Jason Momoa Details Near-Drowning Off Maui: 10-Foot Waves, Broken Leash, and a Heroic Rescue
Zoe Bennett here. The facts matter. Let’s break down what happened and why it matters.
Jason Momoa recounted a harrowing open-ocean episode off Maui that nearly cost him his life, telling the tale on the “SmartLess” podcast with hosts Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, and Sean Hayes. According to Momoa’s first-person account, the incident took place in 2007 during a 13-mile paddle around the famed Jaws surf break. He said he was paddling alongside big-wave legends Laird Hamilton and Dave Kalama when his leash snapped and the wind carried his board away, leaving him stranded about a half-mile offshore amid sustained 10-foot waves.
Momoa’s narrative is visceral and precise: he described being pummeled by breakers so forceful they tore off his boardshorts, left him gasping and fatigued, and ultimately caused him to physically and mentally “lose it” while thinking of his then-3-month-old daughter. He said his legs and arms were exhausted, and that his body gave way until his feet hit the outer reef. There he clawed into coral to try to spring back toward air, but the surf kept pushing him down. He says he was internally screaming as he surrendered to the tide and current.
The rescue, Momoa told the podcast, came from Laird Hamilton, who navigated through the punishing surf and came up behind him with a board in tow. They then had to paddle over the continuing sets to escape the current and complete the remaining miles of their journey. Momoa said his feet were bleeding but he managed to paddle another seven miles to their destination. He added that the trauma of that day was the only thing that got him to quit smoking cigarettes.
Why this account matters: it’s a rare, detailed first-person look at the real dangers of big-wave ocean sports even for elite athletes and experienced paddlers. Momoa’s description stacks up with known hazards around Jaws—powerful currents, heavy shore-driven sets, and deadly reef—conditions documented in surf science literature and long-discussed by local Hawaiian surf communities. His mention of broken gear, separation from a board, and the role of a fellow paddler in rescue are all common themes in documented big-wave incidents, underlying how quickly a routine session can become life-threatening.
Context and corroboration: Momoa told this story on the May 2025 episode of “SmartLess” (hosts’ names and podcast appearance are public and verifiable). Laird Hamilton and Dave Kalama are established big-wave figures with extensive public records, film credits, and media interviews describing their own exploits at Jaws and other breaks; those backgrounds lend plausibility to Momoa’s claim that he was in elite company when the incident occurred. The date given—2007—fits into a period when Momoa was regularly active in ocean sports prior to his breakout acting years.
From a safety standpoint, the episode underscores three verifiable takeaways: ditch-resistant equipment is critical but not infallible; even skilled companions may lose visual contact in heavy surf; and immediate local knowledge—how to read sets, current escapes, and reef behavior—often determines survival.
Momoa’s story blends celebrity drama with sober maritime risk. It’s a reminder that fame does not grant immunity from nature’s force, and that rescues often depend on quick thinking and the presence of experienced partners. For fans and outdoor enthusiasts alike, the account is both a cautionary tale and a testimony to survival.
That wraps up today’s analysis. Watch for follow-ups if Hamilton or Kalama add their perspectives, and expect renewed chatter about safety gear and training for big-wave paddling.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ, SmartLess podcast
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
