If you're in areas where experienced surfers are heading straight to you, stay calm. Experienced surfers will have seen you and will adjust their surf line to surround you. Stay on your surfboard, don't be scared, don't jump off your board. Especially when you're surfing for the first time in an area, take it easy while getting to know the terrain (underwater).
If the wave keeps you submerged and you can't discern the path to the surface, you can follow the belt to the surface. It may not be the first thing you think of when you think about the safety of surfing, but natural hazards that you normally can't see very well, such as rocks, reefs, or boulders, represent one of the most significant risks for surfers. Shark attacks usually occur in specific places, so it's a matter of knowing the place where you are surfing, since the frequent presence of sharks is well known. Also remember that while you're learning to surf, it's more important to surf as many waves as possible than to surf the perfect wave.
Surf etiquette is a set of “rules” or a “code of conduct” that is based on common sense and consideration for others. Whenever possible, pick up a couple of plastic bags, bottles, or other trash items after your surfing session is over. This is probably simple on most beaches, but some surfing spots can be a little more complicated with the presence of cliffs, rocks, reefs, and unique currents or tidal movements. I knew that I had expected an increase in the waves and, in fact, it happened in the half hour that I was surfing there.
If the water is shallow and the ocean floor is rock or reef, the safest thing is to fall face down, doing what is called an “abdominal fall”, in which the body hits the surface of the water. As surfing continues to gain popularity and people of all ages and skill levels flock to their local surf spots, it's becoming increasingly important for everyone to understand and practice the basic rules of surfing. Try using your surfboard to protect yourself from impact and protect your head with your arms every time you fall off the board or run out of breath. As a beginner surfer, you'll fall off the board a lot, so it's best to try to do it as safely as possible.