Leap of Faith

Fearless Red Bull divers leap into sink-hole in Mexican jungle

By Lee Taylor

Orlando Duque dives from the 27.25 metre platform during the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series. Picture: Dean Treml / Red Bull Cliff Diving

• Divers leap into Mexican mystical sink-hole
• Event part of Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series

It is a leap of faith not for the faint-hearted.

While dropping more than 27m into the heart of Mexico’s Yucatán jungle would terrify most of us, this root-covered sinkhole is a high diver’s dream.
The mystical setting close to the archaeological site of Chichen Itza was the latest stop on 2011 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series.

The event featured the world’s best athletes spectacularly diving into the mystical hole.

Believed to hold sacred powers, the 60m wide and 39m deep sinkhole is a UNESCO World Heritage site and was recently listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Gary Hunt of Great Britain dives from the 27.25 metre platform during the second stop of the Red Bull Cliff Diving. Picture: Red Bull

Pre-Colombian Maya sacrificed objects and human beings into the cenote as a form of worship to the Maya rain god Chaac.

Colombian cliff diving champion Orlando Duque was crowned the winner of the tournament, but more surprising, he managed to emerge with his trunks still on.

source: news.com.au