I can't stress enough the importance of taking this seriously. A great deal of diving accidents (might even be the majority) happen on the surface, and entry into the water is especially dangerous. After all, that's when you will find out if you missed a problem with your gear during the pre-dive check. Even having your main regulator neatly over your shoulder and octo in its place, after rolling over a couple of times on the rocks in high waves those regulators can be anywhere. And it doesn't matter if there's hardly any water too, if there are 2'+ waves rolling over you every few seconds. After a particularly nasty experience with this I have always done shore entries with BCD full, regulator hanging from my mouth (just biting on the side of the mouthpiece, not necessarily breathing through it yet), and in addition having my mask on if the waves are at all bigger than I'm completely comfortable with. And if not wearing my mask, I will have it around my neck, NEVER on my forehead. I have met even DMs who told me that I'm being over-cautious, but since I don't see any harm coming to anyone else from it, I will do what feels safe for me.