There are a number of 10Mega pixel or more 10metre water proof cameras that can do surf shots without a housing now, + there is the hero go pro HD camera,they all do reasonable jobs for a start in watershots. The Hero as a board mounted camera IMO get rapidly boring with the same aspect for every shot from the board. These are all smaller cameras and more mobile in the water.
DSLR and their housing are heavier big budget jobs and being in the water shooting , you better have a good swimming act together as you have to guess,aim, shoot avoid getting hit, rips sharks rocks and flying boards, and a good outfit with a good housing will set you back more for the housing than the camera.
Forget waterproof bags etc, one leak and you are history.
Boogie boards and mats can be a platform to shoot from but you increase the equipment you have to get through a wave to shoot.
One more question: Do you surf?
