Looking for a thrill-seeking experience for your next trip? These cliff jumping spots ain't for the faint-hearted. We think we'll be leaving these to the professionals...
FURORE BRIDGE, FURORE, ITALY
Furore, locally called Neverland, is a small settlement on the flanks of an Amalfi mountain, overlooking the sea with a small village on the steep cliffs of a Fjord. The Fjord of Furore is easily one of the most striking things about the area, where the water erosion has created stunning cliffs that overhanging the ocean. The Furore Bridge is an overhanging arched bridge that the state road runs across and where Diving Championships are held annually. The jump itself is 90 foot, and well worth a visit for seasoned cliff divers and adrenaline junkies alike.
WATCH: Team Supertramp bring to life a Contiki Legend at this very spot
SERPENT’S LAIR, INIS MOR, IRELAND
Ireland’s Aran Islands and extreme sports rarely go hand-in-hand; however the isle of Inis Mor’s suitably named ‘Serpent’s Lair’ is a 92 foot drop into a rectangular blow-hole – or naturally formed shoreline pool – at the cliff’s base. This dive has attracted attention from cliff divers from around the world, and even played host to championships in recent years. Many champion divers visiting the location have described the Serpent’s Lair as a leap of faith and a scary place to dive because all you see is rock until a few seconds after you’ve jumped. Adventure enthusiasts take note.
CRATER LAKE, CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK, OREGON
Crater Lake in Oregon National Park is the deepest lake in the USA, so unless your cannonballs are likely to make you sink to 2000ft you don’t need to worry about hitting bottom. That’s said, the water is pretty cold so be prepared to lose your breath when you enter the water! The National Park Service may frown upon diving here, so if you’re planning a jump make sure to pre-plan your exit route.
THE AZURE WINDOW, GOZO, MALTA
The Azure Window is a natural arch on the Maltese island of Gozo that was formed after two Limestone Sea caves collapsed. Popular with cliff divers for obvious reasons this 92 foot high arch consists of yellow to pale-grey limestone, and was even used as a location in season one of Game of Thrones. With its equally beautiful and daunting appearance, high drop and deep blue water, the Azure Window is a must for all cliff diving enthusiasts.
GEOJE ISLAND, SOUTH KOREA
South Korea is not usually a country associated with high-octane, high adrenaline activities like Cliff Diving. However, if you travel a couple hours southwest of Busan to arrive at Geoje Island you can have your pick of impressive granite rock faces to throw yourself from. Geoje Island is definitely worth a visit if you’re in that part of the world.
Image Source - Beyond Neon
LAKE VOULIAGMENI, GREECE
Just a stone’s throw away from Athens’ city centre is Lake Vouliagmeni. This amazing spot, locally referred to as ‘Sunken Lake’, maintains a constant 24°C water temperature all year round and is said to be haunted by numerous mystical stories about creatures, whirlpools and hidden treasures. Connected to the Mediterranean Sea by a maze of underwater caves, this healing lake is an ideal spot for cliff divers who want the exhilaration of an epic cliff dive without the shock of cold water at the end.
RICK’S BAR, NEGRIL, JAMAICA
“Whoever decided to put a bar at one of the best cliff diving spots in Jamaica was both a fool and a genius.”
This pretty much sums up the epic cliff dive at this tourist bar in Negril, Jamaica. Brave tourists, locals and seasoned divers all encircle the top of this dive spot and encourage each other to dive into the ocean. The highest cliff is about 35 feet, so this dive may not provide the adrenaline rush that more experienced divers are searching for, but onlookers may catch some very brave locals making risky and daring dives from the tops of trees on the actual cliff. Rick’s Bar is definitely a must visit top Cliff Diving location to visit while in Jamaica.
STARI MOST, MOSTAR, BOSNIA
Nestled in the centre of the Bosnian city of Mostar is the Stari Most or Old Bridge, over the river Neretva, where for decades locals and tourists alike have jumped into the freezing water to the adoration of those on the banks of the river below. Stricter restrictions in recent years have made it harder for tourists to jump here but for around €35 the Mostar Diving Club will train you to jump off the bridge. The training starts with a few practice jumps off a 10m platform in sight of the Old Bridge, then once they deem you to be ready you’re escorted to the top of the bridge to prepare for the 89 foot jump.
