Deinfluencing You from the South Point Cliff Dive on the Big Island

Last Updated on November 23, 2025 by Charlotte

A local backflipping off of the South Point Cliff Jump spot on the Big Island while onlookers applaud

South Point has this wild and cinematic energy to it, and it’s the kind of place that makes you feel young and invincible just by standing near the edge. This is the southernmost point in the United States, and when we were a lot younger (and, frankly, a lot dumber), we loved cliff jumping here. Cliff Jumping at South Point on the Big Island felt like the ultimate rite of passage. But now that we’re a little older, a little wiser, and have seen a few too many vacation-ending injuries, I’m not convinced this jump is worth the risk for most people, even the young and adventurous. Before you launch yourself into the ocean like a human torpedo, there are a few things you really, truly need to know about cliff jumping at South Point on the Big Island.

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What You Need to Know Before You Jump

Before you jump, there are a few things you should consider…most prominently, if you will be able to get out! As Travel Buddy likes to say, everybody can jump once!

Travel Buddy flying through the air after jumping off the cliff at South Point in Naalehu

The Ladder Situation

For the past while, there’s been a rickety and rusty metal ladder from the sea to the top of the cliffside. But what you might not be able to see until you’re already in the water is that getting up the first few rungs at the bottom of the ladder requires a lot of upper-body strength, as the waves might be tossing you around.

Ocean Currents You Might Not Expect

There’s often a current at the bottom of the cliff pulling you out to sea, and if you cannot make it up the ladder in time, you might find yourself floating to Tahiti! Sometimes there is a rope that you can grab onto so that you do not float away while waiting for others to climb up the ladder, but you can’t depend on the rope being there.

How the Jump Actually Feels

But in all honesty, I am a bit of an adrenaline junkie, and I love jumping out of things like planes, and off of things like cliffs! This South Point jump is a lot of fun, mostly because of the height. This is one of the cliff jumps where you launch yourself off, your stomach flip-flops, and you’re airborne so long that your brain has time to wonder why you are still in free fall.

Char across the world jumping off the cliff

The Impact Can Hurt A Lot

But let’s not pretend the landing is gentle. Hit the water wrong from this height, and it can feel eerily similar to hitting concrete. I know it sounds silly that water can hurt, but people do get injured here: spine injuries, head injuries, and tendons, too. Even professionally trained divers on swim teams can still have accidents. One of the divers on my college swim team broke his back on a wild cliff dive in Hawaii, which was a career-ending accident.

A cliff jumper proudly pumps their fists to the sky in celebration after surviving south point

If You’re Going to Jump Anyway (Even Though I Just Told You Not To)

Read the Ocean Before You Even Think About It

If the wind is howling, the swell is rolling in, or you see whitecaps, that’s your sign to walk away. Those conditions transform a fun jump into an extremely risky one, especially when it comes to climbing back up. South Point is no place to “YOLO” through bad weather.

Follow the Locals’ Lead

This is the easiest rule of all: if no locals are jumping, you shouldn’t be jumping either! They know this coastline better than anyone. If they’re staying on land, it’s because the ocean is sketchy, unpredictable, or downright dangerous that day. Respect their read of the water; it’s likely more accurate than anything you’ll interpret on your own.

A local bomba in free fall off the South Point cliff

Final Thoughts

South Point is one of the most beautiful, dramatic corners of the Big Island. It is a place where the ocean feels ancient and alive and a little bit mischievous. Cliff jumping here can be a thrill, but it’s a thrill that comes with fine print. If you decide to leap, treat the ocean with the kind of respect that keeps you safe and keeps your vacation intact. And if something feels off — the wind, the waves, the ladder, your gut — there’s absolutely no shame in staying on solid ground. The view from the edge is spectacular enough on its own, and you can always go look at sea turtles at Punaluu Black Sand Beach, or hike to Papakolea Green Sand Beach instead.