Shore diving can be fun and inexpensive. But you do need to know some things.
1. How to read the waves. Waves come in cycles of 3-5 waves followed by a lull. Watch the water for 15 to 20 minutes and get a feel for the cycle. Enter the water and wade into knee deep water and wait for the last wave of the cycle, then go quickly out past the surf zone (past where the waves are breaking). Do it right entry is a breeze. Do it wroing and you will be rolling around on your a$# and may get injured.
2. If you meet a wave as you wade out know how to handle it. Waves that will strike you knee or below, just brace and turn sideways to prsent the smallest profile to the wave. If the wave hits you knee to mid thigh do the same as above or maybe even leap up a bit just as the wave gets to you. Wave waist high or higher, dive into the bottom of the wave an head for the ocean floor until the wave passes over you. I preferr no air in the BC to facilitate this. Others have in in the BC. You choose.
3. Know the local waters and hazards. There may be some things under the water that are just not diver friendly, rebar from an old dock just under the water where you wade in and other things. Some sites have rippiung currnets etc.
4. Fins off or on, your call. Me I like fins off until I am out past the surf zone so I can move quickly before the next wave comes. Others perferr fins on.
So a search of this site on beach diving there have been some long discussions on how to enter.
Look for signs of somting to see. If there are sea birds circling and diving, there are very likely fish.