Just outside of the madness that is Honolulu, around the southeast corner of Oahu, there’s a bevy of less touristy, and more perilous, attractions for thrill seekers.
One of the most infamous is Spitting Cave, a cliff-jumping destination in the neighborhood of Portlock. The cliffs vary in size and danger, but there’s been numerous injuries – and sadly, casualties – from the cliff-jumping scene at Spitting Cave.
Luckily for this next dude, he didn’t become one of those statistics. But he did huck it off a 70-footer, coming super close to the rocks, and swimming away unscathed.
According to the caption:
“Near-death experience cliff diving in Hawaii.
“Jumping down 70 feet, @alexnoddeland luckily did not turn into a statistic with officials recounting 52 reports over the past five years for cliff jumping injuries, near drownings, and deaths.
“Spitting Cave is known for its deceptive formation as water rushes in and shoots upward, this deadly mixture of hidden currents + shallow rocks results to this cliff being the deadliest reported diving spot.
“Though some locals still seek this thrill, if you’re seeking safer alternatives to bombing waves: look at China Walls with adjustable heights measuring from 15 to 25 feet, and no hidden rocks.
“(Tip: Jump only at high tide).”
The jumper in the video is Norwegian Alex Noddeland, and by the looks of it, he appears quite experienced. It’s the folks who don’t know what they’re doing – the ones with the egos bigger than their faculties – who get into trouble.
Related: Man Dies Jumping Off 50-Foot Cliff in Hawaii (Video)
Sadly, earlier this year, someone died jumping from Spitting Cave off a 50-footer. The man was a tourist, believed to be German, and after jumping he didn’t resurface. Rescue crews rushed in. But when they got the body, he was already gone.
As one local warned after that incident: “Just because you swim in a swimming pool, or a lake, or jump in a quarry, it doesn’t make you qualified to do that here. Even though you tell ‘em not to do it on a day that would be too dangerous for an outsider. They see our kids do it, and they’re like, ‘I can do that too.’ Then they get in trouble.”
Related: Psycho Cliff Diver Jumps 65-Foot Ledge in Bali (Video)