Duck diving is the term used by surfers for the manoeuvre to push your surfboard under water to duck under an on coming wave
If you are serious about surfing it is a skill you will have to master. Without it you will struggle to get to the backline and waste unnecessary energy. You will have to duck dive any breaking wave bigger than two feet rather than floating over it. That is why it is called duck-dive!” It will take some time to perfect this skill, but practice makes perfect.
Step 1: Paddle with as much speed as possible to the approaching wave.
Step 2: Time it so you will start pushing your board down about 1 meter in front of the oncoming wave.
Step 3: Grab the board with both hands about halfway between the nose and midpoint of your board. Use your weight to push the nose down. Keep you head down to reduce the drag and follow the board with your head and body.
Step 4: Use your knee to push the tail under the water. Your momentum should thrust you deeper under the passing wave.
Step 5: Keep your board as level and as streamlined as possible.
Step 6: As the wave passes over you use your knee to apply a bit of pressure on the tail of your board. This will start pointing the surfboards nose to the surface. The flotation of your board will lift you to the surface.
Step 7: Start paddling as soon as you surface to avoid the suction of the wave.
Now you have the skill to paddle out into line-up or to duck dive the next wave.
