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The most dangerous surfing spots

Shark infested waters, razor-sharp coral reefs and waves that break in front of large cliff faces: find out about the most dangerous surfing spots that are mostly a hazard to life and limb in this picture gallery.

  • Brutal surfing conditions in Hawaii

    Brutal surfing conditions in Hawaii

    The Banzai Pipeline on the North Shore of Oahu in Hawaii is considered to be the deadliest wave pattern in the world. It is a surf reef break located off Sunset Beach Park in Pupukea on Oahu’s North Shore.It breaks in shallow water by a sharp reef and has claimed seven lives since the 1980's. Despite the well-known danger, Pipeline remains one of the most crowded and intense lineups in the world.

  • Französisch-Polynesien - Tahiti Teahupoo - Welle mit Surfer (picture-alliance/dpa/G. Boissy)

    Teahupo’o, Tahiti

    Teahupo’o is on a reef off the southwest coast of the island of Tahiti, in the southern Pacific Ocean. Waves break onto a razor-sharp reef just a meters beneath the surface. A "Monster Swell" that hit the south coast of Tahiti, produced some of the most radical rides ever.

  • USA Surfen Mavericks Invitational (Getty Images/E. Shaw)

    Unpredictable conditions at Mavericks, Half Moon Bay

    Mavericks can be found just north of the town of Half Moon Bay south of San Francisco in northern California. The "Mavericks Invitational" is the biggest surf contest in the world. The waves here move so fast that a jet ski has to tow the surfers into the path of the wave. Also, rocky underwater ridges make conditions unpredictable.

  • Hawaii Surfen Peahi Challenge (Getty Images/AFP/B. Bielmann)

    Peahi or 'Jaws' in Maui

    A surfer rides down a 50-foot wave at Peahi or "Jaws" in Maui, Hawaii. Local surfers named the spot "Jaws" after the film, given the unpredictability of the waves, similar to a shark attack. Waves there can easily exceed 18 meters in height. This is caused by the structure of an underwater ridge.

  • Portugal Surfen Big Wave Surfer Fred David (Getty Images/AFP/F. Leong)

    Big swells in Praia do Norte

    Big-wave surfers test their limits off of Praia do Norte in Nazare, Portugal, where the highest waves ever surfed are located. American Garrett McNamara holds the world record for the tallest wave ever surfed at this spot. The wave was 78 feet (24 meters).

  • Australien Tasmanien Shipstern Bluff (Imago/UIG)

    Dangerous breaks at Shipstern Bluff

    Shipstern Bluff, on the south side of Tasmania in Australia, produces massive swells that slam into a granite ledge facing a rocky headland, as seen in this picture. Combined with cold temperatures and plenty of sharks, it is for the experienced surfer only. The waves there are also known for their multi-faceted inner formations, referred to as steps, which give the wave a unique appearance.

  • USA Hawaii Surfen The Quiksilver Contest (picture-alliance/AP Photo/E. Tanner)

    Waimea Bay in Oahu, Hawaii

    Big wave surfers flock to Waimea Bay in Oahu, Hawaii for massive and deadly breaks and wave walls that can reach up to 60 feet. The respected Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational is held for top surfers on years when the waves top 25 feet (18 meters).

  • Australien Hai-Alarm in bei Ballina (picture-alliance/dpa/D. Hunt)

    Beaches closed due to shark attacks in Australia

    The Australian town of Ballina in New South Wales gained global infamy when it became the poster child for a spate of shark attacks off the vast island continent's east coast.

  • Die gefährlichsten Surforte der Welt False Bay Südafrika (Imago/Nature Picture Library/C. Monique Fallows)

    Also shark infested, Seal Island, South Africa

    Great White Sharks often breach by Seal Island while hunting seals at Hout Bay, near Cape Town, South Africa. Seal Island, a small land mass that houses thousands of seals and is near the Dungeons, is a surf spot with massive deadly waves that break over boulders into the frigid water. The area is considered to be one of the most shark-infested places on the planet.


