Banzai Pipeline, Surf reef break in Pūpūkea, North Shore of Oahu, US

Banzai Pipeline is a reef break off the northern coast of Oahu in the United States, known for its hollow, breaking waves. The water crashes over a sharp coral bottom at shallow depth, forming tube-like tunnels that surfers ride through.

Filmmaker Bruce Brown introduced the name in 1961 when he filmed Phil Edwards riding the waves there. The spot has since grown into one of the most recognized surf locations in the world.

The name was suggested by Mike Diffenderfer in December 1961, when a construction project was laying an underground pipeline along the adjacent Kamehameha Highway. Bruce Brown first used it in his film Surfing Hollow Days, and The Chantays' 1963 hit "Pipeline" carried it further. Today the break hosts the Pipe Masters and other contests.

The best conditions occur between November and February, when large swells arrive from the North Pacific. Only experienced surfers should enter the water here, as the shallow reef and strong current can be dangerous.

The reef is a flat tabletop with caverns inside that trap a giant air bubble, which pops on the wave's face as it lurches upward before breaking. Jagged underwater lava spires also lie beneath the surface and can injure fallen surfers.