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The Daily Insight

How many surfers have died

Author

Robert Spencer

Published Apr 02, 2026

Although there is no concrete data on the exact number of people who have died while surfing, the number is estimated to be no more than 10 per year– which in a world of approximately 23 million surfers, is startlingly low.

What surf spot has the most deaths?

  • Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii. …
  • Teahupoo, Tahiti. …
  • Shipsterns Bluff, Australia. …
  • Mavericks, California. …
  • Cyclops, Western Australia. …
  • Dungeons, Cape Town, South Africa.

What famous surfer died at Mavericks?

Mark FooPersonal informationBornFebruary 5, 1958 SingaporeDiedDecember 23, 1994 (aged 36) Mavericks, Half Moon Bay, California, USASurfing specifications

Can beginners surf in Nazare?

Just a mention of Nazare surf is enough to strike fear into the hearts of even the most seasoned riders. But this big-wave mecca isn’t always mighty. It’s still not the place for a beginner’s trip, though.

How fast do surfers go at Nazare?

What is Big Wave Surfing? For it to be considered big wave surfing, a surfer must tackle a wave of at least 20 feet (6.2 metres) high. Speeds of around 80km/h (50mph) are common, and wipeouts will see bodies skip along the water’s surface, like pebbles skimmed on a lake.

Was Kirk Passmore's body ever found?

It proved to be a fatal decision, and after a big drop and wipeout, Kirk disappeared. Despite a massive coast guard search, his body was never found, and the question about flotation devices came to the fore in big wave circles, as one would surely have saved his life.

How many surfers have died at Jaws?

Seven surfers have died at the break and many more have suffered serious injuries. Once such surfer was Tamayo Perry, a local Hawaiian who was known as one of the best surfers there. In 2005 he was struck by another surfer’s board, the fin lodging in his head.

Has there ever been a 100 foot wave?

With a measured height of 78 feet, it was the biggest wave ever surfed. 100 Foot Wave tells the story behind that record wave as well as McNamara’s quest to find an even bigger one. It features some of the most high-resolution, jaw-dropping surfing footage ever produced.

Why is Nazare so big?

Nazaré is a very popular surfing destination because of the very high breaking waves that form due to the presence of the underwater Nazaré Canyon. The canyon increases and converges the incoming ocean swell which, in conjunction with the local water current, dramatically enlarges wave heights.

How tall are Nazare waves?

Located around 100 km (60 miles) to the north of Lisbon, Nazaré is a seaside town on Portugal’s western side. Facing the Atlantic Ocean, this town is renowned for its incredibly high breaking waves. The wave height at Nazaré often exceeds 20 meters (65 feet), and occasionally reaches more than 30 meters (100 feet).

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How deep is the water at Nazare?

The Nazaré Canyon is an undersea canyon just off the coast of Nazaré, Portugal, in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean. It is the largest submarine canyon in Europe, reaching depths of about 5,000 metres (16,000 ft) deep and a length of about 230 kilometres (140 mi).

How deep is the water at Nazare Portugal?

At its deepest, the Nazare Canyon is some 16,000 feet from the ocean’s surface, according to the Portuguese Hydrographic Office.

What is the biggest wave ever surfed?

It may have happened back in 2011, but this week Garrett McNamara’s 78-foot Nazaré wave was officially confirmed by Guinness World Records as the largest wave ever surfed.

Who died surfing?

Spanish Surfer Óscar Serra, 22, Dies in Surfing Accident: ‘There Are No Words’ Spanish surfer Óscar Serra has died following a surfing accident in Mexico. He was 22. The incident occurred earlier this week when Serra was surfing in the southern part of the country, the Spanish Surfing Federation confirmed in a tweet.

Is Nazare Portugal worth visiting?

Is Nazaré Worth Visiting? Nazaré may not have any major landmarks or famous tourist sights, but the combination of the scenery, the beach, and local traditions makes it one of the must-see places in central Portugal. In my view, Nazaré is definitely worth a visit.

Has anyone tried to surf a tsunami?

You can’t surf a tsunami because it doesn’t have a face. Many people have the misconception that a tsunami wave will resemble the 25-foot waves at Jaws, Waimea or Maverick’s, but this is incorrect: those waves look nothing like a tsunami. … On a tsunami, there’s no face, so there’s nothing for a surfboard to grip.

Is Nazare bigger than Jaws?

Though Nazare has height, Jaws breaks with added width and volume. “The thing about Jaws is that it breaks at 60 feet, and the funnels down the line for 300 yards,” Jaws local legend Ian Walsh tells GrindTV. “Making the drop is just the start of your problems.”

Has anyone died surfing Teahupoo?

There has been one recorded surfing death at Teahupo’o since 2000: Tahitian surfer Brice Taerea who was killed at Teahupo’o in 2000, just one week before the annual Teahupo’o WCT event. Taerea attempted to duck-dive a dangerous 12-foot (3.7-meter) wave but was thrown over the falls, and landed head first on the reef.

Can you drown while surfing?

Drowning There is a very real risk of drowning while surfing. Hold-downs, getting trapped on the reef, being separated from your board and not being able to swim in, and unconsciousness through a collision are all possible causes of drowning while surfing .

How many surfers drown each year?

If we took the surf zone drowning statistics from the beginning of the article (2.36 per 100,000) and assume there are approximately 17 million surfers in the world, an average of 401 drownings occur at these beaches each year.

What is the lip of a wave?

Lip: The top part of the wave that “pitches” from above when the wave is breaking. A big part of the wave’s power is located in the lip. Shoulder (or “Face”): The part of a wave that has not broken yet. Surfers ride from the area that is breaking, toward the unbroken section of the wave called “shoulder” or “face”.

What caused the Nazare Canyon?

The origin of the Canyon is still shrouded in mystery, because it belongs to a complex geological area. However, researchers believe that it might be related with the Nazaré fault, a fracture zone with movements that can cause earthquakes.

What does the name Nazare mean?

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Nazaré is Portuguese for Nazareth.

Who rode 100 foot wave?

Big Wave Surfer Garrett McNamara On His Chase For The ‘100 Foot Wave’

Where are 100ft waves?

100 Foot Wave is an American documentary television series directed by Chris Smith, revolving around big-wave surfer Garrett McNamara as he traveled to Nazaré, Portugal with the goal of conquering a 100-foot wave. It premiered on HBO on July 18, 2021.

Did Garrett McNamara surf a 100-foot wave?

In January 2013, McNamara broke his own world record by surfing an estimated 100-foot (30 m) wave. He also did this off the coast of Nazaré.

What time of year does Nazare break?

The Big Waves season in Nazare – Portugal, is between October and March (winter season in Portugal, but September and April also work in some years). So that is the best time to see the Nazare big waves.

Who first rode Nazare?

Nazaré, specifically Praia do Norte or North Beach, is home to the biggest surfable waves on the planet. Ten years ago, it was unknown even in big-wave circles, but that changed when Garrett McNamara, a 52-year-old Hawaiian who is one of the pioneers of the sport, was given a tip-off by local bodyboarders.

Why do surfers have blonde hair?

The hair of surfers is often damaged and bleached, brought about by frequent exposure to sunlight, humidity and salty water. Blonder or red headed individuals tend to be more affected, given that their pheomelanin is more sensitive.

What ocean is Nazare in?

The Nazaré Canyon is an undersea canyon just off the coast of Nazaré (Portugal), in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean. It has a maximum depth of at least 5,000 metres (16,000 ft) and is about 230 kilometres long. The Nazaré Canyon is the reason why the waves are so big and so high breaking.