Surfing Waves

hey, hoping i could get advice on dims for a new shortboard. I'm 5ft6 and 60kg with pretty good fitness. I started on a 7'2 mini mal, progressed to a wide 6'7 shortboard, but want something smaller thats is easier to manage in larger waves, easy duck diving and just to generallly progress on.
I dont get to surf that often but once i can drive in 6 months i will alot more. I was wondering how small i could go?

probably pretty small... talk to a shaper. had a 6'4 shaped recently, progressed from a wide 6'8.. shaper crammed loads of foam in, (beaked the nose, slightly thicker, slightly wider, very little rocker etc.) wasn't all that big a leap really.
I'm 6 inches taller and 30kg heavier than you tho so I'm pretty sure you could go a good bit smaller. but a custom board will definitely make the transition way easier.

I went from a 7.0 funboard to a 6.4 and then to a 6.1. I am your hight, 20kg's more, and probably with poorer fitness. With your dimensions -- you should probably "end-up" in the 5'10 range, how fast you'll get there depends on your surfing level. I would go to something in the 6.2-6.4 range - not shorter. Good luck...

Awesome, cheers for the advice guys think ill start looking for something around 6'2 with reasonable float