As someone who used to teach surf lessons, I’m a big advocate for body surfing—especially for beginners. Most skilled surfers grew up spending time at the beach, not just surfing but also body surfing, bodyboarding, skimboarding, and just playing in the waves. If you didn’t have the good fortune of growing up near the ocean, body surfing is one of the best ways to build the foundation you’ll need to become a confident surfer.

Getting out into the water without a board forces you to focus on reading waves, understanding ocean movement, and learning how to position yourself—all without the distraction of trying to pop up or catch waves on a surfboard. It’s also excellent exercise and builds the kind of comfort and awareness in the ocean that’s essential for surfing. If your leash breaks or your board snaps, you’ll be glad you know how to handle yourself without relying on equipment.

Personally, I think there’s no better way to learn how waves behave than by body surfing. It’s also a great fallback when the surf isn’t ideal. If you show up to the beach and it’s all closeouts, it’s often safer to leave the board on the sand and swim out with a pair of fins. You’ll still get a workout, and you’ll continue developing your wave-reading skills.

When it comes to swim fins, I prefer DaFiNs. The key is to find a pair that are comfortable, perform well, and ideally float. I’d also recommend choosing a high-visibility color. I made the mistake of buying plain black fins, and I wish I’d gone with something like orange or another bright color—much easier to spot if one comes off in the surf.

Body surfing is also a smart way to get familiar with a new spot. When you’re unsure how the water moves or how the waves break, swimming out and playing around can be a safer and more informative approach than jumping straight onto a board. It’s common to arrive at the beach when the tide is too low for the swell, making it tough to catch waves on a shortboard before they close out or toss you. In those cases, leave the board behind, throw on some fins, and get barreled!

As for safety, the most important thing is to avoid going over the falls and to protect your head and neck. In average conditions, this isn’t usually a major concern, but on heavier days—especially in shorebreak—it’s crucial to know how to handle yourself. Always respect the ocean.