Waves from Nowhere • The Mystery of the Wild Waves in Haifa's Sea ◄ Watch

The mysterious wave phenomenon

Recently, reports have been received from the field about the appearance of unusual waves in Bat Galim, about 350 meters from the shore - waves that rose suddenly, without any warning or apparent reason. The phenomenon is known as "waves out of nowhere", and is sometimes also called a "white wave" or "wild wave".

Wild waves at Kiryat Haim beach in front of the Haifa port entrance

What are wild waves and how do they appear?

Wild waves are often formed during severe storms, when waves from different directions combine into one powerful and unpredictable wave. Similar phenomena have been recorded in areas such as the Bermuda Triangle, the South China Sea, the Cape of Good Hope, and the city of Nazaré in Portugal, which is known for its giant waves. But it turns out that similar cases have also been recorded in Israel, although they may not have received enough attention.

Storm of 2015: Wave washes over the beach and reaches the road

On February 15, 2, during one of the strongest winter storms to hit Israel, a wave of this type was recorded washing over the Kan Golan beach in Kiryat Haim and reaching the road parallel to the beach. The incident resulted in minor damage to several vehicles and one minor injury, but raised many questions about the nature of these waves.

A mysterious diving incident in 2000

In another case from 2000, a group of divers went out to the Virgin Beach on a calm day, the waves were low – only about 30 centimeters. When the group was about 200 meters from the shore, four waves suddenly rose to a height of over two meters, without any visible factor that could have caused this. Two of the divers lost equipment, and the dive ended with collecting items from the sea.

Even quiet days don't guarantee peace.

About three years ago, while photographing crabs in the area of ​​the container farm wall, several unexplained waves were recorded breaking out in the sea, which was completely calm and without any vessel traffic. Another incident occurred during the construction of the Gulf Port, when exceptionally large waves were recorded, also for no apparent reason.

Natasha's Story – A Swimmer Facing an Unexpected Wave

Natasha Kapolsky, a professional swimmer, tells of an incident that occurred during a daily swim off the coast of Bat Galim. She said that on a day when the waves were about 0.8 meters high, three waves of about two meters high suddenly rose, about 15 minutes apart. The waves pushed her toward the breakwater and she had to fight to keep from being swept away. “It was at least five meters deep – the ground didn’t stop the waves. I wasn’t scared, but I was very surprised,” she said.

A well-known phenomenon among sea lovers

It turns out that many seafarers are familiar with the phenomenon of wild waves and even encounter them. Places like the Acre Lighthouse, the Jaffa Lighthouse, the Rock Beach, Rosh Carmel, and St. Jane are well-known hotspots for similar occurrences. There are also beaches around the world that are known for their sudden outburst of waves, such as "Death Beach" in Iceland, where sudden waves are a common occurrence.

It's happening – whether we write about it or not.

The sea holds many phenomena that are not yet fully understood, and wild waves are one of them. For sea lovers, this is an adventure that requires alertness and caution. As the saying goes, if such a wave is approaching – diving into it is better than standing in front of it. And despite the surprises, we will continue to enjoy the sea, with due caution.