Eager for the Summer: My Most Extreme Summertime Hobbies
The end of the semester is rapidly approaching, and summer is coming up. I’m vaccinated, I’m socially distancing, and whether I spend the summer here or in Hawaii with my family, I’m eager to resume some of my most extreme summertime hobbies. Here is an article about them. Read on, and you’ll see why I have to keep video proof of most of these on my phone for when people don’t believe me.
Author’s Note:
Please do not attempt any of these activities without proper safety precautions. I assume no responsibility for any injuries sustained with the attempt of any of them. I would advise consulting with a professional before attempting any of the activities listed.
CLIFF DIVING: - DIFFICULTY: **
Cliff diving is fairly straightforward, even when you have no cliffs around you that are super high (I prefer around 15 meters, so I don’t have to endlessly search on maps for anything higher). I prefer a pencil-dive, feet pointed down, back straight; and while I used to look forward so I could see myself falling for several seconds, I have since stopped that, as I didn’t think it was worth the pain in my sinuses every time I leaned a bit too far forwards. The most dangerous part about cliff diving as a casual activity (assuming you picked a deep enough spot) is some people’s hesitance to jump. If you don’t jump far enough or hesitate and slip off, landing on the rocks or the hard bottom of the cliff can be fatal, so most of the difficulty in this activity is jumping properly.
FREE CLIMBING CLIFF FACES: - DIFFICULTY: ***
This is something I do super-casually on trails, and it’s usually cut short once I run out of handholds, but I’ve found I can make it pretty high up on some igneous rock cliff faces, and even find some crevices to lay in or stand in for pictures. The views are always amazing - especially if you choose a waterside cliff - and you can climb at your own pace (and risk). While there is an initial hazard of not having a good cushion if you fall (even over water, you’re pretty close to the rocks), there’s also a risk (and challenge) of not losing your grip or slipping the entire way up or down.
FREEDIVING - DIFFICULTY: **** (WITHOUT GOOD LUNGS: *****)
Water is both good and bad in making activities interesting. On one hand, there’s no falling when you’re suspended by your own swimming in water; and you can truly see some beautiful sites in freshwater and oceans, especially in tropical oceans. On the other hand, there’s currents, drowning and exhaustion risk, and sometimes sea creatures that get a bit territorial. Throw freediving into the mix, with using your own lungs and risk of blackout, and you have a pretty difficult task (especially if you want to dive deep, or you can’t hold your breath very well). However, if you do freedive, you aren’t restricted by gear costs or certification prices, and you can see some beautiful sights.
UNDERWATER BOULDER RUNNING - DIFFICULTY: ****** (WITHOUT GOOD LUNGS: *******)
Freediving can already be difficult for some; add a boulder and it gets a whole lot more difficult. I came across this unique activity when I learned it was something people do to train in order to survive harsh conditions of the ocean while doing things like surfing. I immediately set out to try it. Boulder running is essentially sinking to the bottom of the ocean floor, picking up a boulder, and using its weight to keep you pinned, running across the ocean floor until you need to go up for air. I’ve seen it done with 30-50 pound boulders, but I prefer huge 60-100 pound lava rocks or igneous rocks because I float relatively easily (even after letting half the air in my lungs out to sink in the first place). A huge benefit of this activity is the amount of time you can spend in the lower parts of the ocean compared to freediving, as well as the lung capacity you build. However, this activity is extremely difficult and dangerous, and there’s not a single part of it that doesn’t have a high risk of drowning. From letting out breath to sink, to needing to still have some air left at the end so you have time to swim up.
BONUS: SWIMMING WITH A MERMAID TAIL - DIFFICULTY: ***** (WITHOUT GOOD LUNGS AND LEG PRACTICE: ******)
This is a bonus addition to this list for a very specific reason: I just bought my mermaid tail. And while I’ve practiced to prepare for swimming in it all last summer by holding my legs together while swimming in the ocean, and then testing my swimming ability a few final times by tying my legs together and jumping into water, I still can’t speak too much about this activity before I try it this summer. I hear it’s relatively easy despite having essentially one leg and one fin to swim with, but I have yet to confirm this. I’m super excited to do it though, and maybe I can even combine it with some (sustainable and ethical) trident fishing.
This activity and all the others definitely give me something to look forward to this summer.
