One of the most common fears among people is a fear of heights. I am lucky enough to not have this fear. Instead, I find joy and excitement in scaling heights. However, one of my great joys comes out of being able to jump from things into water. In fact, if there is water, I will usually try to find the highest point to jump into said water. For this reason, "C" is for Cliff Jumping.
Now, while a cliff is the common jumping point, one can jump from any point of height. I've jumped from trees, bridges, and more recently, the mast of a sail boat. The feeling of falling through the air gets the adrenaline going, which always results in a smile on my face.
I started with this "hobby", so to speak, back when I was a young lad. We had a small waterfall about a half mile from our house. My little brother and I would ride our bikes down to jump and swim all day long. I still enjoy going to that swimming hole whenever I am home. Brings back great memories.
These days, I have two favorite jumps. The first is from a cliff at a beach. It is about 35 feet up and you end up maybe 50 yards offshore. The first time I jumped off this was because a friend and I had intended to go surfing but it ended up being flat. We dared each other to jump. Once we did, we were hooked. We ended up jumping 8 times that day.
The second jumping place that I enjoy is a waterfall also on Kauai. The waterfall itself is about 20 feet tall. The highlight comes from the giant Banyon tree that is perched on top of the waterfall. This has two adventurous purposes. First, it serves as an anchor for a rope swing, which has given many great days of use. Second, the tree serves as a higher point to jump out of. I would guess that the jumping point from that tree into the water is somewhere between 50 and 60 feet.
While I have jumped from some decently high points, one thing that I do notice is that the elated feeling I get is the same no matter what the height. It is for this reason that I encourage anyone to give it a try. Jump from a small rock into a pond or your pool deck. It will put a smile on your face and give you a sense of adventure.
Side Note: I will definitely advise to start with a height you are comfortable with. I have seen people get hurt, some pretty seriously simply from landing wrong. Just because it is water does not mean it can't hurt you. Also, if you are jumping for a first time, please please please make sure you know the depth and dangers that may lie beneath.
 |
| Yours truly jumping from the cliff at Shipwrecks beach |
