Surfer Garrett McNamara greatest waves - in pictures

Garrett McNamara surfing a giant wave in Nazaré Portugal - possibly breaking his last world record Photograph: Tó Mané

McNamara surfs what was called the tallest wave ever ridden at the Praia do Norte beach in Nazare, Portugal in November 2011 Photograph: Jorge Leal/AP

McNamara riding a big wave at Avalanche, off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii Photograph: Sean Davey/Corbis

Hawaii surfing team members Garrett McNamara and Kealii Mamala become the first - and possibly last - surfers to successfully ride glacier-generated tsunami waves of up to 25 feet in 2007 in Cordove, Alaska. Their tsunami surfing experience took place at Child's Glacier on the Copper River. Team members rode waves generated when large ice faces calved away from the glacier Photograph: Bo Bridges/Polaris

McNamara shooting the curl of Jaws, an incredibly huge and powerful wave break at Peahi Bay on the north shore of Maui, Hawaii Photograph: Ron Dahlquist/Corbis

McNamara (left) pictured in 2008 on a standup paddle board at the Mavericks break off Half Moon Bay, California Photograph: Bo Bridges/orbis

Garrett McNamara of Haleiwa, Hawaii who won the 'Biggest Wave' title at the 2012 Billabong XXL Big Wave Awards with his world record wave ridden at Praia do Norte, Nazare, Portugal in November 2011 Photograph: Reuters