Waves Sneak Up Reynisfjara Beach in Iceland and Knock Over Tourists 

The black sand beach is actually way more dangerous than it seems to be in the video, especially at times when the winds are very strong and tend to pull you in. At the time we visited the beach, the winds were so strong that we could barely stand, a lot of our clothing and loose things flew away into the sea. It is among the most dangerous beaches I've ever visited!

That wave didn’t sneak up on anyone....they all stood and watched it coming ffs....

People, please stop doing it! More than one tourist got swept into the ocean, and no one could do anything! On this very beach. Stop walking near waves, stop coming to edges of waterfalls, stop walking on glaciers without a guide. All for a selfie. Several tourists already lost their lives in Iceland. Despite the fact that tour guides on all tours always ask not to come close to any natural “attraction” and not to do anything “off the path and trail.” Due to extremely strong undercurrent, sneaker waves, and freezing temperatures, the ocean in Iceland is deadly - not even the world's top swimmer would survive it. The fact that in Iceland there is no such thing as swimming in the ocean - as in "there is not a single person ever that goes swimming in the ocean regardless of time of the year" should tell you a lot. The sneaker waves on this specific beach are especially extremely dangerous, even if the ocean looks calm. Definitely never stand with your back to the ocean. And pleeeassee don't let you children near the water.

Our tour guide described how people die there. The water gets you wet and heavy and leaves loose sand in your pockets then pulls you out and you drown. He said don't try to save anyone, just let the search team pull them out for burial. Very effective speech. Never turn your back to those waves. o_o

I wonder if the locals have a betting pool where they guess how many tourist each day will be swept into the ocean...?

I almost died in a similar beach in Hawaii. I'm a decent swimmer. But, if you're addicted to the ocean, and you go out a lot and get away with a lot of risky sports, you start to think "OK, I know what I'm doing." But, the ocean doesn't give an eff what you think. It's just going to keep doing what it's been doing for a billion years. And sooner or later, it's going to do something bad to you when you're least ready for it, and you very quickly find yourself in trouble. Two years ago, I got slammed by a strong wave while snorkeling, into some rocks. I lost my gear, and the tides and waves were too strong for me to swim back to shore. I had to hold onto a big rock with sharp barnacles for a long while, before some Good Samaritan spotted me and came out to pull me to shore. I was covered with cuts. I came so close to drowning. It was terrifying and I'll never forget that.

Literally signs saying this could happen before you even walk on the beach, yet people keep doing this. Incredibly dangerous.

She sounds surprised. What did they expect on this day, with a big swell running, at this particular beach?

👏....👏....👏....👏 Well done to all the people in this video that totally ignored all the signage and requests from toure guides to stay well away from the waters edge. I've personally witnessed people nearly swept to their death in this very spot. For that one in a million shot and at the cost of all the camera gear....i hope it was worth it.

I’ve been to Iceland twice and to this very beach and they have huge signs that tell you not to do this lol and this and have pictures of people that have gotten taken out to sea and died. Just enjoy from afar it’s very beautiful without getting thy close

As if they don't warn you enough in Iceland and even at the beginning of the beach......

I came back from Iceland a few months ago and on this very beach which is absolutely beautiful…You CANNOT and SHOULDN’T turn your back to these waves. Just when you think it’s going to stop, it continues coming…My father in law who was well on shore, stood with his back to the water to take a photo and was almost swept up in the wave.

No matter the danger, idiots will always find a way to put themselves in the heart of it. It’s almost sad, really.

Let nature take its course. Plenty of warnings but if people dont want to listen then lets help the gene pool.

Icelandic Tour guides specifically mention staying at least 25 metres away from the shore line on Black Sand Beach. This is why. I didn’t listen and stood maybe 20 metres away, and I had to run like these folks as it’s deceptively fast, and the colour of the sand means it’s difficult to perceive where it has reached before.

My home town lies on the Arabian Sea. We know that the sea is not a joke and respect this fact. Despite warnings and rules, we have fatalities each year mainly tourists and visitors. People need to learn that this is not their backyard swimming pool.

Who would be stupid enough to let there kids or themselves go that close? It could have very easily swept all them out and there would have been nothing anyone could do to save them. Multiple people have died from this very thing.

“Oh shit” famous last word.

Thanks for the upload. More people should watch this. It’s very dangerous to get closer to the beach.

People think the sea is a game.

Sometimes we must make sacrifices to please the ocean gods. These people were the chosen ones. All hail the mighty ocean gods!

Approaching from right in front of the target. Truly the sneakiest method possible.

Which question would you ask….Did everyone get out alive? Or did you get that on camera?

