Waterworld Comes to Nazaré (Gallery)

There’s a scene in Waterworld, the 1995 dystopian adventure flick, in which Dennis Hopper and his marauding goons unleash an attack on the anti-hero, Kevin Costner, and his catamaran. They storm the boat via jet ski, an entire battalion of ‘em, as Costner deftly navigates an escape. The visuals are iconic, and corny, searing the scene collectively in the brains of anyone who’s seen it. And thus, the refrain, “looks like Waterworld!” has entered the lexicon.

For photographer Ryan “Chachi” Craig, that was exactly went through his head upon his first visit to Nazaré, Portugal during the first notable swell of the 2024/25 season. Chachi has been traipsing through Europe this fall – mainly Ireland, where he captured some terrifying empty waves – and when a pulse popped up on the models, he booked a flight down to Portugal. When he arrived in Lisbon, then drove to the small fishing town that doubles as the world’s largest wave, he couldn’t even find a parking spot. The spectators were out in full force. Here’s his dispatch:

“I parked a couple miles away and weaved my way through the crowded streets. People from all over the world were chatting in their native languages, enthusiasm radiating in the air the closer I walked to the sea. The onshore morning winds had ripped apart the otherwise clean swell but that didn’t stop the lineup from being an absolute zoo. I was truly taken aback at first glance – scenes from the movie Waterworld flashed in my memory as I counted 40 jet skis in the lineup.

“Unlike other big wave breaks like Jaws or Maverick’s, where there is a defined channel and therefore a bit of order amongst the PWCs, Nazaré was some form of organized chaos with people weaving around each other while trying to hunt down the tallest peaks. Crowds of people with iPhones in hand lined the dramatic cliff edge which creates a unique vantage point for such powerful waves. The sheer magnitude and dangers of the swells dwindle when you’re this high up. Although there were a few massive waves, my curiosity led me more towards shooting the crowds and photographing with my drone then focusing in on the individual rides themselves.”

For more visuals from the hectic season-opener at Naz, keep scrolling.

All photos and captions courtesy of Ryan “Chachi” Craig.