPF 30 or greater. It is important to recognize there is a difference between “Sunscreen” and “Sun Tanning Lotion”. Sunscreen will help prevent you from getting sun burnt; Sun Tanning Lotion will not help protect you from the sun, it will have the opposite effect. Be sure and cover up all exposed areas of skin, including the back of the neck, the top of the ears, the back of the legs, and the feet, which are commonly overlooked.

Surfers are in the water a lot, so surf specific sunscreens have been developed to be provide a higher level of protection and the stay on in the water longer. There are several brands which produce great surf specific sunscreen, as well as “face sticks” specifically for the face. A few of our preferred sunscreen brands are Headhunter (which was launched here in La Jolla), Vertra, Manda, Sun Bum, and Surf Dirt.

Please be aware, there are a number of sunscreens which have a harmful effect on the ocean and coral reefs. Make sure your sunscreen won’t leave a lasting impact on the ocean, and that the sun won’t leave a lasting impact on you.  

Another silent danger associated with extended sun exposure is dehydration. This is easily avoided… drink water regularly. As a habit, we recommend bringing a reusable water bottle to the beach, hydrating prior to your surf session, take breaks as needed, and chug some more water when you come in from your surf lesson, surf camp or surf session.

So how to stay safe while surfing in San Diego?  Shuffle those feet, know your currents, wear your sunscreen, chug your water, and consider signing up for a Surf Lesson, Surf Camp, or Group Surfing Class with Surf Education Academy for other tips, tools, and guidelines on how to stay safe and gain confidence in the water.