Surfers Tame 'Terrifying' Tidal Rapid in Remote Western Australia

Professional surfer Anthony Walsh has taken on some of the biggest waves across the world, but he said a tidal rapid in remote Western Australia was on a "totally different scale."

The 43-year-old recently became the first known person to conquer a rare wave at Talbot Bay in the state's Kimberley region.

"It was much bigger and more raw. So much energy, and the water was moving so much," Walsh said.

"I didn't even know if it was actually going to be rideable, to tell you the truth."

Years in the Making

The feat took years of planning after Walsh received a tip-off from a mate while living in Broome.

"It's a zone where no-one really goes to so it's hard to know much about it," he said.

"Tides, winds, crocs, sharks … pretty much all of it."

Walsh said there was a narrow window of opportunity to tackle the wave, formed by a natural phenomenon along the Kimberley coast. At Talbot Bay, extreme tides crash against a uniquely shaped sea floor, creating a rare and surfable rapid.

The group spoke with locals, sought permissions from traditional owners, and completed thorough research before "pulling the trigger."

Thrown in the Deep End

Along for the journey was Dylan Graves, who specialises in chasing "weird waves." The Puerto Rican has since declared the powerful tidal rapid as "the most intimidating wave I've ever surfed … hands down."

For Walsh, surfing this type of wave was a leap into the great unknown.

"I wasn't sure how bad the wipe-out was going to be after, and that was the biggest thing," he said.

After falling off the back of his board, the Geraldton local said he was held underwater for almost 40 seconds, despite wearing multiple flotation devices.

"I couldn't see where I was or what I was doing … it was pretty intense, pretty scary," Walsh said.

But it did not stop him from going straight back out there. "I think if you're scared of something, you just want to tackle it straight away," he said.

Chasing a Childhood Hero

Growing up in New South Wales's Northern Rivers, Walsh idolised Australia's "original crocodile hunter" Malcolm Douglas.

"I've always just been into fishing, diving, adventuring and camping since I was a little kid," he said. "That's why I moved to Western Australia, to do all those things."

He said sharing the trip with Mark Jones, previously a filmmaker for Malcolm Douglas, was a special experience.

Treacherous Work

Filmmaker Kane Overall was also behind the camera during the trip, navigating extreme conditions from the boat and a jet ski. The South Australian has filmed big wave surf content with Walsh all over the world, but he said this project in "croc country" was his most daunting.

"I think the speed at which the water was moving was the most alarming thing," he said.

"And we literally saw sharks jumping out of the water that morning."

Not for the Faint-Hearted

Overall said it was hard to convey the strength of the conditions during the trip.

"It's an amazing place, but it is really, really dangerous," Overall said.

"Nothing went wrong for us, but it could have so easily."

Overall and Walsh said the group hoped to return in the future and discover more unique waves along Kimberley's remote coastline.