Our North Shore Oahu surf school, JOB Surf Experience, is built for beginner-friendly sessions at Turtle Bay, but just down the road from our mellow home break, you’ll find one of the most infamous and ferocious surf spots in the world: the Banzai Pipeline.
For student surfers, North Shore Oahu surfing might start gently, but it’s impossible not to be awed by nearby monsters like Pipeline, Jaws, and Teahupo’o, legendary breaks that define surfing big waves and push the boundaries of human performance.
These five waves aren’t just dangerous, they’re iconic. Each one is among the biggest waves in the world and carries a reputation that every serious surfer knows.
Banzai Pipeline (North Shore Oahu, Hawaii)
Just a few miles from our surf school, the Banzai Pipeline is the crown jewel of heavy waves, and the deadliest. This reef break creates fast, hollow, powerful barrels that crash in shallow water just off the sand. Surfing Pipeline isn’t for the faint of heart, it’s a rite of passage for elite surfers from around the globe.
Watch these iconic waves break.
Nazaré (Nazaré, Portugal)
The wave at Nazaré is more than a swell — it’s a global phenomenon. Fed by a deep underwater canyon off the Portuguese coast, Nazaré waves reach record-breaking heights and have become synonymous with the biggest waves in the world. Garrett McNamara’s legendary rides here made headlines and changed big wave surfing forever.
Watch Garrett McNamara set a world record in Nazaré
Peahi/ Jaws (Maui, Hawaii)
Also nicknamed as Jaws, this monster wave was once thought unsurfable. First ridden in 1975 by local Maui surfers John Lemus, John Potterick, and John Roberson, Pe‘ahi lay dormant until tow‑in surfing revolution in the 1990s. Led by Laird Hamilton and the Strapped Crew, surfers rode these massive waves and put surfing the big waves at Pe’ahi on the map. Today, Jaws hosts one of the world’s most prestigious big wave competitions.
Watch Laird Hamilton tow in Jaws.
Ship Stern Bluff (Tasmania, Australia)
Ship Stern Bluff is as brutal as it is bizarre. With its signature “step”, a mid-face ledge that surfers must navigate mid-drop, Ship Sterns is a wild ride that breaks far below sea level. This mutant wave, located off Tasmania, adds an extra layer of fear with the possibility of Great White shark encounters.
Learn more about the science behind the waves at Ship Stern Bluff.
Teahupo’o (Tahiti, French Polynesia)
Teahupo‘o delivers a heavy-lipped, glassy left over shallow reef that demands precision. Even at head-high size, it’s dangerous, thanks to sharp coral close to the surface and massive breaking force. Surfing Teahupoo Tahiti is a challenge that only the most skilled surfers accept.
Learn more about how the Teahupo‘o waves work.
Why We Teach at Turtle Bay
While the world’s elite tackle monstrous waves like Pipeline and Teahupoʻo, our focus at The JOB Surf Experience is on helping you learn to surf safely and confidently. North Shore Oahu surfing includes a range of conditions, and our school is proud to operate in the protected, beginner-friendly waters of Turtle Bay.
It’s the perfect place to begin your journey before you ever dream of stepping up to the world’s most dangerous breaks. Book your lesson today!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is it safe to surf on the North Shore of Oahu?
A: North Shore Oahu surfing can be beginner-friendly in summer months (like at Turtle Bay), but in winter, waves can reach 30+ feet. Beginners should stick to designated surf schools or gentler breaks.
Q: What is the biggest wave ever surfed?
A: Some of the biggest waves in the world have been surfed at Nazaré, Portugal, where underwater canyons amplify swell into record-breaking heights. Waves over 100 feet have been documented.
Q: What is the most dangerous wave in the world?
A: Many surfers consider the Banzai Pipeline on Oahu’s North Shore the most dangerous wave on the planet. Its fast, hollow barrels break over a shallow reef, making wipeouts especially hazardous.