Disclaimer: Before attempting any kind of Cliff Diving or Bridge Jumping Contiki recommends thoroughly preparing, researching the safety of locations and speaking to local experts to ensure the absolute minimum risk to your personal safety. When diving in Italy with Devin Supertramp, Contiki ensured all possible risk was mitigated by thorough research, preparation conversations withlocal experts and the use of professional cliff divers.
FAQs
What city is famous for its cliff diving? ›
Acapulco" to this day. The 1963 Elvis Presley film Fun in Acapulco brought the cliffs to worldwide attention. ABC's Wide World of Sports popularized La Quebrada during the 1970s as one of the early extreme sports. Professional high divers worldwide regard La Quebrada as one of their favorites.
Where is the Red Bull Cliff Diving 2022? ›Held in front of the Eiffel Tower, Paris is the first of three brand-new locations for the series in 2022. Athletes will dive from platforms mounted on the 890m-long Port Debilly on the river Seine.
What is the world record for highest cliff jump? ›In 2015, Laso Schaller broke the cliff jumping world record. He jumped 58.8m off the Cascata del Salto in Switzerland, reaching an eye-watering 76.4mph in the moments before he hit the water. He was up on his feet pretty quickly too! Watch his crazy cliff jumping world record below – it'll leave your jaw on the floor…
Who is famous for jumping off cliffs? ›The world record for cliff jumping is currently held by Laso Schaller, with a jump of 58.8 m (193 ft).
How much do Red Bull cliff divers get paid 2022? ›The Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series launched in 2009, with nine stops on the tour each year. Sixteen divers participate, earning €35,000 (about US$39,000) at each competition, plus bonuses for winning individual events, as well as the overall World Series title.
What is the difference between cliff jumping and cliff diving? ›It's the simple act of jumping off a cliff, into a body of water below. If you do it without any equipment, this sport is sometimes called tombstoning. If you do a jump with a parachute, this sport is called BASE jumping. Cliff diving showcases incredibly bravery (diving from insane heights), along with acrobatics.
How old are cliff divers? ›Today, approximately 60 men and women ranging from ages 15 to 70 carefully take the jump into the ocean when the tide rises just enough not to hit into the surrounding rocks.
What is the steepest cliff in the world? ›Baffin Island, Canada is home to Mount Thor, the world's tallest vertical cliff. In fact, it's steeper than vertical, with a 105-degree overhang.
How high can you cliff jump without getting hurt? ›The average diving cliffs range between 20 feet (6.1 m) to 50 feet (15 m) high. While you can always dive from a cliff shorter than 20 feet (6.1 m), it is not recommended to drive off of cliffs that are higher than 50 feet (15 m), as serious injuries can occur more easily.
What is the highest jump without a parachute? ›A man named Luke Aikins scoffs at their achievements, and their equipment. He has achieved something no human has ever done before, successfully jumping into a net from more than 25,000 feet. On July 32, 1026 Luke Aikin's jump went in to the record books as the “World's highest complete jump without a parachute”.
What country has the best cliffs? ›
- Sea Cliffs of Étretat • Étretat, France.
- Paracas Sea Cliffs • Paracas, Peru.
- Cliffs of Los Gigantes • Tenerife, Spain.
- Mitre Peak • New Zealand.
- Slieve League Cliffs • County Donegal, Ireland.
- Hornelen • Fjordane county, Norway.
- Preikestolen • Rogaland County, Norway.
Arguably the world's most famous cliff face in the world, the sheer granite rock face of El Capitan has adorned postcards for decades – and more recently, the computer screens of Mac users around the world.
Why did Japanese jump off of cliffs? ›Towards the end of the Battle of Saipan in 1944, hundreds of Japanese civilians and soldiers (of the Imperial Japanese Army) jumped off the cliff to their deaths in the ocean and rocks below, to avoid being captured by the Americans.
