Jason Momoa Reflects on Near-Drowning Experience

Jason Momoa, known for his role as Aquaman, recently shared a harrowing incident from eighteen years ago while he appeared on the “Smartless” podcast. He recounted a close brush with death off the coast of Maui.

“I was paddleboarding, and we went into Jaws,” the 46-year-old actor said, referring to the island’s notorious surf break. He described paddling down the coastline for 13 miles, almost a mile out at sea, when things took a dangerous turn.

Though Momoa felt he was “pretty well trained,” he still found himself on the receiving end of some massive waves. “These were about 10-feet Hawaiian waves,” he noted, adding, “I was probably half a mile offshore – and it’s just one of those places.” The waves were relentless.

Explaining the depth of his situation, he said, “I was stuck in a crazy spot on the outer reef. They couldn’t see me, and I was waving my paddle, but no one noticed. The waves were enormous.” Momoa recalled a particularly frightening moment as he thought of his then-three-month-old daughter, saying, “I just lost it.” It was a daunting experience.

He further elaborated, “I had been there a while, and no one could see me. I began to feel my body giving in.” Eventually, he found himself unable to move, and he felt as though he might drown. “I literally gave up and screamed inside,” he confided.

Fortuitously, a surfing friend spotted him and managed to reach him, but the strong current caused them to lose their boards. “That meant another seven miles of paddling,” Momoa said, recalling the struggle. His legs were bloodied, but he pushed through, channeling the spirit of his ancestors.

This traumatic experience eventually led him to quit smoking. “I used to smoke two to three packs a day,” he admitted, sharing that he struggled to quit for the sake of his children. However, after that near-drowning, he never touched a cigarette again, saying simply, “I’m just done.” It seems that the ordeal had a profound impact on him.