Deep Water Soloing: Where Rock Climbing Meets the Sea
Have you tried rock climbing? Are you into cliff jumping? If the combination of the two gets your blood pumping, then deep water soloing might be your next favorite sport.
So what exactly is it?
Deep water soloing, also known as psicobloc, is a form of rock climbing that started in the late 1970s.
It all began when a group of climbers in Mallorca, Spain, had the idea of climbing seaside cliffs without using ropes or harnesses. The appeal was obvious: climb high above the water, knowing that, if you fall, you'll splash into the sea rather than crashing onto rocks or earth.
But the sport didn't become popular until the 2000s, when Chris Sharma, one of the world's top rock climbers, visited Mallorca and fell in love with it. His climb of Es Pontàs, a famous sea arch in Mallorca, was featured in the 2007 film King Lines, bringing deep water soloing to the world's attention.
But how dangerous is deep water soloing really?
Well, it's called an extreme sport for a reason. If you don't climb too high, and you make sure the water below is deep enough, it can be relatively safe. But that's not what pro climbers always do.
Sharma's climbs, for example, can go as high as 30 meters above the water — high enough that even falling into the sea would be dangerous. Plus, some climbing spots are above rough seas or cold water. At the Red Bull Psicobloc contest in 2012, held in Chilean Patagonia, the water temperatures were as low as 12 degrees Celsius.
But most climbers looking for a bit of extra fun choose warmer places like Mallorca, Malta, Croatia or Thailand. So if you're visiting one of these locations, you might have a chance to try it. Just remember: the higher you climb, the bigger the splash!
