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If you are starting to learn. Learn with smaller waves, less crowded people.
I often to go Waikiki Beach with so many people trying to learn but with catamarans, swimmers so far out, and surfers learning but cant control the direction of the board, I dont know why there arent more accidents.
In the Los Angeles beaches, surfers and swimmers are often allocated certain beach stretches. Swimmers like to go far out where the water breaks much like the surfers but you can see the problem. I think thats why they separate them. Im places like Malibu, the surf spots are not usually the swimmer spots.
Overall I think Hawaii has the best surfing in terms of year round because there is always one side of the islands that is calmer for beginner/intermediate types. While other sides are those huge monster waves the pros like.
Definitely not Florida for anyone who’s not a beginner. Yeah I think Hawaii would be the best for both warmer water (than California) and waves. The East Coast of Florida may have decent waves at times, but I think the gulf coast and South Florida are extremely calm.
Not a state but Puerto Rico is also great for surfing especially Rincon area, which is a big surfing town but the waters are warm and waves big all over.
Florida is best for beginners:
Warm water, small waves. Almost all sand bottom beach break. A few reefs/points if you hunt for them. Crowded.
California is a good middle ground:
Cold water, small-to-XXL surf. A good mix of (sand) beach, reef, and point breaks. Mostly smooth rocks or sand bottom. Uber-croweded in summer or when the word gets out.
Hawaii is best of the 3 choices:
Warm water, small-to-XXL surf. Mostly reef and point breaks with sharp coral and rock bottom. Uber-crowded all the time.
There are MUCH better places to surf in the world. I know a lot of them.
The key to being happy if you get addicted to surfing, is to find a job near a good surf break so you can surf before, after, and/or on your lunch break.
I lived in Southern California most of my life and few years on the island on the island of Oahu. In Southern California you have to wear a wet suit most of the time because the water is soo cold except for the summer and the waves are usually around Malibu 2-5 at unless there's other weather conditions influencing it. Hawaii is warm all year round and the waves in Waikiki are good for a beginner there like 2-3 feet but you don't have to wear a wetsuit ever.
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