P.O.V. Massive wave at Big Beach in Maui wipes swimmers out!

POV of a massive wave in Maui hits unsuspecting swimmers and the camera man.

[-deakpk-]

That sensation when you know you are too far from the wave to go under it, but at the same time too close to escape is awful.

[lydia]

Ugh it’s like that *one* spot where you either have to swim forward as fast as you can, in hopes that you can ride the wave out, or you swim back to shore as fast as you can. Usually both don’t end so hot

[gabrielguerrero]

0:02 Literally everyone gets devoured by the wave except that person in the green floaty

[beirutspring]

The person with the green floaty has corrupted physics

[nonutnovember]

I would run to the wave because thats literally the best choice

[OwnFall]

PSA for anyone in a scenario like this:

Your safety could depend on quick and decisive action you take, especially if you’re near shore.

There are 3 scenarios you can take depend on where you’re positioned, if you believe you’re able to not get hit by the direct impact of the wave, and there’s no water rushing outward, running away can actually work.

The second option is if you’re in a position where you can’t run cause of water dragging towards the wave. If you’re close enough to the wave that you believe you can go under/through the center of the wave, that’s certainly your best bet. Run as fast as you can towards the wave and jump forward with your arms facing outward in a diving position, and hit slightly below the center. The reason you do this is so the momentum of you jumping in will decrease, or in cases with smaller waves eliminates the force take from the wave.

The overall objective is to not take the force of the wave upon impact, especially when you’re positioned near shore, where a neck injury can cause paralysis.

Scenario 3 is the worst case scenario where you have to take the impact of a wave near: get into a cannonball position, tucking your head inward with your hands behind your head. HOLD YOUR BREATHE. Your objective is to protect your head and neck from injury of the initial impact which WILL slam you against the shore, and shielding those parts are the most important thing you can do.

Hope this information helps you. Stay safe

[merrywalsh]

I worked as a nurse on Maui for 20 years. We had a few tragic cases of visitors breaking their necks and becoming quadriplegics from playing in, or body surfing, the shore break at certain beaches. The shore break can be a dangerous place. Watch the ocean for a while before going in to gauge the size and interval of waves and the presence of currents. Swim out just past the shore break. Know how to punch through oncoming waves. If you are a novice in Hawaiian waters, find the placid, more protected beaches.

[Emmmersson]

I love how the guy in the floaty just calmly goes over the wave.

[oinkyrepublic]

0:05 bystander on the left never escaped...

[wb_anks]

That looked like a double wave!!!! Time to practice lol

[Goldenleyend]

Literally all you have to do is avoid the white part, yet somehow everyone always gets caught by it

[Niopmahcheep]

This is what real life waterbending looks like without cgi

[skullyface]

0:03
Those people who went above the waves never seen the light of day again.

[geoffreytownsend]

I encountered the same thing at "Big Beach" about 10 years ago. The beach is so big, it tends to make waves look smaller than they actually are. The water generally looks calm, but huge swells come in, periodically, from the channel between Maui and Ko'olawe. The current in the channel is pretty fast, too, and will take you to the 'Big Island, " if you're not careful.

[jessicamerced]

Growing up near the beach, I'd definitely take a run for the center of the wave and dive right under the turbulence 😁 Someone in the comments explains it as the 2nd option! So true, it works and if you're close enough to the wave before it crashes and VERY familiar/comfortable with swimming in the ocean, you should be able to successfully dive under the wave without too much resistance.

[leahfarmer]

At the end I legit thought the hill in the background was a wave and started screaming at the screen it scared me so much 😂

[davidfryer]

That same thing happened to me in the 1990s 100 yards from their ar LITTLE BEACH, my favorite spot on this planet. It was rogue and 3 times the height is this one. It washed everyone beaches towels and bags. People were running around for an hour trying to find their keys. Mine was hung on a koave branch. I was luck but prepared most of us had no cloths on as it clothing optional. That wave was startling and monstrous. Wiped out everything on the beach.

[marcellofp]

Wave:You can’t defeat me
Everyone:I know, but he can
*The guy in the green floaty*

[breakingmad]

I experienced this before, if you go into the wave right before it touches the ground you get pulled and flipped over underwater like that kid at 0:04 It’s unsure if you’re gonna break a bone or resurface.

[Qt_achoo]

*Me talking to my brother at the beach not looking where the waves are coming from*
Wave: “hello :)”