By Suzanne Barbezat
Mexico Travel Expert, about.com
The bronzed, agile divers climb the craggy cliff to the upper platform. Each will pause at the little chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe before performing his dive, thanking her for keeping him safe thus far and asking for her continued protection. The diver takes his time, does some stretches, watches the waves for the right moment before taking to the air. Timing is essential: the dive must coincide with an incoming wave. If there is any debris in the water it must be removed: even a small object in the water could cause injury on impact. When the diver judges the moment correct, he becomes airborne, ensuring enough distance from the rocky cliff. The audience holds its breath but it only takes a few seconds before the diver is submerged, and as he reappears, the audience lets out a sigh of relief and a smattering of applause.
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The daring divers of Acapulco plunge off a cliff into a ravine from two different platforms. The first few dives are performed from the mid-way platform, 55 feet above the surface of the water, the final one from the top-most platform at 115 feet high.
The depth of water ranges from just 12 to 14 feet. The cliff is not a straight vertical drop, so they must get enough distance to avoid the rocky wall, and on impact with the water they must arc their bodies so that they do not hit the bottom. They also have to time their dive so that there will be enough water at the bottom when reach the water.
Cliff divers history
Cliff diving began as a pastime and a way for locals to show their gumption, daring one another to dive from increasingly higher spots on the cliff. The Acapulco divers have been performing for tourists since the 1930s. They were featured in the 1963 movie Fun in Acapulco starring Elvis Presley. Originally they were a casual group of divers but they are now a formal association composed of 27 divers. Traditionally diving runs in families: parents teach their children to dive, and there are several multiple generations of divers, although anyone with an interest and diving ability may join the association.
When to see the cliff divers:[post_ads_2]
The cliff divers perform their death-defying feat every day of the year, only taking a break in the case that severe weather conditions prohibit them from diving. They perform once during the day at 1 pm and then once an hour between 7:30 and 10:30 pm. There are 5 to 7 dives in each session, several from the mid-way point and the grand finale dive from the highest point.
Where to watch them
The divers perform at a place called "La Quebrada" which is just north of the old town, "traditional Acapulco." There are three main vantage points for watching them:
Mexico Travel Expert, about.com
The bronzed, agile divers climb the craggy cliff to the upper platform. Each will pause at the little chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe before performing his dive, thanking her for keeping him safe thus far and asking for her continued protection. The diver takes his time, does some stretches, watches the waves for the right moment before taking to the air. Timing is essential: the dive must coincide with an incoming wave. If there is any debris in the water it must be removed: even a small object in the water could cause injury on impact. When the diver judges the moment correct, he becomes airborne, ensuring enough distance from the rocky cliff. The audience holds its breath but it only takes a few seconds before the diver is submerged, and as he reappears, the audience lets out a sigh of relief and a smattering of applause.
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The daring divers of Acapulco plunge off a cliff into a ravine from two different platforms. The first few dives are performed from the mid-way platform, 55 feet above the surface of the water, the final one from the top-most platform at 115 feet high.
The depth of water ranges from just 12 to 14 feet. The cliff is not a straight vertical drop, so they must get enough distance to avoid the rocky wall, and on impact with the water they must arc their bodies so that they do not hit the bottom. They also have to time their dive so that there will be enough water at the bottom when reach the water.
Cliff divers history
Cliff diving began as a pastime and a way for locals to show their gumption, daring one another to dive from increasingly higher spots on the cliff. The Acapulco divers have been performing for tourists since the 1930s. They were featured in the 1963 movie Fun in Acapulco starring Elvis Presley. Originally they were a casual group of divers but they are now a formal association composed of 27 divers. Traditionally diving runs in families: parents teach their children to dive, and there are several multiple generations of divers, although anyone with an interest and diving ability may join the association.
When to see the cliff divers:[post_ads_2]
The cliff divers perform their death-defying feat every day of the year, only taking a break in the case that severe weather conditions prohibit them from diving. They perform once during the day at 1 pm and then once an hour between 7:30 and 10:30 pm. There are 5 to 7 dives in each session, several from the mid-way point and the grand finale dive from the highest point.
Where to watch them
The divers perform at a place called "La Quebrada" which is just north of the old town, "traditional Acapulco." There are three main vantage points for watching them:
- The observation platform provides a good vantage point and is cheap, but there is no shade and you will have to climb the stairs back up at the end of the show.
- Hotel el Mirador offers great views of the cliff, you can have a drink or a meal while you watch the divers perform
- On the water; you might choose to combine a cruise of the Acapulco Bay and watch the divers from the comfort of the boat
No matter which of these locations you choose, be sure to arrive early to find the best spot to watch from. A few of the divers will come by to see you, answer questions, pose for photos and receive tips, so be sure to have some pesos ready to show your appreciation for their impressive stunts.
