Surf Photographer's Camera Jet-Washed by 20-Foot Wave in Tahiti
A 20-foot wave in Teahupo'o, Tahiti, swamped a boat carrying surf photographer Guy Mac, jet-washing his camera gear. The first major swell of the season brought dangerous waves to the Southern Hemisphere, attracting thrill-seekers and photographers. Mac posted a viral video showing the wave breaking at tremendous speed, engulfing the boat in the ocean channel—a normally safe zone. The incident echoes a 2022 event where photographers Ted Grambeau and Chris Bryan were thrown overboard in the same area; Grambeau called it a near-death experience and lost expensive gear, while Bryan's camera landed back on the boat. The video's top comment warned of potential injuries to surfers.
Key facts
- Guy Mac's camera gear was jet-washed by a 20-foot wave in Teahupo'o, Tahiti.
- The first major swell of the season arrived in the Southern Hemisphere.
- Mac posted a viral video showing the wave breaking on his boat.
- The boat was in the ocean channel, a deeper area where waves normally don't break.
- In 2022, photographers Ted Grambeau and Chris Bryan were thrown overboard in the same area.
- Grambeau described it as a near-death experience and lost expensive camera gear.
- Bryan's camera landed back on the boat after he threw it in the air.
- The top comment on Mac's video expressed concern about surfers being hurt.
Entities
Artists
- Guy Mac
- Ted Grambeau
- Chris Bryan
Institutions
- PetaPixel
- Surfer.com
Locations
- Tahiti
- Teahupo'o
- Southern Hemisphere