Muscat: Top class safety measures will be in place as 14 of the world’s top cliff divers will dive from a cliff top at a height of 27.5 metres in the Grand Finale of the 2012 World Series adventure tomorrow at the picturesque Wadi Shaab off Tiwi village in the eastern parts of Oman.
The Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series comes to an Arab country for the first time and Oman’s Ministry of Tourism is promoting the event with open arms.
“We wants to promote Oman as a destination for sporting events and adventurous activities and a place for shooting international films,” said Ibrahim al Mahrouqi, Head of Festivals at the Ministry of Tourism.
Defending World Champion Briton Gary Hunt was all praise for the new venue for the world class divers. “The venue here in Oman is going to be a real challenge and race for the championship is not over yet,” the 2006 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist said at a media briefing held at the Crown Plaza on Monday.
The former Olympic hopeful from Britain believes that a frontal cliff pose a huge challenge to every diver. “Normally, he added, “we are used to diving without any frontal view.”
He pointed out that the cliff at Wadi Shab was in front of the jumping pad. “We have to be alert and take a good measure of the water. It will be a great test of our skills and concentration.”
With the divers taking a plunge from 27.5 metres into a five metre deep pool inside one of the most spectacular wadis in Oman, the organisers have kept safety as a top priority.
“Safety at this event is our top priority and we have kept helicopter in readiness for any eventuality,” French Champion, Niki Stajkovic, said in reply to a question. He also added that scuba divers will be in place as another safety measures as divers plummet down from such a height into water.
As divers think of making the best of warm waters and windless venue, diving aficionados will literally have an adventure worth a edge of the cliff finish tomorrow from 11.30am at Wadi Shaab.
