Surfers Score Bob Marley Beach Before Hurricane Melissa (Video)

Originally posted on SURFER | By Dashel Pierson | Last updated Oct 28, 2025 4:07 PM ET

Our hearts go out to the good people of Jamaica. The strongest storm to ever hit the island – Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 – made landfall today (Tuesday), and is expected to inflict major damage to the tiny, irie island nation.

Flooding, heavy rains, fierce winds, and storm surges are expected. Residents are being ordered to shelter in place. Already, three deaths have been reported.

It’s a sad situation, and we hope for the best as this historic storm plays out. However, before Melissa made landfall, a handful of surfers took advantage of the forthcoming hurricane, in particular the swell, and hit the awesomely-named Bob Marley Beach.

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A post shared by CVM Television (@cvm_television)

From CVM Television, a Jamaican TV station based in Kingston, they featured footage of the surfers at the black sand beach lefthander with the caption:

“As Hurricane Melissa draws closer to Jamaica, some thrill-seekers have taken to the waves at Bob Marley Beach in St. Andrew. Authorities continue to urge the public to avoid coastal areas as dangerous surf and storm surge conditions are expected to worsen.”

Turns out, one of the surfers in the water pre-hurricane was Ivah Wilmot, son of Jamaican surfing Rastafarian father Billy “Mystic” Wilmot. And when he spotted the clip, he reposted it on his own account, accompanied by the epically phonetic patois caption:

“I’m sure you seen the news clip by now and yes that was me surfing the storm swell. Hurricane Melissa a move like she bad but mi out deh a surf out har belly. Waves was so good too. I wish the weather wasn’t bad so I could still be out there.”

However, Ivah added a caveat about the dangers of such a session:

“Do not attempt storm surfing without proper training/experience. Stay safe people.”

Indeed. Stay safe to all the people of Jamaica. Jah bless.

This article first appeared on SURFER and was syndicated with permission.

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