Cliff Diving is one of the most exciting and impressive sports in the world.
Crete, and in particular the town of Agios Nikolaos, is an ideal place for lovers of this sport.
The town of Agios Nikolaos
Agios Nikolaos is a beautiful seaside town in eastern Crete. The town is built on hills, offering wonderful views of the sea and the mountains.
It is a modern tourist resort with large hotel units, crystal clear beaches, and beautiful landscapes.
In Agios Nikolaos, you will enjoy moments of relaxation and tranquility. The inhabitants are very hospitable and pleasant. Coming here, they will truly embrace you.
At Agios Nikolaos you will taste traditional Cretan dishes, and enjoy Cretan fetes and events.
Τhe lagoon “Voulismeni” in the center of the city is impressive. It has deep waters. High rocks also surround the lagoon. So, at this point, the municipality of Agios Nikolaos, with the cooperation of the region of Crete and other local bodies and associations, organize cliff diving competition every year.
It is really worth renting a car and going to Agios Nikolaos. You will spend moments that will be unforgettable.
The Event
A three-day sporting and artistic spectacle has been taking part in the breathtaking scenery of Lake Voulismeni, in Agios Nikolaos for the last four years.
The competition becomes at the end of June. It starts on Friday with test dives by the athletes and concludes on Sunday with a spectacular closing ceremony. Risky dives, music, dance and lots of spectators put Crete in the “heart” of the tourist map.
“Agios Nikolaos Cliff Diving” is not just an event confined to a narrow sports-diving frame. It is much more. It is a cultural event, a social event, a spectacle for all the senses in the center of Agios Nikolaos, in the “Voulismeni” lagoon.
Thousands of Cretans, as well as visitors of the island, flood the shops and outdoor areas around the amphitheatric lake of Voulismeni, enjoying the unique diving event.
Leading athletes from around the world take part in the races. More specifically, athletes come from England, Russia, America, Spain, Brazil, Switzerland, Australia, Denmark, etc. They make dives and pirouettes from diving-board at 20 meters above sea level, having very good technical and physical training. So the level is very high, the adrenaline too, and there is intense competition.
In addition to the official races, there are nighttime shows that are just impressive, with fireworks, lights, lasers and other happenings.
Many artistic and cultural events take place at the same time as the games. Traditional Cretan music, dance groups, contemporary music and dance streams, drums, violins, and even classical soprano voice compose a unique and unprecedented sight.
The closing ceremony
The organizers manage to achieve a spectacular closing ceremony, while promising an even better and more impressive event next year.
Athletes are diving all together from the rocks into the lake. Colorful fireworks illuminate the sky.
The “end titles”, however, do not fall with the closing ceremony, but much later, at Ammoudi Beach. There is a feast there with traditional Cretan dishes, plenty of frozen beer, farewell and thanksgiving, hugs, kisses, and dancing.
There, all the athletes, organizers and volunteers, who have contributed to the success of the event, renew their “appointment” with each other, and especially with their beloved Agio Nikolao, for the next summer.
