Go cliff diving

WideWorld asks the World High Diving Federation experts to explain what you need to get ahead in the breathtaking sport of cliff diving

Two weeks ago, Brit diver Blake Aldridge toppled from a mighty cliff face in Switzerland, hitting the water below with enough speed to crumple the body of an untrained man. An Olympic diver by trade, Blake’s efforts at the World High Diving (WHDF) Championships earned him the gold. With interest sparking across the world for the extreme thrills and mental focus that cliff diving can offer, WideWorld brings you a brief guide to the sport, where you can do it, and how to begin.

The basics

Cliff Diving is the acrobatic perfection of diving into water. An outdoor sport practised in lakes and seas, all that is needed is a head for heights, a knowledge of the area and water conditions, and diving skills.

The heights dived from range between 18-23 metres for female divers, and 22-27 meters for males. This height means the diver will hit the water at an entering speed of 45-60mph (75-100 kmh). When they hit, they’ll carry on down to a depth of 2.5-4.5 metres – one good reason why a comprehensive knowledge of the waters is essential. They’re in freefall for up to 3 seconds, and impact the water 9 times harder than they would from the 10-metre platform you’ll see in most swimming pools.

With these powers at work on the body, the cliff diver has to be well prepared, fit, supple and committed to the dive. They also must know the correct techniques to avoid injury when hitting the water.

The cliff diver’s requirements

According to Silva Weill of the WHDF, the cliff diver should meet several requirements.

“A strong technical education and many years of experience in diving or a similar acrobatic sport are the main prerequisites for a high diver.

“Other necessary strengths include courage, self-confidence, extraordinary physical control and the ability to make decisions within fractions of a second based on the following impulses: sight, space, time and experience. Most athletes reach their maximum technical skill and psychical maturity at an age of around 30.

“The body is exposed to enormous forces during a high dive, especially during entrance into the water. As....

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