This is a coastal adventure for everyone. If you like the sound of Canyoning, or sea level traversing, you will love coasteering. Jumping in and out of the surf, avoiding the waves as they crash over the rocks and cliff jumping are part and parcel of this high adrenaline activity. Non-swimmers can also try this activity as buoyancy aids can be used. For your safety, experienced guides should accompany you at all times.
Coasteering is known as the saltwater cousin of canyoning, being very similar in that you're going to get very wet and have an excellent time jumping off cliffs in to the sea. Coasteering is all about traversing along the intertidal zone of a rocky coastline, climbing and swimming, sometimes jumping from the rocks, without using boats, surf boards or other craft. A defining factor is the opportunity provided by the marine geology for moving in the "impact zone" where water, waves, rocks, gullies, caves etc, come together to provide a very high energy environment.
Coasteering is different to sea level traversing, which usually involves the use of ropes and climbing harnesses with the aim to stay dry. It is never a dry climbing activity, but a game that can push your adrenalin levels or simply unwind you. It is more about getting wet, swimming and jumping and scrambling round rocks. Simply put, it is everything you were told never to do as a child by the sea.
Instead of climbing up, Traversing involves climbing along. The emphasis is on adventure with a large amount of group co-operation to enable success. Following the cliffs around at sea level, crossing zawns and coves, negotiating pools and caves and climbing around, under, over and through rocks are all elements that may be encountered. As with many of the other activities, a peak educational experience is often possible, leading to a memorable sense of achievement.
It is difficult to define the precise boundaries between, for example, rockpooling and ocean swimming. Coasteering may include all or some of the following:
- Adventure swimming in calm water, rough or white water, and/or tidal currents.
- Climbing, scrambling, sea level traversing. The very nature of the coastline that is needed for coasteering demands aspects of these activities.
- Jumping and diving are often seen as an appealing and exciting part of coasteering. These activities actually make up minimal content of a coasteering session.
From extreme rock-pooling to high adrenalin sea-survival, you can take part in coasteering at a level that will leave you buzzing. It is a novel mix of exploration adventure and adrenaline at the level you want it to be, from nervous newbie to extreme exhilaration! If you work in or near the sea you soon know that every day is different and there are still plenty of places you'll find exciting. It gives a very different perspective on the coastline. Take time out to look at some of the local marine wild life.
This activity will leave you feeling exhausted, but exhilarated, soggy, but totally refreshed!
Coasteering came about through sea cliff climbers scrambling around the coast to get to new climbs. Then somebody discovered that it was quiet good fun just to do the scrambling bit.
All aspects of coasteering have been informally practised by people for a very long time, if only as a means of access to a cut-off cove beyond a headland, to observe shy wild life, or just for fun.
"A few enthusiasts believe that coasteering will become popular and has a big future."
(from "Sea Cliff Climbing" by John Cleare and Robin Collomb, 1973)