Jason Momoa’s Near-Drowning at Maui’s “Jaws”: How the Surf Nearly Took Aquaman
Jason Momoa nearly drowned while surfing off Maui’s famed “Jaws” break, he revealed on the Aug. 11 episode of SmartLess. Hi, I’m Jordan Collins. I suppose you needed me to spell this out, so okay, I’ll explain, but try to keep up.
Jason Momoa, the actor best known for playing Aquaman, recently recounted a harrowing near-death experience from roughly 18 years ago when he was surfing at Jaws, a notoriously massive and dangerous surf break off the coast of Maui. He told the story on the Aug. 11 SmartLess podcast, giving a detailed first-person account that includes the names of other prominent surfers present, the moment his surfboard leash snapped, and the frightening minutes that followed while he fought to stay afloat in open ocean swells reportedly reaching 10 feet.
Momoa said he was paddling about 13 to 14 miles with well-known big-wave surfers Dave Kalama, Joe Flanigan, and Laird Hamilton when disaster struck. He described being nearly a mile offshore with brutal water movement that locals call “s–tf–ks” for how violently the current rips and the waves pound you. According to Momoa, his leash snapped about seven miles into the outing, which left him separated from his board and vulnerable to multiple heavy waves hitting him in succession.
At one point Momoa says his body stopped working and he could not move his arms; he “bubbled down” and then felt his toe find the outer reef below. That toe touching rock is the precise moment he believes saved him. He explained how he grabbed the reef, dug his feet into coral, and managed to keep his face just above water long enough for rescue by Laird Hamilton, who navigated back toward Momoa and returned his board. The pair then wrestled their way back to shore in an exhausting, traumatic retrace of events.
Momoa’s description is vivid and specific: the distance paddled, the identity of the surfers, the height of the swells, the broken leash, and the physical collapse he experienced. He also shared an emotional detail many fans might not have known: at the time his daughter Lola Momoa was about three months old, and thinking of her in that moment made him “lose it.” That detail gives the story human stakes beyond celebrity peril and anchors the account in a specific time of his life.
He said the experience was life-altering in practical ways as well. Momoa claims that after that ordeal he quit smoking immediately; he notes he used to smoke multiple packs a day but stopped after resurfacing from that terrifying episode because he felt he had already “died” and couldn’t go back to his old habits. He also described feeling connected to his ancestors during the rescue, saying he prayed to his grandparents as he fought to survive.
This account was told publicly on the SmartLess podcast and corroborates known details about Jaws as one of the world’s most dangerous surf spots, frequented by elite big-wave surfers. Momoa’s story adds a celebrity angle to the commonly cited perils of big-wave surfing and demonstrates how even experienced athletes can be overwhelmed by ocean conditions.
If you want the short version: famous guy nearly drowns in famously deadly surf, survives because of a tiny reef shelf and a fellow pro’s rescue, and walks away with a new lease on life and a vow to quit smoking. You’re welcome for the clarity.
Final note: Momoa’s story was recounted on the Aug. 11 SmartLess episode and aligns with general public knowledge about the Jaws break and the perils of big-wave surfing, making it a credible, first-hand celebrity survival tale. Well, now you finally understand!
Sources: Celebrity Storm and SmartLess podcast, E! Online
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
