The Deadliest Surfing Spots In The World

April 2024 ยท 2 minute read

At Pescadero Point in Pebble Beach, California, the ominously nicknamed surf break Ghost Trees has proven to be one of the most dangerous in the world. According to the Surfing Handbook, an offshore canyon focuses waves so that during winter months, when conditions are just right, they can reach an unfathomable 60 feet in height. 

After Ghost Trees was discovered by the surfing crowd in the 1960s, it became a popular destination. By the 21st century, tow-in surfing became popular, a form of surfing in which surfers get towed out on jet skis rather than paddling. Because of the size of the waves at Ghost Trees, this unlocked the door to the spot's popularization. But it was only a matter of time before tragedy struck.

In 2007, Monterey big-wave surfer Peter Davi, who in fact helped bring attention to Ghost Trees, paddled out among the raging waves. He then fell off his board, likely smashed his head and body against the rocks, and quickly drowned. It was a monumental tragedy since Davi was a well-known and respected surfer. Since this loss, personal watercraft have been banned within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, since they were deemed a threat to wildlife. This, in effect, makes surfing at Ghost Trees nearly impossible since you cannot physically paddle out to this spot's immense and powerful waves. But people still try, illegally.

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