The cameraman never dies...

Our tour guide told us (2019) to go nowhere near the edge of the waves, stay metres and metres back. A Japanese tourist had been swept out by a rogue wave and drowned unexpectedly a while back even though the sea was calm.

I grew up in coastal Connecticut, so while we do not have much in the way of wave action (Long Island Sound), apparently I had a basic understanding of water that, as I grow older, I realize many people do not. It's the most powerful force there is. Respect it, and pay attention. Every single beach is different. Every single day is different. Read up on the beaches you visit, and pay attention to the weather (not to mention local experts).

Reminds me of the Grand Canyon. There are signs everywhere warning people to stay away from the edge/rim. And yet, every year without fail, a number of people get to close...and fall in. The rock can be very crumbly, especially at the edge. All for a selfie. There is a beach on Kauai, near the end of the main road, that has waves very similar to Reynisfjara. Difference in fatalities? Lots of locals to warn visitors, warm water if you get sucked out, and plenty of beach patrols, coast guard, etc.

We live in a beach culture. I always tell my kids to watch the water/waves. You learn to read what is happening and react. I have also been to the beach with a clueless person who tried to go swimming with her kids in weather a lot like this - heavy waves crashing on the beach.

I went to this beach in 2017 warning signs are everywhere living on the Pacific Coast of australia tourists do the same thing at home they are lucky we have lifesavers at most beaches

Been there twice and both times I saw people jumping into the water. Crazy.

People:I will take one photo and go Wave:I wont let you take photo and go

One time I was at the Grand Canyon and I witnessed people jumping onto narrow cliffs with 2000 foot drops. They had slippers on and they were seeking selfies and pics for social media. I truly hope nobody gets hurt but people seriously need to put that thinking cap on.

What happens when you put American and Chinese tourists together in one place. Statistics...

Traveling worldwide for long time now Iceland is one my favorites.

Apparently the eye doctor and the ear doctor were out of town that day. OH, and let's not forget the brain doctor.

Cold wet walk back to the hotel for them hahaha

I personally love videos that end with, "Oh shit..".

I got over confident once in Panama. Decided to go past the reef for some snorkelling and all it took was one little wave to drag me helpless across the reef. I tore up my hands and arms pretty good trying to hold on. While I wasn’t actually in mortal danger I spent a couple weeks getting my slashes to close up. But that video. That is many orders of magnitude more than I would get near. Beautiful. Sure. Use a telephoto lens.

Serves you all right.... Think yourselves lucky you weren't swept out to sea!!!!!!

I remember walking on that beach a bit further along and soon as I seen the waves I thought yeah no chance am I going close to that, people telling me to go closer it's fine. No, fuck that. Not about to be a statistic

It feels like they never saw the ocean and have zero knowledge of the power of waves

We were at this very beach yesterday and some people got knocked down by these waves. Luckily they were okay but could have ended much worse. Be smarter!

just how many times in 22 seconds can someone say oh my god ?

"We gotta get out of here" while staying completely still 💀💀

Brilliant photographer

I'll never understand why people do this...go too close...wait too long too retreat and more.... :(

This is deadly beach. Some 3 weeks ago young Chinese tourist was swept into the ocean 200 m inside...found dead. Not the first casuality.

I'll never forget my first trip to the beach

“We gotta get outa here!” Also her: Stands there.

I only now understand what our guide was very nervous and freaking out about people misbehaving at this beach. Because 2 days ago it was totally calm, no big waves, no wind and all caves were accessible without getting wet, because ocean level was like 100 meters from them.

Guys you need to be very, very careful here!! Never ever turn your back against the water. It looks harmless but it is one of the most dangerous beaches in the world. The waves literally sneak up on you and combined wind you may think you're safe on the sand but it can very easily drag you in!!

If I would see that wave I would already be gone

A reminder, you always need to pay attention.

They watched it coming... Bet the sea was lovely and warm!

The Karen Diaries: ...at the Icelandic Beach, a notorious place they say. We were simply standing at the water's edge when the Sea decided to act inappropriately and manhandled us with some rough waves. I screamed in dismay and anger "OMG OMG OMG!" Hoping to put the Manager on duty on notice to do something, of course, he did nothing control the waves in this ridiculous, horrendous vacation spot. I am disgusted and will inform the local magistrates. End Diary note. Karen

That was actually really hilarious. All the kids just toppled over and squealed like birds. XD

Wer nicht hören will, muß fühlen. Es wird dort ausdrücklich vor diesen Wellen gewarnt. 😊

According to one Icelandic channel, Icelanders call this place "The Chinese Takeaway". Humour as black as the sand.

