I was in the same boat as Surfer Bob ...I am doing a Ph.D., too. And I am doing a professional qualification that takes three years to get. Books and surf don't mix. But my three best surfs have to be:

1. February. Rivermouth at Dominical, Costa Rica.
   About the third day the surf had gotten into my "intermediate" range, not too big, not too small, just right. The rip was just perfect, almost like one of those moving sidewalks at the airport, you just cut out at the end of your ride, and went back for more. It was a sandy/rocky break, so you didn't get cut up. Also, absolutely nobody was out. It was glassy and hollow, and just perfect weather. The days after that it was up to 14 foot faces, and that is too big for me.

2. Kaanapali, Maui.
   After many days surfing the small learner's break at Lahaina, I started to venture away to the north. The surf was chest high, warm, glassy paradise. This was a reef break, but an easier break for me and the waves weren't breaking so far out, as is typical in Hawaii. I look forward to returning there for a week this coming April.

3. Long Beach, Long Island New York.
   This was the remnants of Hurricane Dennis. This was some of the best shaped surf I have ever had on the US mainland. I hadn't surfed many hurricane swells before and I was pleasantly surprised. I posted the story.