Waves splashing against large rocks on the beach in Cathedral Cove, Coromandel, Waikato, North Island, New Zealand, Pacific

Breaking wave, Teahupo'o, Tahiti, French Polynesia, South Pacific, Pacific

A single person stands on a long stone breakwater jutting out into the ocean with a large cruise ship in the distance, Estoril, Portugal, Europe

Breaking wave, Teahupo'o, Tahiti, French Polynesia, South Pacific, Pacific

Large waves breaking at North Reef, Lighthouse Bay, Exmouth, Western Australia, Australia, Pacific

High westerly winds build large waves in the Drake Passage, Antarctica, Polar Regions

High westerly winds build large waves in the Drake Passage, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Surfer on a large wave with Graciosa Island beyond, at the world class surf reef break known as San Juan, east of Famara in the north of the island, Famara, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain, Atlantic, Europe

Whitehaven harbour during the January 2014 period of storm surge, high tides and storm force winds. The coastline took a battering, damaging the harbour wall and eroding a large section of coastal cliff.

After a week of high tides, storm surges and storm force winds, the sea front promenade of Aberystwyth in Wales has been devastated, with millions of £'s of damage. The crsahing waves punched a large hole in the sea wall and has collapsed Aberystwyth's iconic, Victorian promenade shelter, which has stood for over 100 years. This picture was taken on Wednesday 8th January, 2014, the day the council started to try and clear the thousands of tonnes of beach rubble off the sea front road.

After a week of high tides, storm surges and storm force winds, the sea front promenade of Aberystwyth in Wales has been devastated, with millions of £'s of damage. The crsahing waves punched a large hole in the sea wall and has collapsed Aberystwyth's iconic, Victorian promenade shelter, which has stood for over 100 years. This picture was taken on Wednesday 8th January, 2014, the day the council started to try and clear the thousands of tonnes of beach rubble off the sea front road.

After a week of high tides, storm surges and storm force winds, the sea front promenade of Aberystwyth in Wales has been devastated, with millions of £'s of damage. The crsahing waves punched a large hole in the sea wall and has collapsed Aberystwyth's iconic, Victorian promenade shelter, which has stood for over 100 years. This picture was taken on Wednesday 8th January, 2014, the day the council started to try and clear the thousands of tonnes of beach rubble off the sea front road.

Whitehaven harbour being completely overwhelmed by huge waves during the January 2014 period of storm surge, high tides and storm force winds. The coastline took a battering, damaging the harbour wall and eroding a large section of coastal cliff.

Southern Elephant Seals; Mirounga leonina, at Hannah Point, on livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands off the Antarctica Peninsular.

Whitehaven harbour during the January 2014 period of storm surge, high tides and storm force winds. The coastline took a battering, damaging the harbour wall and eroding a large section of coastal cliff.

Waves crashing off Parton near Whitehaven during the January 2014 period of storm surge, high tides and storm force winds. The coastline took a battering, damaging the harbour wall and eroding a large section of coastal cliff.

Adult Southern Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) in the Falkland Islands. This is the smallest yellow-crested, black-and-white penguin in the genus Eudyptes. It reaches a length of 45-58 cm (18-23 in) and typically weighs 2-3.4 kg (4.4-7.5 lb), although there are records of exceptionally large rockhoppers weighing 5 kg (11 lbs). Their common name refers to the fact that unlike many other penguins which negotiate obstacles by sliding on their bellies or by awkward climbing using their flipper-like wings as aid, Rockhoppers will try to jump over boulders and across cracks. This behavior is by no means unique to this species however - at least the other "crested" penguins of the genus Eudyptes hop around rocks too. Southern Rockhopper Penguins have a global population of roughly 1 million pairs, perhaps a bit more. About two-thirds of the global population belongs to E. c. chrysocome which breeds on the Falkland Islands and on islands off Argentina and southern Chile. The Southern Rockhopper Penguin is classified as Vulnerable species by the IUCN.

Common dolphin (delphinus delphis) Common dolphins surfing in a large swell.Gulf of California.

Enormous waves behind freighter

Maldives

Seawave in Hawaii, USA

Tourists on a footbridge in front of the Iguazu or Iguacu falls, Brazilian side, Unesco National Park, Misiones Province, Argentina, South America

High waves, splashing spray, lighthouse during storm, Porto, Portugal, Europe

Surf and waves, water flows after a big wave between stones back to the Atlantic Ocean, south coast, La Palma, Canary Islands, Canary Islands, Spain, Europe

Drone shot, surf with big round stones on the beach of Rocha da Relva, Sao Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal, Europe

High waves crashing over the harbor wall, stormy seas on the Brittany coast, hurricane, Finistere, Brittany, France, Europe

Large wave, Porto Moniz, Madeira, Portugal, Europe

Young man with sunglasses running from a high wave, La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain, Europe

Jake Wormhoudt prepares for a bottom turn on a wave off Nelscott Reef on the Oregon coast, United States of America

A surfer attaches his leash while watching a large clean wave break in Oxnard, California on January 4, 2012.

man surfing a large wave at Pipeline, on the north shore of Oahu, Hawaii ,

Man surfing large winter swell in Rhode Island

man surfing on a large wave at Pipeline, Hawaii

man surfing a huge wave off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii

A large wave breaks close to shore.

