When I hit the beach to surf I usually head down to Mermaid Beach. Though the waves are not among the best of the Gold Coast’s offerings, I choose this spot because of the ability to dodge the swelling crowds. Crowds and surfing: they’ve got a funny relationship. No serious surfer out there will tell you that they enjoy surfing in a tightly packed spot, yet nonetheless we all tend to exacerbate the matter by obeying certain sheep-like behavior (i.e. the “follow the pack” mentality).

A typical day at Mermaid Beach offers surfers roughly 3 or 4 peaks, though usually only one is being ridden, and by a ton of surfers. Before jumping in and paddling to a certain spot, I always have a good look to make a smart choice. My ultimate decision is always influenced both by how good the waves are and by how many surfers are already there. Usually, I’ll sacrifice a bit of quality to have more room for myself, but that’s a personal preference not everyone shares.

I’ll also often walk up to a kilometer in either direction to find the wave I’d like to surf. As soon as I catch a wave though, someone from the pack surfing the other wave will paddle over to join me. Heaven knows why they were not there already, the wave had been breaking all day. Obviously they just didn’t have the imagination or intelligence to realize the wave was there, until they saw me catch one.

I’m constantly amazed by the number of surfers who arrive at the beach and do not look for a wave. Rather they just paddle out to the closest group of surfers assuming that will be where the best waves are.

There have been days when I was the only surfer getting wet on days with excellent conditions all along the beach. Yet when another surfer gets in, they come sit on my tail instead of taking advantage of the ample space. In such scenarios I simply paddle over to the next wave to keep surfing, wondering the whole way there about the other surfer’s intelligence.

In the end, this prevalent behavior obliges me to wonder: what ever happened to the exploratory spirit that used to be so essential to surfing? Where has it ended up? When did it get substituted by this sheepish behavior where everyone just follows the rest? Perhaps I am peculiar now in my eagerness for uninterrupted surfing; maybe the crowd dynamic is what most people enjoy now? It’s beyond me, yet I can’t help thinking this type of behavior is odd.

Here is a thought. Every time you go to the beach for a surf, spend some time on the beach observing the waves before you paddle out. You may find a better wave if you look, you’ll definitely catch more waves if you find a less crowded one.

Jeffrey’s Bay South Africa is a magnificent place to visit. Jeffrey’s Bay is located on the Eastern Cape of South Africa. The sandy beaches are gorgeous. The ocean is clear and full of different colors of blue and greens. On a sunny warm day you can even watch the dolphins play in the wave’s right around you. The things to do in Jeffrey’s Bay are limitless.

Jeffrey’s Bay has several choices as far as rental home or hotel preferences. Every hotel or private home seems to have a view like no other. Every tourist seems to talk endlessly about the abundance of breakfast that you get regardless of where you stay. Tourists talk about the portion size and how the portions are large enough for more than one person.

The one place that is highly recommended when visiting Jeffrey’s Bay is the shell museum. It has the largest shell collection offered and is only open one day a week so check with your locals so you don’t miss this exhibit.

Many of the restaurants in Jeffrey’s Bay are a little pricey but are well worth it. The best way to find out about the best restaurants is to check with the locals. The locals will always be able to tell you where the best, “little hidden” restaurants are located at. Make sure you brush up on the language so you can read the menu; some things are written in their language. Kitchen Windows and the Sunflower are just a few that are highly recommended.

When going to any foreign country or outside of the United States you need to know the kind of money that they use. The African currency is the rand which is 100 cents per rand. You will have no problem if your money gets low because there are banks and ATM machines everywhere. Another thing to keep in mind when going to Jeffreys Bay or any other country is make yourself knowledgeable with the phone systems, driving rules, money systems and the languages that are spoken there.

Everyone who leaves Jeffrey’s Bay South Africa feels sad because they can’t stay longer. They don’t want their trip to come to an end because of its beautiful atmosphere.