Bensambrook, where and what did you get?
Adam, they are not hard to take. I have one of these:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-PowerShot-Digital-Camera-Optical/dp/B001T9NH7E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1316205743&sr=8-1
They took VAT off so about £180 at the time ( a bit more now).
Then all you need is somewhere local to get in the water. I usually take around 100 shots to get 1 or 2 decent ones, the trouble with point and shoot is lack of control. But for £180 it's fine. A housing for an SLR is mega bucks and waterproof rigs are too.
The only other thing I would say is good local knowledge about the type of waves. I knew these were going to be hollow and had been reading weather charts for a few days before to know when the swell was going to hit, with the correct wind direction. For once I got it exactly right!! Or the weatherman did lol. I went to a certain spot here at a certain time which only a local would know. In fact I went to 2 different places as the first place absolutely mullered me, it was too dangerous.
This time of year is prime as the Autumn swells are going to hit, and its still warm enough to get in the water. I have spent far too many winters surfing so no way am I going in in Jan/Feb anymore!!
You could just stand up to your waist and take pics of small waves from the side, it works quite well. Be careful of your camera though, easy to get caught out ;-)
Thanks for the positive comments too.