Deep Water Solo time!

The main reason for coming to Tonsai was to experience the unique activity of deep water soloing and we had finally got to go.

We would have been sooner in the trip but the boat that was used to take us to the spots had broken down and they had been waiting for repairs and replacement units from the mainland.

We prepped ourselves mentally over a bowl of muesli and joined the group. I had a quick warm up on the varied odd-job training bits they had put up at basecamp while Hollie sat and read the Tonsai Climbing Hand Book.

Everyone gathered their things and we bundled into the long boat. We passed the place where Tonsai got famous for deepwater soloing but could not go, the site had been made illegal to climb by the Government, possibly to do with the danger it imposed but most likely as they didn’t make any money by allowing the places to be used.

There was quite a high buzz about the recent decisions made all over Tonsai by the local government but it is not my place to comment on, not on here anyway!

We went to the new sites, they had not been used for long and there was only a few basic routes marked on a map. We were told that the rocks may be sharp and my god they were not wrong! The traverse was almost razor sharp coral all the way round, really good for grip but not great if you want to keep your fingerprints! I managed to make it up one set route and half way up another, I could have gotten further but once your up, you eventually have to come down. Coming down means literally jumping off the side of the crag into deep water, hence the name and let me tell you now that it is terrifying! Not for the faint hearted!

After everyone was done on that bit of volcanic rock that had erupted out of the ocean and given life, we went to refuel by in the best places to snorkel in the area. It was hard to tear yourself away from snorkeling to go and grab the food cooked and set out by our guides. We sat on this perfect beach together looking out over the crystal clear waters, with a monkey, and ate our lunch in bliss.

After lunch we went to another threatening looking rock and spent the rest of our time there. The ocean here was deep, like deeper than deep.

I tried to spot any place where there might be floor but just couldn’t. There was just the abyss below and it wasn’t quiet about it. If theres one thing I take away from this it will be the bitter sweet reminder at how easy we have it climbing on hard ground with ropes and a spotter. I think if there was a place to top out it wouldn’t have been so daunting but every move you make higher means another meter down you will eventually fall. Its a strange feeling between wanting to finish the route and not wanting to hit the ocean at speed!

After all this we were done. I had drunk far to much sea water and was retching every other minute and Hollie had come to realise she did not enjoy jumping into the ocean from height one bit! It was a seriously awesome experience that I personally would like to do again one day. I heard the white cliffs at Dover is where the sport originated.

We ventured back to our cabin for a last evening in Tonsai.

In conclusion of our visit to Tonsai, its a stunningly beautiful and isolated area with bundles of activities, however our advice would be to put extra money into accommodation. The majority of accommodation was squalid and run down, and by the time we left we felt grubby, even after a shower and there was no where to do laundry. Our beds where uncomfortable, its fine for a few nights but after 9 nights here I think a bit of comfort would have been welcomed.