Jumping into the water either in the sea or stream is part of the “fun” in our outings. Where to enjoy it and how briefly explained here.
Disclaimer – Technique – Locations
The usual disclaimer: this can be dangerous and can seriously hurt you. So progress slowly. To be honest, I’m not much a fan myself. Jumping usually is just a resource for me. Sometimes the safe option while coasteering. Some of my buddies love it and actively look for high cliff jumps both while coasteering or stream hiking.
“Technique” i.e. how to avoid getting yourself hurt. First, check the depth. Do so even if you have been in that spot before. In the sea, the low tides can make spots that were safe to jump before not so much. In stream, dislodged rocks.
How deep does the water need to be for a certain cliff heigh? I tend to say that is a ratio of 2 to 1. A 2m jump would require 1m of depth, 4m cliff 2m of water, etc. But it is an oversimplification. There is no real ratio. Entry position, water conditions (waves for example), bottom composition and others can affect. I know a few people that are extremely good changing their entry angles and stopping in really little water even jumping from high. Others that are able to hit the water in such hydrodynamic way that can go really deep. Always err in the safe side and if you are not sure (tricky coasteering situations come to mind) get yourself ready to bend your joints (knees and hip mainly) to minimize the impact after the water entry. Same as if you would be jumping from height to a rock below.
Gravity keeps accelerating you every meter you are in the air. The faster you hit the water, the harder it feels. Doubling the height more than doubles the impact. Usually a slight wrong entry angle at lower heights does not create a problem. But it can the higher you go. On one hand it increases the hit surface area, increasing the deceleration (impact). On the other you might be hitting weaker areas prone to injury.
So how to jump if you are a beginner? Find a jumping spot that allows you to be stable. Do not lean your head down. Jump (think long step) with your feet first looking to the front. This will help you with the goal of maintaining fully vertical. You can use your arms to do so while you are in the air. But just before landing hold them tight against your body. Brace!
I’m not the most patient prompting Gemini images, but as kinda reference:
Injuries suffered by buddies or people I know starting from the most common. Elbow due to hitting the water with the arms extended. Shoulder, because of the same reason and/or tilted to one side. Eardrums, for those with sensitive ears or because of slight side entry. Bruised thorax, hurt coccyx, etc., definitely very wrong entry without bracing from high.
Why some people throw a rock to the water before jumping? Some just to measure the total heigh and try to see if there is any obstacle. Others think that it helps by reducing the water tension. Not really. For a human size object the surface tension is negligible + between throwing the rock and jumping usually the water returns to its previous state. In professional diving air bubbles are injected into the water, that way the water becomes more compressible, so that the deceleration reduces a bit. Controlled conditions that you will not be able to recreate in your outings.
Locations
This post idea started when a colleague told me that she had gone stream hiking and they had jumped from 10m high. I was 🤔 “which easy stream she could have gone to? I don’t think any of those has such a high and relatively safe jumping spot”. Therefore I asked in Instagram if anyone could think of options. As expected, we could think of tons of high “safe” spots in coasteering mode but really little while stream hiking. Actually, most people overestimate the height of their jumps. Anyhow, as per popular demand, below a compendium of cliff jumping routes. Additionally I have created another tag to add to posts: cliffjumps. Every time I see high cliff jumps in streams or significant jumps in coasteering routes I’ll add that tag.
This is the first option that came to mind when my colleague mentioned her story. The first pool is really easy to access and is the initiation of cliff jumping for quite some people. Me included long years ago.
This initial pool has no so high jumping spots, but further up the streams there are 7, 8, may be one 10m high jump spot (tricky).
is another (canyoning) classic that includes several jumps. Highest in the 5-7m range.
And several sliders
Hero waterfall has a couple of “fun” jumps. One requires a proper climb.
The other hitting the wall. Press on the image to start the video.
It is a cute stream with incrementally higher jump options. Highest barely 6m. She jumped lower.
has a 5-6m jump. If you are good with your leaping and distance calculation you could go even a bit higher.
It has several jumping spots starting from the lowest pool including swings.
There is one 10m jumping spot, but it is quite sketchy. The water is not deep at all and I have only seen someone Døds diving there 😳
As mentioned, coasteering routes offer way more options.
This route is perfect for beginners with varied heigh jumps.
is another easy one good for beginners with several jumping spots
is a bit trickier scrambling wise. A few jumps en route too.
just to put another example a lot further, in Saikung.
It might be the place were more of my buddies have jumped from really high. The infamous 10m jump in Tai Ping. The bruised thorax and injured coccyx exactly here (pic by JV).
But there are plenty of cliff jumping opportunities. Meko showing one for example in the South Island.
Last example. Tons of jumping opportunities. Several really high.
Can you go even further? Give Deep Water soloing (psicobloc) a try. I have seen people doing so from Ap Lei Pai to Jin Island. I know a few readers looking for locations to do so. Out of my expertise. Check the hkclimbing web.
Last reminder: be careful you all!!
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