The beautiful scenery, clear blue waters, and towering limestone cliffs of El Nido, Palawan in the Philippines were praised by the world’s best divers, putting the island in the global spotlight as the paradise stage for the 2019 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series which made its first-ever stop in the Philippines in mid-April.
The high dive event, which gathered the world’s best cliff divers including Filipino-Australian Xantheia Pennisi who emerged in the Women’s Top 7, went live on April 13 on their various online channels to present the kick-off of the 2019 edition of the annual sporting adventure competition.
Red Bull broadcast hosts Trace and Joey started off their live world broadcast saying, “Greetings from paradise and welcome everyone as we kick off the 2019 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series from El Nido the Palawan Island on the Philippines’ remote and scenic location lined with white sandy beaches, jungle mountains, beautiful seascape, sand, clear emerald waters.”
El Nido is a first time location for the world’s diving elite and first stop for the cliff diving world series, with Sports Director and 4-time Olympic gold medalist diver Greg Louganis marking the island as a favorite spot.
Good News Pilipinas took note of the praises about the island of the Philippines, straight from the participants of the Cliff Diving World Series:
“You think cliff diving you think the oceans, sunshine, spectacular athleticism, but mostly you think paradise. And here in El Nido the word paradise is a whole new level for these divers,” Trace, host of Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series.
Cliff divers featured on the event live video had these to say about their stage on El Nido, Palawan:
“This does feel like paradise…”
“It is just breathtaking and to be in a spot like this in our sport where you can feel so connected to the earth and the cliff and diving in the seas here it’s just such an awesome experience.”
“We were impressed with the color of the water…”
“This place is beautiful I couldn’t wish for a better first stop of the season…”
“I was blown away and it was something incredible I mean, what’s not to love about island life?”
“You know this is what you should think about when you think about cliff diving, this beautiful water, good weather, nice rocks.”
“In a lot of interviews we get asked what’s your favorite location and I’ve always struggled to answer that question because I love all the locations for their own reason and not one has ever really stood out to me the most. but this one has now like by far by a landslide answered that question for me.”
“To start off the tour in the Philippines and that’s what we do it for.”
El Nido’s beautiful lagoons were the stages for the winning dives of 7-time champion Gary Hunt and 3-time champion Rhiannan Iffland.
WATCH the legend Orlando Duque on an exclusive tour to the amazing Philippine dive spot where the 2019 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series season kicked off, here:
Do tell us in the comment section below your own El Nido, Palawan experience in the Philippines!
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