Guests of Mirador Acapulco Hotel, overlooking he world-famous cliff La Quebrada, can watfh divers from heights ranging from 30 to 41 metres
Visiting Torontonian Steve Gillick saw one of Acapulco’s legendary cliff divers get fire-d. Gillick, in Acapulco for Mexico’s annual tourism show set this year in the destination, joined an international Tianguis group at the Mirador hotel – a cliffside hotel found at La Quebrada, home of the divers – for dinner, with the group seated at an outdoor restaurant that provided a dramatic view of divers leaping from heights of up to 35 metres into the ocean, taking the nighttime plunges from illuminated spots that enable viewers to easily see them.
And in a particularly eyebrow-raising performance, one diver – who was wearing protective clothing – took the plunge after coating himself with a flammable material and igniting it, diving into the ocean shrouded in flames. That diver then swam ashore, none the worse for wear apparently after his particularly daring performance.
Jose Rosas, Hotel Mirador Acapulco’s director of corporate sales, says his hotel’s open-air La Perla restaurant provides the best views of the nighttime show. “There’s no question of that,” he states.
Some of those watching are hotel guests, while others simply come for dinner and take in an iconic Acapulco show that features multiple dives nightly. The Mirador has different types of rooms, a choice of restaurants, pools and an events room.
Gillick says the dive performance was truly an eye-catching one. “I must admit that when I was a kid, Johnny Storm — the Human Torch, one of Marvel Comics’ Fantastic Four — was one of my comic book heroes,” he says. “That full-body flame made Johnny look invincible as he battled evil forces, and, true to comic book protocol, each episode ended in a “cliff-hanger” that left readers eager to buy the next issue to discover the hero’s fate.”
Gillick says the cliff-hanger is the real deal in Acapulco.
“We sat in rail-side seats at La Perla restaurant in the Mirador Acapulco Hotel, overlooking La Quebrada, the world-famous cliff where male and female divers perform from heights ranging from 30 to 41 metres. Their target is a 7-metre-wide ocean pool between the rocks, with depths ranging from 4.8 to 5.8 metres. During the day, the divers judge the depth visually before praying at the shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe, waving to the crowd, and plunging into the water. At night, they listen to the waves to determine the precise moment to jump. After being thrilled by the 9 p.m. show — complete with divers wearing attention- getting white cloaks and carrying fire torches — we stayed for the 10 p.m. performance, which promised a searing finale. The last diver of the evening stood atop the highest cliff. An attendant draped him in a fire-resistant covering and, standing a few feet away, ignited his compatriot. The diver, now completely engulfed in wind-swept flames, remained motionless for a few dramatic seconds, creating a mesmerizing cliff- hanger effect for the spectators before diving like a human torch into the ocean. It was Johnny Storm brought to life — absolutely amazing. As soon as the fireball hit the water, two other divers waiting below rushed over to ensure he was safe.”
He noted that La Quebrada’s ‘human torch’ then waved to the crowd.
“Witnessing the bravery and skill of the nighttime divers alone would have been unforgettable, but the fiery ending left us with a burning desire to return. A tradition that began in the 1930s still lives,” he added.
Meanwhile, tourists who suddenly decide they want to follow in the La Quebrada divers’ daring footsteps are likely doomed to disappointment, with Rosas quite sensibly assuring that his staff would never encourage audience participation among guests.
