Yes, I think you need a special kind of leather for surfing or for “intense” use. I have a simple leather on my bracelets and necklace, I use one of my bracelets all summer for swimming as well but after two months I remake it just to be sure.
We had a photographer with his surfer wife on the island some years ago doing a photoshoot, they were staying at a friends house and I was waiting for them at the port. The first thing I see is a gorgeous Ts leather neckace on her!!! So of course my first question is about the pearls

Turns out the photographer’s cousin lives in Mexico and makes leather pearl jewelry...Using a special resistent hand rolled leather in her designs. I immediately checked her site, it is called TerreMerLove and there are some lovely designs. Too pricey for me, but a great inspiration. The most important information was that the surfer has been wearing her necklace non stop for 4 years at the time and it was still holding up and looking great! They live in Costa Rica. I am sure there are leather options for Florida too BWeaves.