How To Jump Off A Cliff Like A Boss

Nothing is more embarrassing or painful than jumping off a cliff the wrong way.

Skin gets slapped against flat surfaces, water goes up in places you do not want it to ever be, and that awesome cliff SloMo video you were anticipating looks more like a National Geographic documentary on a featherless baby bird attempting to fly for the first time.

On the flip side (pun intended,) if you know how to jump off cliffs like a boss, you’ll have a smooth and delightful landing, plus an Instagram-worthy video of your brave and heroic jump. It might sound easier than it actually is, and that’s probably true, because it’s not exactly easy thinking about how you’re going to land when you’re falling through the air.

But, if you get in the right mindset and know some simple tips, you’ll have a much better chance at looking like a boss, rather than looking like you just got reamed out by one. Here’s a few:

1. Watch other people go first

Sit down, relax, have some wine and cheese before you go jumping off cliffs the second you get there. The rocks aren’t going anywhere, so waiting your turn won’t be of any loss to you, but it could be a gain. Watching other people jump first will allow you to not only make sure it’s safe to jump, but to also gauge their reactions for how scary of a jump it actually is.

Happy faces mean fun. Terrified faces mean run.

2. Don’t dilly dally, just do it.

Bosses don’t sit around and contemplate how scary taking a risk is going to be, they just do it. Don’t dilly dally around at the top with all the rest of the scaredy cats, just get into your position, check for the all clear below, and GO!

Dilly dallying will also just hype up your nerves, and make the jump more scary than it is awesome.

3. Jump OUT, don’t step OFF.

Try not to do one of those hop-steps off the side of a cliff, that’s a terrible idea on several levels. The first and most important reason not to step off a cliff is because it’s a CLIFF which means there are rocks sticking out underneath it that you could quite possibly hit if you aren’t careful.

It’s also way more fun to jump out because you’ll feel like you’re flying for a split second instead of just falling.

4. Keep your legs together and arms up.

Remember what I mentioned about water going up in places you never ever want it to? Yeah. Keep your legs together for that reason, and also for other reasons like avoiding flailing around like a plucked chicken and possibly landing wrong.

Keeping your arms up will mostly help you avoid slapping them against the surface of the water, and will also help you keep your body straight so you don’t end up in a seated position and landing in a butt-flop.

5. Hold your breath and re-adjust under water.

Your body will involuntarily force you to hold your breath as soon as you get under water, but if you want to avoid water going up your nose, make sure you remember to hold your breath or even plug your nose.

Then, after you’ve jumped off the cliff with perfect form like a boss, re-adjust your bikini top that likely slid down, or your board shorts that are riding up, before you make your spectacular exit out of the water.

Alyssa Ramos

Alyssa is a self-made travel blogger and social media influencer who packed away all of my stuff a few years ago and has been traveling solo full-time ever since.