There is no stopping you from learning the sport from books or watching experts perform their feats on the beach. However, if you really want to improve fast and perform your own feats on the waves then you need an expert to show you the basics, like the equipments, using your gears, how to wind surf, and the likes. Group Activities Surfers tend to be a crowd -- surfers group among themselves to share experiences and to plan surfing trips to take them in new surfspots and enjoy new thrills with their sport. Also, it is normal for surfers to camp out on a beach with bonfires and beach music and just party around. For example, shallow reefs tend to hold an abundance of corals that can tear your skins off you if you manage to get wiped out over them and forced down to their reach. Sand bars and hidden rocks have caused many accidents among surfers as well. The only way to avoid this problem is to properly survey the location before attempting any waves or swells. Origin of Surfing This water sport was said to begin in Hawaii where European adventurers in the 17th century observed the locals treading the huge swells of the Hawaiian coast with boards made of wood. In the early days, surfing is part of the local Hawaiian customs though there have been evidence that this sport is also a custom in many islands in the South Pacific. Floatation device or a life jacket is also a plus, but you can easily rent some out on the beach where you plan to spend your surfing vacation. 3. Accommodations It is very important that you consider the place where you will be staying when you go on your surfing vacation. In most cases, a hotel besides the beach where you plan to do your surfing is the best choice for you. If you're going to be surfing on the ocean or where tides can bring you out to sea in a matter of minutes then you need to bring a floatation device or wear a floatation vest to keep your head out of the water in case you are wiped out from your board. Some expert s advice you to bring a GPS device so you can keep track of your location just in case you stray too far from the beach.