A Gannet Colony, Muriwai Beach, New Zealand

Waves Crashing By Lighthouse At Sunderland, Tyne And Wear, England, United Kindgom

Stormy sky and the repeating view of the cement columns under the iconic Scripps Pier in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego; La Jolla, San Diego County, California, United States of America

Hawaii, United States Of America, Large Incoming Ocean Wave Breaking

Waves Crashing By Lighthouse At Sunderland, Tyne And Wear, England, United Kingdom

Waves Crashing By Lighthouse At Sunderland, Tyne And Wear, England, United Kingdom

Waves Crashing By Lighthouse At Sunderland, Tyne And Wear, England, United Kingdom

Large waves crashing along the rugged coastline of the Na Pali Coast at Ke'e Beach; Kauai, Hawaii, United States of America

Large ice block laying on the shores of Southern Iceland while waves crash on shore, Iceland

Waves Crashing By Lighthouse At Sunderland, Tyne And Wear, England, United Kingdom

Large Waves From The South Atlantic Ocean Pound The Shore Of Cape Good Hope, South Africa

Large ice block laying on the shores of Southern Iceland while waves crash on shore, Iceland

Split Rock Lighthouse with large waves on Lake Superior; Minnesota, United States of America

Large wave on the ocean off the West coast of Oahu, Oahu, Hawaii, United States of America

Cape Disappointment Light with large waves crashing in onto the beach below, Cape Disappointment; Washington, United States of America

A Large Wave Breaks And Crashes Against The Shore In Front Of A Lighthouse, Sunderland, Tyne And Wear, England

A Gannet Colony, Muriwai Beach, New Zealand

Large Wave Crashing At The Coast With A Lighthouse At The End Of A Pier, Amble, Northumberland, England

Hawaii, Oahu, Large Powerful, White Wave On Northshore.

Large Waves Splashing Up To A Lighthouse, Grand Marais, Minnesota, United States Of America

Grand Marais, Minnesota, United States Of America; Large Waves By The Shore In Lake Superior In Winter

Side view of large wave with curl breaks toward shoreline spray off tips

Hawaii, Oahu, Waimea Bay; big wave curling and crashing

Blue wave curling, closeup side view with blue skies.

Rough seas, large curling waves and cloudy sky

Hawaii, Oahu, North Shore, front angled view of Pipeline wave curling.

Hawaii, Oahu, Waimea Shorebreak, side view large, misty wave coming in to shore

Hawaii, Oahu, Pipeline, Wave breaking.

Stormy ocean wave curling over with whitewash, view of barrel, closeup

Hawaii, Oahu, Perfect wave at Pipeline.

Hawaii, Close-up view of glassy wave tube forming.

Hawaii, Oahu, Perfect wave at Pipeline.

Hawaii, Oahu, North Shore, curling wave at world famous Pipeline.

Large curling glassy wave, slight glimpse of land.

Large ocean wave crashes into rock along the Na Pali Coast, Kauai, Hawaii, United States of America

Large ocean wave crashes into rock along the Na Pali Coast, Kauai, Hawaii, United States of America

Large ocean wave crashes into rock along the Na Pali Coast, Kauai, Hawaii, United States of America

Hawaii, Oahu, Pearl Harbor, Aerial view of the USS Arizona Memorial and USS Missouri, WWII battelships.

Hawaii, Oahu, Coastline aerial of Kahala homes and Diamond Head Crater, Waikiki hotels background

Hawaii, Oahu, North Shore, Waimea Shorebreak, rough seas, soft sunlight

Hawaii, Oahu, Waimea Shorebreak, side view large, misty wave coming in to shore.

Hawaii, Oahu, North Shore, Waimea Bay, Wild and crashing shorebreak.

Hawaii, Oahu, North Shore, Waimea Shorebreak, rough seas, soft sunlight

Hawaii, Side distant view of dramatic big waves curling and crashing, whitewash

Hawaii, Oahu, Aimee shore break, big waves

Stormy ocean wave curling over with whitewash and a barrel forming

Hawaii, Oahu, North Shore, large wave curling breaking with white mist blowing back.

Hawaii, Oahu, North Shore, beautiful textures surface of a shorebreak wave about to crash.

Turbulent shorebreak waves with whitewash.

Large ocean waves crashing along the Na Pali Coast, Kauai, Hawaii, United States of America

Hawaii, Oahu, Pipeline, Wave breaking.

Hawaii, Oahu, North Shore, Pipeline, big blue wave curling with mist blowing off tip

Hawaii, Oahu, Perfect wave at Pipeline.

Hawaii, Maui, North Shore, Buzzy Kerbox surfs large curling wave, Jaws aka Peahi

Hawaii, Oahu, Perfect wave on the North Shore.

Hawaii, Large wave curling with glassy conditions

Hawaii, Oahu, North Shore, Wild and crashing winter waves.

Hawaii, Maui, Large wave crashing at JAWS, well known surf spot

Hawaii, oahu, North Shore, crashing whitewater wave curls.

Hawaii, Oahu, Perfect wave at Pipeline.

Hawaii, Oahu, North Shore, curling wave at world famous Pipeline.

Hawaii, Inside of wave tube, sky showing thru foam.

Hawaii, Oahu, North Shore, beautiful textures surface of a shorebreak wave about to crash.

Hawaii, Oahu, Aerial of Diamond Head Crater with coastline view, Kahala homes foreground and Waikiki hotels background

Hawaii, Oahu, North Shore; large green wave about to curl with mist blowing off tip