Jason Momoa Recalls Near-Drowning Horror in Surfing Accident

The ocean, often his cinematic domain, nearly claimed Jason Momoa’s life in a terrifying real-life encounter off the coast of Maui. The Aquaman star recently recounted a harrowing 2007 surfing accident at the infamous “Jaws” surf break (Peʻahi) that pushed him to the brink of drowning, revealing a moment where he “gave up” and thought of his infant daughter.

Speaking on the “SmartLess” podcast, Momoa described a grueling long-distance paddle covering approximately 13 miles near Maui. Roughly seven miles into the journey, disaster struck far offshore: his surfboard leash snapped. Suddenly adrift and separated from his flotation device, the actor found himself battling the immense power of the Pacific alone.

How Did Jason Momoa Survive His Near-Death Ocean Ordeal?

Despite significant water training, Momoa faced overwhelming conditions. “I was trained pretty well, so I was fine. I took quite a few on the head,” he recounted. However, the reality was brutal: relentless 10-foot Hawaiian waves pounded him as fierce winds pushed him towards the treacherous outer reef, a location so remote his companions couldn’t spot him. “I was stuck in this crazy spot… they couldn’t see me. I had my paddle and I was waving it and they couldn’t see me, and the waves were so big,” Momoa explained. His desperate signals went unseen against the churning ocean backdrop.

The Moment Hope Nearly Died

Exhaustion and despair set in. “I just lost it, I was like, ‘Oh s—’,” Momoa admitted. His physical strength failed: “I was out there for a while… I couldn’t move anymore, and my arms and my legs gave up… My body stopped. Like I couldn’t move my arms anymore, and I bubbled down.” He described hitting the reef below. “I literally gave up, and I’m screaming inside.” In that critical instant, the thought of his three-month-old daughter, Lola Iolani, flooded his mind. The devastating prospect of never seeing her again intensified his anguish, even as his body surrendered.

Rescue and the Grueling Fight to Shore

Miraculously, a friend finally spotted him. Help arrived on another surfboard. Yet, their ordeal was far from over. They faced another seven grueling miles battling powerful currents and crushing waves that repeatedly knocked them off. Momoa, his feet bleeding, drew on deep reserves. He credits the strength of his ancestors for fueling his desperate paddle to safety. This near-fatal experience served as a profound, life-altering reminder of the ocean’s raw, unforgiving power, forever changing the perspective of the man who would later rule the cinematic seas.

The experience was a brutal testament to nature’s dominance, stripping away Hollywood bravado to reveal a father’s raw fight for survival and the fragile line between life and death.

Must Know

1. When did Jason Momoa almost drown?
   Jason Momoa’s near-drowning incident occurred in 2007 while he was surfing off the coast of Maui, Hawaii. He recounted the harrowing experience in detail on the “SmartLess” podcast in August 2025. The event happened long before his global fame as Aquaman solidified.
2. Where exactly did Jason Momoa’s surfing accident happen?
   The accident took place at the Peʻahi surf break, notoriously nicknamed “Jaws,” located near Maui, Hawaii. Momoa was approximately half a mile offshore during a long-distance paddle covering about 13 miles when his surfboard leash broke, leaving him stranded in powerful currents and massive waves.
3. What saved Jason Momoa from drowning?
   A combination of factors contributed to Momoa’s survival. His prior water training helped him endure the initial battering. Crucially, a friend eventually spotted him and reached him with another surfboard. Ultimately, Momoa credits a surge of determination fueled by thoughts of his infant daughter and ancestral strength for enabling him to paddle the final, brutal miles to shore despite exhaustion and injury.
4. How did Jason Momoa describe the moment he thought he would die?
   Momoa described reaching a point of utter physical and mental exhaustion: “I literally gave up.” He recounted his body shutting down (“I couldn’t move my arms anymore”) and sinking (“I bubbled down”). In that terrifying moment, the overwhelming thought was of never seeing his three-month-old daughter, Lola Iolani, again.
5. How did the Hawaii incident affect Jason Momoa?
   While Momoa has always respected the ocean, the 2007 near-drowning was a profound, life-altering event. He described it as a harsh, visceral reminder of the ocean’s immense and unpredictable power, stripping away any illusion of control. The experience deeply reinforced the fragility of life.
6. Was Jason Momoa seriously injured during the accident?
   While Momoa didn’t detail major long-term injuries, he explicitly mentioned his feet were bleeding from the ordeal by the time he and his rescuer fought their way through the final seven miles against currents and waves. The primary damage was extreme exhaustion and the psychological impact of the near-death experience.