Surfing’s Deadliest Waves, by the Numbers (Video)

Above, surf vlogger Dan Harmon breaks down surfing’s deadliest waves by the numbers. These are the waves that have documented fatalities. And they’re also some of the most celebrated, yet notoriously dangerous, surf spots in the world.

Harmon goes into a total eight different spots, where documented surfing deaths have unfortunately taken place. But here’s the top three. (Note: The following figures were provided by Harmon, and have not been independently fact-checked.)

Maverick’s (2 Deaths)

California’s premier big wave gauntlet, nestled in the sleepy town of Half Moon Bay, is home to two high-profile surfing deaths: Mark Foo (1994) and Sion Milosky (2011).

“It’s one the heaviest, most iconic big wave spots on earth,” says Harmon. “Dark brown, sharky water, massive waves…it’s a serious wave. Everything about it is terrifying…Two of the best big wave riders on earth were taken by Maverick’s, which shows just how gnarly it is.”

Playa Zicatela aka Puerto Escondido (5 Deaths)

The Mexican Pipeline, Playa Zicatela, Puerto Escondido…call it what you will, the beachbreak outside of Oaxaca is one of the heaviest waves in the world. There’s really nowhere to hide out there, like a minefield of liquid bombs detonating on the sand bottom.

“I think the reason Zicatela is so dangerous,” says Harmon, “is that the break is so powerful, and so heavy, but once you wipeout it keeps you in the impact zone. It doesn’t push you to the beach. It’s dished out some serious beatdowns and injuries, over the years, and it’s very deadly, serious wave.”

Pipeline(7 Deaths)

Pipeline’s reputation in the surf world as one of the best, most dangerous, most crowded, most [insert superlative here] wave in the world is all true. It’s surfing’s mecca. It was, and will always be, the pinnacle of surfing performance. But it’s also insanely dangerous. A heaving slab breaking on a notoriously sketchy reef. Add in the crowd factor, and people not equipped to surf such a wave, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster.

“It’s a serious, serious wave,” says Harmon. “People can get hurt out there so easily. So, yeah, Pipeline is the deadliest wave on earth.”