Coasteering Hong Kong: all you need to know about combo adventure sport
The goal of coasteering – a combination of climbing, swimming, and cliff jumps – is to navigate along a coast staying as near the waterline as possible. Hong Kong’s rugged headlands offer plenty of opportunities for adventure

“Five, six .... jump!” I’m shouting out over the rolling waves. Between my feet I can see the drop, in front of me a giant boulder of sandstone too steep to be climbed. The only way on is through the water.
Like Steve McQueen in the classic 1970s film Papillon, I’ve been counting the waves before jumping off the cliff. As one wave after the other rolls in, I’m desperately waiting for the optimal moment.
My wife, Esther, and I have been trekking, climbing and swimming along Hong Kong’s rugged coastline for the past few hours: our adventure started in Chai Wan, at the final stop of the MTR’s Island line. Where the residential towers and concrete paths give way to the green hills and cliffs we simply jumped over a little fence and continued along the coastal rocks. Usually these rocks are only frequented by fishermen, but increasingly the cliffs and hidden beaches of the city are becoming a playground for our passion: coasteering.

Coasteering provides a unique way to see Hong Kong’s spectacular shoreline up close. The sport is a combination of rock climbing, swimming, and optional cliff jumping, with the goal being to move along the waterline. Its birthplace can be traced to Wales, where on the coast of Pembrokeshire several operators started to offer commercial guided tours in the 1990s. In the meantime the activity has spread across the world, with tours offered in UK, Spain Canada, and Australia.
The goal is to stay as close to the waterline as possible. If the rock gets too difficult to climb, then an alternative route is sought. This can mean deviating higher up the cliff or jumping into the sea to swim around the obstacle. The surf can sometimes make this a tricky affair. When big waves are rushing up to the rock, getting safely into the water and out of it can be dangerous. Its no fun to get smashed against the rock, as there are a lot of barnacles below the waterline that will cut fingers or legs very easily, so it’s essential to wear gloves and knee protectors.