If you can't swim fifty yards easily, don't even think about surfing until you can!

When learning to surf it's better to paddle out at a break that doesn't have many surfers. This is good for you and experienced surfers, you don't get in there way, they don't get in your way and it's easier to catch waves with less people in the water around you, it's also safer. Since there is less people and you catch more waves you will learn faster. It doesn't matter if the waves are closing out if you are in the beginning stages. The important thing is to learn how to stand up and control your board.

The surfer who is closest to the white water while standing has the right of way, it's their wave. Do not paddle for the wave, if the white water is breaking to the left of you and there is someone on your left, they have the right of way. If the white water is breaking to the right of you and someone is on your right, they have the right of way. It would be the same if you cut some one off while driving or if you cruised in front of them while they are skiing down a mountain.

Do not hang out in the white water where other surfers are finishing their waves, this area is called the inside, it's a dangerous place to be. If you want to ride the white water go to an area where there are no or few people.

If you are paddling out and a surfer is on the wave in front of you, give the surfer the right of way, the surfer is moving much faster than you and it's better and easier to let him or her go by even if it means that you will get hit by the white water. Use common sense, if a surfer is surfing right at you while you are paddling out, paddle towards the white water not towards the open face of the wave, this lets the surfer ride the wave and not have to turn around you, but if you will make it over the wave before the surfer gets to you, then of course go over before the surfer gets to you. Do your best to get out of the way, that surfer should do the same for you if your places are switched later.

Always be alert and know where you are and where others are around you. If you are paddling out and there is white water coming towards you, don't let go of your board if there are people behind you. Even if the white water is very big and you will take a beating, better to take a beating than letting someone else get hit with your loose board!
A loose board becomes a dangerous projectile that can cause major injury or death, yes death, get hit in the head in the wrong place and it could happen.

If you are paddling for a wave and there is someone directly in front of you and you or them have little chance to get out of the way, don't try it, it's better to miss a wave than to hit someone.

If the waves are big and they are too big for you to handle, sit and watch. Watch what the more experienced surfers do in certain situations and remember what they did. Watch where they paddle and how they get through waves, notice which waves they paddle for and why they don't try to catch others. See if they keep paddling in one direction once they are outside, if they are there is a drift pulling them out of the lineup. On some days when the waves are big there are rip currents, some pull you out some pull you side ways and some times the inside current is moving in the opposite direction from the outside current.

These are a few things to keep in mind when surfing, it's a fun sport and a dangerious sport.