Jumping into pools, safely

Nothing sells a canyoning photo like an airborne silhouette over a turquoise pool. And nothing sends canyoneers to hospital more reliably than a jump taken without checking what is underneath. Jumping is optional on almost every canyon; treating it as optional, every single time, is the mark of an experienced descender.

Every jump is inspected

Water hides everything. A pool that looks deep and clear can conceal a submerged boulder, a shelf, a log jammed since the last flood, or simply a bottom much closer than it appears. The rule is absolute: no one jumps into water they have not personally seen checked, by someone who has entered and confirmed the depth and the landing zone is clear.

• Have someone enter the pool first and check depth and obstacles.
• Confirm the landing zone is clear of rocks, logs and other people.
• Look for the exit before you jump, not after.
• If in any doubt, take the rappel or down-climb instead.

Technique that protects you

Jump feet-first, body vertical and slightly tucked, arms crossed over your chest or holding your knees — never a dive, never a backflip into an unknown pool. Keep the height modest: even into deep water, big jumps load the spine and legs hard, and awkward entries cause injuries on their own. The goal is a clean, controlled feet-first entry, every time.

When not to jump at all

Cold water, fatigue and pressure from a group are the conditions under which people make bad jumping decisions. If the team is tired, the water is moving, the depth is uncertain, or someone simply does not want to — the answer is the rope. There is no obstacle in canyoning that must be jumped, and a great deal to be said for the quiet confidence of walking past one.