As summer is coming in hot to the shores of South Africa, fun activities around water sources are quickly on the rise. Cliff jumping is the art of conquering your fears while plunging into the cold waters below for a refreshing dip.
Unsplash/Josiah Gardner
While this activity might seem straightforward, many factors must be accounted for to ensure your safety. Need help to cliff jump like a pro? Take a look at a few tips and tricks to incorporate in your adrenaline-fuelled activity to jumpstart your heart to the beat of summer.
Check the waters below
As ocean and lake waters do not always allow much visibility, you must check the water to ensure you’re not plunging into shallow waters. Be sure to swim out to the approximate place you plan to jump and check the depth of the water.
This tactic will also help you remove any obstructions in the water that could hinder your jump, such as large pieces of seaweed or trash.
Leave enough room and time for fellow jumpers
If you’re a beginner jumper, it’s a good idea to try out popular cliff jumping spots to get the hang of the activity. These jumping spots, however, do come with a few things to keep in mind to ensure your (and others’) safety.
If you see a fellow jumper take the plunge, you’ll need to wait till they surface and swim far out enough before you jump yourself. This will ensure you don’t injure anyone from your jump into the waters below.
Jump far from the cliff edge
While it might be tempting to drop into the water near the cliff proximity, this is not advisable. This could lead to your body hitting the rocky structure on your way down. Be sure to gather as much distance as possible from you and the cliff when jumping to ensure you don’t injure yourself.
Remember to jump feet first
Cliff jumping is an extreme activity, so lay off the flips and tricks on your first excursion. Jumping in feet first will decrease your chance of getting an injury from the impact of the waters below.
A bad flip landing will not merely be an embarrassing moment, but it could cause severe damage to your body (depending on the cliff’s height). So, be sure to keep it simple on your first few tries.
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