Teahupo’o is among the world’s most legendary breaks. The reef off the tiny Polynesian island of Tahiti creates consistent barrelling waves that regularly reach between seven and ten foot in height. At times the waves can be as high as 21 feet.
With all of that water crashing down from such a height, you’d think a view from beneath the wave would be a chaotic, violent scene. However, this footage shot by photographer Ben Thouard proves that the reality is very different.
Ben took his GoPro into the ocean and captured the colossal wave from beneath as surfers rode it above him. The results are surprisingly tranquil. In fact, it looks like the stuff of those inspirational posters that line the walls of soul-destroying offices.
By contrast, check out this footage of the monster wave from above the surface…