Which is the second highest cliff in the world? ›Cabo Girão is the second highest sea cliff in the world, with 580 metres above the sea level, the views here are breathtaking.
What is a safe distance to cliff jump? ›This, of course, varies depending on the height you are jumping from. But in general, you should look for something around 7 meters or deeper. This will be enough for pretty much any jump. If you are jumping heights of 25-meter plus, 10 meters plus is a good depth for a safe entry.
What city is built on a cliff? ›Rocamadour
The buildings of Rocamadour rise in stages up the side of a cliff. Flights of steps ascend from the lower town to the churches, a group of massive buildings half-way up the city cliff. The village, which dates back to the 12th century, became almost deserted as a result of war and the French Revolution.
Even if you enter feet-first in a straight, vertical line, and like a pencil, that impact can be strong enough to compress your spine, break bones, or give you a concussion. The force of the water can knock people unconscious on impact, and even if you survive, you may drown.
What should you not do when cliff jumping? ›Do not jump headfirst. Jump feet first when cliff jumping. Unless you're an expert (and no, being a self-proclaimed expert doesn't count), you put yourself at serious risk for injuries or death when you jump headfirst.
What is the largest cliff in the United States? ›East face of the West Temple in Zion National Park, Utah, United States believed to be the tallest sandstone cliff in the world, 670 m. All faces of Devils Tower, Wyoming, United States, 195 m. Faces of Shiprock, New Mexico, United States, 400 m.
What is the highest paying diving job? ›- Underwater Photographer. Salary: $35,000 – $60,000.
- Golf Ball Diver. Salary: $36,000-55,000.
- Commercial Diving. Salary: $54,750 – $93,910.
- Marine Archaeologist. Salary: $39,000 – $72,000.
- Public Safety Diver. Salary: $39,000.
How much are Navy divers paid? ›
Average US Navy Diver yearly pay in the United States is approximately $59,061, which is 17% above the national average.
How fast are cliff divers going when they hit the water? ›Speed: A diver from 10 meters will hit the water at a speed of approximately 30 miles per hour (mph). A diver from 20 meters will hit the water at approximately 60 mph. Impact force: A cliff diver will hit the water with nine times as much force as a 10-meter platform diver.
Why do cliff divers go in feet first? ›The extra height means there is a much greater risk of serious injury for high divers, so they enter the water feet first with rescuers immediately on hand in case a diver is injured through impact.
Why do cliff divers throw a towel? ›"It is not a toy, but a professional thing that is necessary for the preparation of the dive. You need to take off the liquid so you don't lose your body position when you are spinning," Evgenii Kuznetsov (RUS) added.
Do you point your toes when cliff jumping? ›Do: If jump height exceeds roughly 25 feet, be sure to point your toes downward prior to impact. The last thing you want is your feet to rebound off the water's surface and force your knees toward your chin.
Who invented cliff jumping? ›Cliff diving has been documented as far back as 1770 when Kahekili II, king of Maui, engaged in a practice called "lele kawa", which in English means jumping feet first into water from great heights without making a splash.
What is the furthest a human has dived? ›The maximum depth reached by anyone in a single breath is 702 feet (213.9 metres) and this record was set in 2007 by Herbert Nitsch. He also holds the record for the deepest dive without oxygen – reaching a depth of 831 feet (253.2 metres) but he sustained a brain injury as he was ascending.
What does cliff jumping feel like? ›"It's kind of like being in a roller coaster," says the American. "If you're in a roller coaster, especially when you go down, it's really loud usually, but mostly it's the wind that is so loud in your ears.
Where is the highest cliff located? ›Most scientists and mountaineers think the Rupal Flank of Nanga Parbat, a mountain in the Himalayas, is the highest cliff in the world. The Rupal Flank rises 4,600 meters (15,092 feet) above its base.
What is the highest cliff in Europe? ›Sliabh Liag also known as Slieve League is one of County Donegal's truly iconic visitor attractions.
What is the steepest city in the US? ›
Canton Avenue is a street in Pittsburgh's Beechview neighborhood which is the steepest officially recorded public street in the United States.
