The best advice I could give would be, choose the location wisely. Maybe try fishing a beach protected by a breakwall first. Then graduate to south or north facing beaches where the waves aren't that big. When there are waves, observed the surf and learn to time the sets. Launch your tube exactly when the set ends and kick like hell to get beyone the break before the next set. Do the same when getting out... Sit just beyone the wave breaks util the set has passed. Then kick like hell to reach shore before you get pounded. It takes patience and good timing.

Good luck,
Terry G.