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One of the most important things any new surfer should learn is surfing etiquette.  There are actually rules to surfing, although they are more like guidelines to keeping everyone safe and happy in the water.  There is a definite hierarchy and pecking order in the lineup, and this helps enforce these rules.

For example, surfing etiquette demands that surfers respect the right of way:  when someone is up riding a wave, nobody should attempt to take off on or surf that same wave.  This is called "dropping in" and besides being very annoying it is also very dangerous.

Another rule of surfing is to paddle around to get to the lineup–don’t paddle directly through the area where everyone is riding waves.  This way you will not spoil anyone’s ride.

Surfing etiquette is highly important when surfing at crowded breaks.  Because of the sheer number of people in the water, collisions become much more frequent.  If everyone follows the rules then collisions can be avoided and everyone will be much safer.