tombstoning.com

The site has undergone a few changes in the last two weeks. Ok so it looks the same, but I was very happy with the look and feel and just wanted to sort out the folder structure and picture facilities. I have updated the site with a few pictures of recent visits to the coast, and will be adding older picture sets when I have finished preparing them for upload.

So during the winter months there will be more pictures appearing, but mainly showing outings during the summer of 2007. Check out the pictures of our November visit to Stair Hole to see how nice the weather was!

Here’s to a Happy New Year. Let’s hope 2008 doesn’t have as many tombstoning disaster stories as 2007.

The safety section has been updated and split in to sections so it isn’t all in one very long page.

I have created a page (see the Safety tab?) detailing all the things I feel are important to consider when tombstoning. There are a few more sections to add, and I’m sure it will grow more as the site develops; but I wanted to get some safety information up here soon after the site was created to make sure people see how tombstoning can be a well thought-out activity.

This site was first registered on 24th August 2005. The roots of the name ‘tombstoning’ appear to come from coastal lifeguards referring to the sport as an easy way to earn an early grave. As names go it certainly grabs attention. I registered this domain after years of jumping from the Dorset coast in to the sea; thinking I would post some of my favourite pictures of the local cliffs (with me throwing myself from them) for friends, family and the odd person who liked doing it as well. The plan was to gather a list of places along the south coast and surrounding area where this sport seemed safe (your interpretation of safe may differ) to take part in.

Two years on and things have changed dramatically. The news is awash with stories of people drunkenly jumping from piers and harbour walls. Visitors to the sea side finding the nearest cliff edge and hurling themselves from it. General perception now frames tombstoning as a foolish, dangerous and ill-thought action rather than a well planned and calculated ‘extreme sport’…