Lessons
01.What You Will Need
02.Practicing on the Beach
03.Waxing Up
04.Paddling
05.Standing Up
06.Duck Diving
07.Riding Clean Waves
08.Bottom Turns
09.Basic Turning

06. Duck Diving

Duckdiving is the most important manoeuvre you will learn in surfing, Especially in the early days when you are beginner, without being able to duck dive you will never be able to make it out back to catch some waves.

So what is a duckdive I hear you asking?? Well a duckdive is how you get underneath waves whilst on your board. It’s a motion of pushing the nose of your board followed by the tail underneath the surface of the water as well as sinking your body so that when a wave approaches it rolls right over you whilst you pass under the turbulence unscathed. The main problem with this is when you first start out you will probably be on a big board that allows you stand up easily, the downside with this being its so big it makes it very hard to duckdive the thing. Here are some tips and pointers to get you out the back quickly.
The best way to execute the duck dive and get underneath a wave is to paddle at the oncoming wave hard; this will make it easier for you to push your board deep under water. So when the time comes you need to push down on your board as if you were trying to stand up on it, the only difference is you are trying to sink your board under water. As soon as the nose half of your board starts to go underwater push down on the tail with your knee (or foot for deeper duckdives) this will allow you to sink your entire board followed by your body to gracefully get underneath waves. Keep practicing them because as with everything practice makes perfect! If you are faced with a wave that is just to big to duckdive the best thing to do is to swim under it, to get a good dive underwater try this:
As the wave approaches you paddle at the wave and go to stand on yo ur board, as you get to a standing position dive off and swim for the bottom. The important thing to remember here is make sure there is no one behind you when you do this. Bailing your board in front of someone to get under a wave is a serious crime in surfing and can lead to very serious injury. If you do this you will hit the person behind you so always make sure the area behind you is clear. You will gain a lot more respect from fellow surfers if you cling onto your board rather than just throwing it away. If you do find yourself underwater taking a beating you have to remember to relax. If you try and relax, enjoy the ride and go with the flow you will preserve oxygen allowing you to stay underwater for long periods of time, if you panic your heart will us all your oxygen up in no time!
If you are finding your board way to big to duck dive try and do a barrel roll or Eskimo roll as it is otherwise known. When a wave is coming at you instead of trying a duck dive just roll yourself and your board over so you are upside down underwater. Remember don’t take your hands of the rails, keep a hold of you board as much as you possibly can to make it work and let the wave just pass over you and your board, once the wave has passed just roll the right way up and keep on paddling! As long as its not massive you will find this is a fairly easy way of getting out back.