When they show the calm blue oceans on TV advertising vacations, etc, I still can't look at the ocean the same way as I did before this last Tsunami. I still get chills.
It was a gorgeous day when it happened. People on the beach just stood there, not realizing what was going to happen. My heart bleeds for all of them.
I know. It looked like a normal wave on a beautiful day with blue skies, sunshine and then a KILLER heading right towards them. I understand completely. Just looking at the videos and the photos was enough to send chills down one's spine.
Like you, I fear the ocean more since the Tsunamis.
And I always took it seriously.
While searching around on this subject after reading this thread I found this:
The largest wave in recorded history, witnessed in Alaska in 1958, was caused by the collapse of a towering cliff at Letuya Bay. The resulting wave was higher than any skyscraper on Earth and gouged out soil and trees to a height of 500 metres (1,640) feet) above sea level.
This article also claims a big volcano landslide could send a giant wave across the Atlantic.
This info is not on "rogue" waves, but to those in the path of huge waves the cause is probably not a concern.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/sci/tech/956280.stm