One of the largest waves ever photographed is known as the "Draupner wave." It was captured on January 1, 1995, by a wave-monitoring system on the Draupner platform in the North Sea, off the coast of Norway. The wave was measured to have a significant wave height of approximately 25.6 meters (84 feet).
The Draupner wave gained significant attention as it was one of the first scientifically measured rogue waves. Rogue waves are extremely large and unexpected waves that can occur in the ocean. They are much larger than the surrounding waves and can pose a significant threat to ships and offshore structures.
Since the discovery of the Draupner wave, further research and measurements have been made on rogue waves, revealing even larger examples. However, it's important to note that the measurement and documentation of large waves can be challenging, and the largest waves ever encountered in the ocean may not have been directly photographed or measured.