Red Bull Cliff Diving Grand Final
Take a high cliff, deep water and full body mastery. Then add an excess of courage, along with meditative levels of concentration. This is what it takes to compete in cliff diving. No additional equipment, no protection or padding, just a nylon swimsuit or speedos.Held each year, the Red Bull World Cliff Diving Tour sets the extreme bar for competitors in the traditional high diving sport. On top of this, it happens to be an incredible spectator sport, as onlookers are gifted the chance to witness supreme physical skill in some of the most beautiful settings in the world.
The tour travels far and wide, challenging athletes to compete in surreal locations, from a cenote in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula to diving off the top of a coastal castle in La Rochelle, France. Each tour stop pulls big crowds who come for the photo opportunities. Take to the water to spectate as the dives are completed. Hundreds of others will be bobbing about on various boat craft also, which only adds to the excitement.
Diving from heights of around 27 metres is the equivalent to launching off an eight-story building, so the extreme element is real. Divers must hand in their planned dives the day before the first day of competition, and these must consist of two required dives of a fixed difficulty, as well as two optional dives. The winner of each tour stop is the diver with the highest points total from all four competition dives.
WORDS OF WISDOM
- Arrive an hour or two before the kick off to secure a good spectating spot. The crowds at these tour stops can veer on the large side. Depending on the location, find a kayak, rowboat or speedboat – a prime vantage point to watch all the best action unfold from.
- Pack a zoom lens. It will make capturing the winning dive shot that much easier.
- Dive locations are often off the beaten track. For anyone interested in attending, check the Red Bull Cliff Diving website for information in the week leading up to dive time. They publish comprehensive detail on access, parking, disability access and other essentials.
For all World Series stops of the next Red Bull Cliff Diving Tour, visit Red Bull Cliff Diving
