I also have lived by the sea all my life, but about 2 years ago, I decided I had to learn! I have also dated a guy who surfed, and never quite got what it was all about.
Now I get it
I went for lessons with a surf school, the atmosphere is laid back and you get to try some lessons before committing to buying your own gear, which is perfect. There's about 6 - 10 people in a class maximum, and one instructor.
I would say you can learn alone but instruction helps you get there faster. Also, you get to make friends if you go to a school. It's fun!
If you decide to learn alone, I say first you should read a little about it. Find a site that teaches you how to paddle, how to suit up, how to get up on the board. The rules of what to do and what not to do with other surfers around - this is important.
The best board for beginners I would say is a malibu. It's big, but not quite a longboard. It gives you stability, as balancing on a short narrow board is pretty hard and takes a while to learn. Don't forget to read about how to wax your board properly, otherwise you'll slip off it.
The best suit option depends on where you live. If it's cold in the water but generally a warm area all year round, a 4/3 suit should keep you warm through winter and summer. It should last one or two years.
Once you have gear, go to the beach on a day when it's not windy, at at a time when the tide is good for surf, usually between high and low tide is the best time.
The best beaches for beginners are rocky bottomed ones. Seems strange but if the bottom is rock, you can quickly work out where the waves break and where it's safe and not. If its a sandy bottomed beach, sand banks shift and conditions change, and you'll have to learn to read the waves and currents. This is important but a beginner can't know everything.
Watch other surfers. Look where they are positioned and what they do. Beginners should stay out of the way of more experienced surfers, but if there is no-one in the spot you get in, it's likely there's a rip tide there that may be dangerous.
My best tip for a beginner is, if you don't know what to do when a huge wave is coming your way to pound you, look back to check if anyone is behind you, and if not, throw your board back, and dive forward into the wave, as deep as possible. It's a way of getting out of a sticky situation.
If a set of waves is coming your way and you're flustered, and you have time to turn, get on your board facing the shore, and paddle hard. With some luck, the wave will carry you back to shore. You don't even need to stand. If the board tries to nosedive, push down with your feet to keep the board flat.
A useful thing to have if you're alone, is to have a whistle that you can blow on to attract attention if you need help.
Before getting into, the sea, a warm up is a good idea, to avoid cramps. Also, practice getting up on the board before getting in.
I have to say, I love surf and I'm usually a very non-sporty person. But the feeling of surf is very different. It's exhilarating! It works out your entire body and makes you feel very alive. Also, it's not so hard to get up, at all. What is hard is having the paddling speed to catch the waves in the first place, and also staying up and doing something on the board, now that is tough!
Good luck!
