Getting started in canyoning
What the sport actually involves, what to expect on your first descent, and how to begin without scaring yourself.
How to read a canyon grade
The v/a/Roman-numeral system explained — what each axis means and how to use it to pick a route that fits you.
Flash floods: the first rule of canyoning
The most important safety topic in the sport. How floods happen, how to read the warning signs, and the discipline that keeps you alive.
The essential kit, and why each piece matters
A plain-English tour of the core canyoning equipment — what it does, why it differs from climbing gear, and what to rent before you buy.
Sierra de Guara: inside Europe's canyoning capital
Why a dry massif in northern Spain became the centre of European canyoning, and how to make the most of a trip there.
Respecting the canyon environment
Gorges are fragile, living places. How to descend them without leaving a mark, and why low-impact ethics matter more every year.
Jumping into pools, safely
Jumps are the most photogenic part of canyoning and the easiest way to get hurt. How to take them with judgement, not bravado.
Rappelling on wet rope: what's different
Abseiling in a canyon is not the same as on a dry crag. Why wet rope behaves differently, and how canyoneers manage it.
Choosing a canyoning wetsuit
The single most important comfort decision in the sport. Thickness, fit and why canyon suits differ from surf and dive suits.
The Blue Mountains: slot canyons near Sydney
Why the sandstone plateaus west of Sydney hold some of the world's most beautiful canyons, and how the local style differs.
A short history of canyoning
From Victorian explorers and speleologists to a modern outdoor sport — how descending gorges became a discipline of its own.