I made some research and it says 4 people have died until now because of the sneaker waves on Reynisfjara beach. The incidents happened in 2007, 2016, 2017, 2021.

iCELAND is notorious for it's extremes / No messing around .

Its really bad that they don't listen to the tour guides and do this

"They all got swept away, did you get their icy deaths on camera?" "Yes, honey." "Great, let's get out of here and post it before anyone else!"

First, they got into a place that was not in a place experiencing normalized stable wave patterns. The way we calculate this distance is an average like 2x the distance of all activity. Those people would not be on the beach, not even a pro-diver belongs anywhere near the overall threat of these powerful waters. The physics that are colliding 20' under water in this are not showing or predictable at all. A good swimmer can get killed. I was a serious athlete at 20 yo 165 lbs, I could bench press 450lbs and run top speeds. I was 2 miles out in something much more tame, but I did see a 8' whirlpool within2' and I never swam like that in my life. It tugged on me and I exploded with all my power to get away from it. I saw an for 10 minutes to get 5' away from it. This was by at least 85% more tims than that water and it almost killed me. At least the calmness of the strong rip tide in Cancun fooled me. How can you look at that water action and say "selfie"? Are you nutz!? I really hope nobody died here. Everyone was at risk. This wasn't 6 Flags dude. You all almost said hello to the other side. I bet $1,000 that either hypothermia set in one someone or someone crapped their pants. That's all I'm saying. I would have known that you can't go near those waters because of the movement in the rocks was causing eccentric movement. It was powerful in every direction. That was a death trap man.

never turn your back against the ocean.

Crazy people... Mother Nature is very strong in Iceland. Once we went outside to our garden during snowstorm... You can't walk, you cant see what is few meters in front of you. Never experience how it is with strong waves at beach, strong wind, heavy snowfall, if possible stay at home and take care.

It seems like a lot of people in the video have never been to the sea before....

Its natural selection at its best

People standing there not paying attention!!! Happens everywhere!

the saw that big wave coming but just stood there

The Strength of Nature

Never be surprised by the “intelligence” of a species that thinks it’s perfectly safe to go take a selfie with a buffalo.

I live near some sneaky beaches. I always look at biggest flat patch of sand and never pass it.

...are these tourists who have never been to an ocean beach before? There was absolutely nothing abnormal about those waves. Large, with a lot of wind, tide probably coming in so each wave comes a bit further than the last. If you stand in front of one of them, yea, it's going to go right over top of you. That's what waves do. I'm not really sure how anyone could be "caught by surprise" by them, unless they were blind. All the kids running around there right in the path of the wave, with the parents standing around cell phones out shooting video. Pretty hilarious how "surprised" all these parents are. at least the kids got a good lesson.

I like this excellent country. Greetings to you from the Kingdom of Morocco

Yep and that’s why I stay far away from the shore!

I really don't understand how people can't do the math when the sea level is very clearly rapidly rising right in front of them. It's like there's no room for comprehension in their head. It's never a day at the beach.

I really don't understand why so many people can be so stupid and ignore all the prohibition signs among other things

And that's why the waves there are called sneaker waves, I was there feb '20 and watched the same thing happen to 4 young teenagers, who had been warned several times by not just their own tour guide but ours as well and they just carried on as they knew better, ya know cos they are teenagers....

Early entrants for the Darwin awards.

How did I know there would be an American accent proclaiming "OMG OMG OMG" in this clip...?

Damn. Bet they're absolutely freezing after that. Haha

Ahhh tourists!……easily replaced!

They were all well aware of the danger and just stood there. Why?

people underestimate the force of nature

Nice ending.

Growing up around the ocean you know about rip tides and to be careful. These tourists have no idea.

When idiocy is in public display LOL

Am gonna show this to my son when he grows older and asks dad what does idiot mean ?

There are signs everywhere warning of this.

It doesn't matter how many times they get told, they will still do it,...until something like this gives them a 'wake up call' to their complete stupidity!

I always like a good laugh at the expense of tourists .

If there are no locals near the waves, you know it's not safe.

Natural selection.

Waves on a beach, I’ll be damned.

I've seen a lot of people risking their lives in water and I think most people do not respect water and seem to minimize how dangerous and powerful it can be. I've seen people drown in small rivers where I am from because it has sneaky currents.

Bro it was MASSIVE all I see is people who have never been to the beach learning how it works 😂

Never turn your back on the sea.

Never turn your back on the ocean- old salt

No time to save the others, the wave hungers for the blood of virgins

OMG! Is not going to help those stupid enough to put themselves into such situations.