Stunning, powerful and perfectly timed—these ocean wave photos bring the ocean’s magic right to your screen.
20 Breathtaking Ocean Wave Photos You Won’t Believe Are Real
Updated on Jun. 02, 2025
Huge crash
This giant wave is crashing as a small bit of sunlight reflects off of it at sunset.
Swimming under
A brave surfer duck dives under the wave after deciding not to ride it.
Fan of water
The surf breaks as it crashes into the Na Pali coast in Hawaii.
Churning tide
Whirlpools form as water from a river and the sea meet each other during high and low tide.
Surrounding the lighthouse
The first big storm of 2013 hit the Douro River harbor. Wind gusts were strong, causing massive waves to crash against the lighthouse.
Riding through
A young surfer rides through a barrel wave in French Polynesia.
Still moment
A photographer captures a wave about to break. The water looks as if it’s stretching into a circle—a perfect ocean wave photo.
High surf
Surfers enjoyed the high surf created by Hurricane Maria at Newport Beach. Some waves were up to 25 feet high.
Sun coming through
The sun shines bright through the barrel of a wave, giving it a glass-like sheen.
Half broken
In the distance, the wave crashes with force, while up close, it’s still gathering power.
Taking over the shore
A woman, looking very small, stands on a black sand beach in Iceland as the waves move in and out.
Underwater view
A rare view of an ocean wave crashing from underwater.
The dark and light
The sun setting behind the waves makes the top of the wave look almost clear, while the water below is dark.
Looking up
This image of a wave crashing from underwater looks like an abstract painting.
Risky shot
In order to get this dangerous ocean wave photo, the photographer had to risk being in a big swell breaking over a sharp reef below. It was worth the risk for such a stunning shot.
Larger than life
It can be hard to understand just how big waves can get. The surfer at the base of the wave gives you an idea of just how massive and powerful the ocean really is.
Brewing a storm
Huge waves break in the ocean in Australia as a storm starts to roll in.
Hitting the rocks
A man watches the waves crash over the rocks in Nazaré, Portugal. In this spot, there’s an underwater canyon that causes some of the biggest waves in the world.
Riding the surf
In Nazaré, Portugal, a pro surfer rides towering waves fueled by an underwater canyon, some of the biggest on Earth and perfect for breaking records.
Pink wave
A gorgeous turquoise blue wave crashes under a pink sunset sky.
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Source:
- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History – Ocean: “Currents, Waves and Tides”
