To watch or not to watch? Surfing with an Apple Watch

To watch or not to watch when surfing? Specifically, to wear an Apple Watch or not when playing in the ocean. So many pros and cons of surfing with an Apple watch. Let’s cover them.

I have never surfed without a watch. I used to wear a Casio, then a Shark. I was always the girl other surfers would ask if I had the time. I was a late adopter of the Apple Watch (I was using a Fitbit for my fitness stuffs), but I bought it specifically because of surfing. Not a surfing app or whatnot, but to get any ADT (that’s house alarm for you) alerts when my cats activated motion detection and the police would be called out. You do not want to know.

I always assumed that if you owned a smartwatch, and it was waterproof, there’s no reason not to wear it out surfing. So when a debate on the subject ensued, I was genuinely surprised—but now I understand…

Some of us call it the ultimate surf safety device. Others believe the lineup is sacred and should be screen-free. And some of us just don’t want to risk losing a $300 (soon to be $3,500 lol) gadget to a rogue wave.

✅ Surfing with an Apple Watch: The pros

🆘 Emergency calls & safety

Probably the biggest reason people love wearing their Apple Watch is the SOS feature and the ability to call and text from your watch.

Amy, one of the Girls Who Can’t Surf Good, remembers:

“I broke my leg surfing last summer. I dragged myself to shore and used my watch to call my husband. I never go out without it now.”

This is the kind of story that turns skeptics into believers. If you’re alone or out of phone range, the cellular feature can literally save you.

I personally use the walkie-talkie feature when I’m back on the beach. My husband and I cycle to the surf—no phones—so it’s easy to connect if we drift apart.

📈 Surf stats & movement tracking

Whether you’re using Strava, Dawn Patrol, or just counting your active minutes, the Apple Watch becomes a little surf diary. I use it to log how long I surfed each day and add it to my journal.

⏰ Dawn patroller hack

Kristy sets an alarm for her morning surf before work:

“It buzzes my wrist to let me know when I have to get out.”

No more pulling back your wetsuit sleeve to squint at your 2008 waterproof Casio.

🦈 Shark alerts (yes, really)

Some folks mention Sharktivity or similar apps. Not foolproof, but another layer of awareness—especially if you surf in sharky waters.

🍺 Surf, pay, repeat

Biggest pro for me—aside from the cat/police thing—is the wallet-free surf beer. Tap to pay at the bar post-sesh? Game changer.

⚠️ The cons of surfing with an Apple Watch

🫣 Losing the damn thing

Lisa said: “My husband lost his during a wipeout. Miracle of miracles—it washed up and someone returned it. But he’s too scared to wear it now.”

Several surfers are afraid to wear theirs unless it’s under the wetsuit sleeve. Way harder if you’re surfing in the tropics, half-naked.

You can use:

• Shark Leash strap (a surf leash for your wrist)
• Catalyst band
• Heavy-duty Velcro

🌊 Saltwater damage

Apple claims water resistance to 50m (or 100m for the Ultra), but some watches still died.
Rebecca shared: “Mine died in less than 20 minutes. Saltwater fried it.”

Pro tip: If yours dies, do not mention saltwater to Apple support 😏

😵‍💫 Tech kills the vibe

Becca knows what she wants: “I surf to disconnect. I don’t want to be reachable. That’s kind of the point.”

Some wear a rescue whistle instead. Others turn off all notifications and put the watch in theater mode so the screen goes dark.

🧠 Should you surf with one?

Ask yourself:

• Do you surf alone?
• Do you want to track your sessions?
• Do you need to be reachable for work or kids?
• Can you live with the risk of losing it?

If yes to most—cool, go for it. Just make sure it’s:

• Cellular-enabled
• Strapped down tight
• Covered by AppleCare

🌊 Final word

Some of us want surf to be the last sacred offline zone. Others just want to know they can call for help—or pay for beer (me!).

Do what feels right for you. The waves don’t care.