  • Brutal surfing conditions in Hawaii

    Brutal surfing conditions in Hawaii

    The Banzai Pipeline on the North Shore of Oahu in Hawaii is considered to be the deadliest wave pattern in the world. It is a surf reef break located off Sunset Beach Park in Pupukea on Oahu’s North Shore.It breaks in shallow water by a sharp reef and has claimed seven lives since the 1980's. Despite the well-known danger, Pipeline remains one of the most crowded and intense lineups in the world.

  • Französisch-Polynesien - Tahiti Teahupoo - Welle mit Surfer (picture-alliance/dpa/G. Boissy)

    Teahupo’o, Tahiti

    Teahupo’o is on a reef off the southwest coast of the island of Tahiti, in the southern Pacific Ocean. Waves break onto a razor-sharp reef just a meters beneath the surface. A "Monster Swell" that hit the south coast of Tahiti, produced some of the most radical rides ever.

  • USA Surfen Mavericks Invitational (Getty Images/E. Shaw)

    Unpredictable conditions at Mavericks, Half Moon Bay

    Mavericks can be found just north of the town of Half Moon Bay south of San Francisco in northern California. The "Mavericks Invitational" is the biggest surf contest in the world. The waves here move so fast that a jet ski has to tow the surfers into the path of the wave. Also, rocky underwater ridges make conditions unpredictable.

  • Hawaii Surfen Peahi Challenge (Getty Images/AFP/B. Bielmann)

    Peahi or 'Jaws' in Maui

    A surfer rides down a 50-foot wave at Peahi or "Jaws" in Maui, Hawaii. Local surfers named the spot "Jaws" after the film, given the unpredictability of the waves, similar to a shark attack. Waves there can easily exceed 18 meters in height. This is caused by the structure of an underwater ridge.

  • Portugal Surfen Big Wave Surfer Fred David (Getty Images/AFP/F. Leong)

    Big swells in Praia do Norte

    Big-wave surfers test their limits off of Praia do Norte in Nazare, Portugal, where the highest waves ever surfed are located. American Garrett McNamara holds the world record for the tallest wave ever surfed at this spot. The wave was 78 feet (24 meters).

  • Australien Tasmanien Shipstern Bluff (Imago/UIG)

    Dangerous breaks at Shipstern Bluff

    Shipstern Bluff, on the south side of Tasmania in Australia, produces massive swells that slam into a granite ledge facing a rocky headland, as seen in this picture. Combined with cold temperatures and plenty of sharks, it is for the experienced surfer only. The waves there are also known for their multi-faceted inner formations, referred to as steps, which give the wave a unique appearance.

  • USA Hawaii Surfen The Quiksilver Contest (picture-alliance/AP Photo/E. Tanner)

    Waimea Bay in Oahu, Hawaii

    Big wave surfers flock to Waimea Bay in Oahu, Hawaii for massive and deadly breaks and wave walls that can reach up to 60 feet. The respected Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational is held for top surfers on years when the waves top 25 feet (18 meters).

  • Australien Hai-Alarm in bei Ballina (picture-alliance/dpa/D. Hunt)

    Beaches closed due to shark attacks in Australia

    The Australian town of Ballina in New South Wales gained global infamy when it became the poster child for a spate of shark attacks off the vast island continent's east coast.

  • Die gefährlichsten Surforte der Welt False Bay Südafrika (Imago/Nature Picture Library/C. Monique Fallows)

    Also shark infested, Seal Island, South Africa

    Great White Sharks often breach by Seal Island while hunting seals at Hout Bay, near Cape Town, South Africa. Seal Island, a small land mass that houses thousands of seals and is near the Dungeons, is a surf spot with massive deadly waves that break over boulders into the frigid water. The area is considered to be one of the most shark-infested places on the planet.


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