What is the fatal falling height into water? ›Stone states that jumping from 150 feet (46 metres) or higher on land, and 250 feet (76 metres) or more on water, is 95% to 98% fatal.
At what height is water like cement? ›The water is like concrete at a height of around 100 meters or 300 feet. You may die in a split second because the water's surface tension is so strong. Unless the water is frozen probably never.
How high do Red Bull cliff divers jump from? ›Divers jump from a platform at a height ranging from 26 to 28 m (85–92 ft). Competitions are held in a limited number of venues around the globe.
Has a plane ever hit a skydiver? ›On April 23, 2005, a de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter was substantially damaged when it struck a skydiver under canopy above Deland Municipal Airport in Deland, Fla. The aircraft was entering the downwind leg for Runway 23 when the collision occurred.
Can you parachute 10000 feet? ›The normal skydiving altitude at most skydiving centers falls between 10,000 and 14,000 feet. Across the United States, the most common skydiving altitude is 10,000 feet. In order to reach higher altitudes in a time-efficient and cost-effective manner, a skydiving center must have a turbine aircraft.
Who survived the highest fall? ›Vesna Vulović (Serbian Cyrillic: Весна Вуловић, pronounced [ʋêsna ʋûːloʋitɕ]; 3 January 1950 – 23 December 2016) was a Serbian flight attendant who held the Guinness world record for surviving the highest fall without a parachute: 10,160 m (33,330 ft; 6.31 mi).
Where is the diving capital of the world? ›Florida: Dive Capital of the World
A must-visit area for many divers is the underwater playground of the Florida Keys. Described as the dive capital of the world, these islands hold the world's third-largest barrier reef, thousands of mangrove-fringed islands and extensive seagrass beds.
In 1963, La Quebrada Cliff Divers received worldwide attention after being featured in Elvis Presley's musical “Fun in Acapulco.” Between late 1960 through the 1970s, the divers were featured in ABC's Wide World of Sports when even the USA High Diving Team competed with the La Quebrada Cliff Divers during the Acapulco ...
Where's that city that was built into the sides of cliffs? ›Located about 115 miles (185 km) southwest of Amman, Jordan, Petra was an ancient city that was literally carved into red desert cliffs. Its ornate ancient architecture and natural beauty attract people from all over the world.
Is there an underground city? ›
The cities of Özkonak, Derinkuyu, and Kaymaklı in Cappadocia, Turkey, are some of the most complete (and most underground) of our underground cities. Denrikuyu is estimated to have once been capable of housing 20,000 people, and actually connects to Kaymakli via an underground tunnel, eight kilometers long.
What cities are built on 7 Hills? ›Rome is a city of many hills. But the seven hills of Rome are the original hills on which the ancient city was founded.
What country has the best diving? ›The Indonesian Republic is regularly voted as the best place in the world to scuba dive. The country consists of more than 13,000 islands, each having its own distinct identity both above and below the water.
Which is also the number 1 diving destination in Europe? ›Diving in Malta is maybe the number one in Europe with famous diving spots all over the Maltese Islands including Gozo and its famous Blue Hole. Malta is a great destination for scuba divers who love wreck diving and shore diving.
Can you jump off La Quebrada? ›Cliff Diving is a Tradition of Acapulco
Every day, brave men risk their lives by jumping from “La Quebrada”, astonishing both tourists and locals with their magnificent and valiant acrobatics. From the cliff, they jump into a channel at high tide that is 4 meters deep (13 feet).
Acapulco has become the “Riviera of Mexico” for tourists attracted by the climate, the many luxurious hotels, excellent beaches, and deep-sea fishing. More than 300,000 visitors go there annually.
Is there a city inside a mountain? ›Just south of Colorado Springs is one of the most famous military bases in the world, but you can't see it. It sits one mile inside of the granite Cheyenne Mountain, 2,000 feet down from the surface.
What is the largest cliff dwelling in the world? ›The largest of all the cliff dwellings, Cliff Palace, has about 150 rooms and more than 20 circular rooms.