Even with the inherent dangers, many people are captivated by dangerous hobbies because of the excitement and adrenaline they offer. They provide a sense of adventure, a challenge, and the chance to push one’s boundaries. For some, the drive comes from wanting to overcome fears, reach personal milestones, or simply enjoy the unique thrill that these activities bring. Whatever their excuse is, here is a list the most thrilling hobbies people still pursue.
Cliff Diving
A dangerous form of high diving, cliff diving involves diving into the sea or lake from a cliff. Cliff divers often strike hidden debris and rocks while diving in midair and then under the water as well. Worse still, AdventureSmart points out that even if someone carefully assessed the safety of their diving spot, their “speed is (still) great enough to cause spinal compression, bone fractures, concussion, or a collapsed lung.”
Boxing
Boxing has never been so popular, but it’s important to remember that it’s a violent sport that often results in serious brain injuries for those who compete at a high level. If you are only boxing as a way to stay fit and get a good workout, you will be fine. Just be sure to wear all the safety equipment necessary to save you from serious injury.
BASE Jumping
BASE jumping is extremely high-risk due to the lower altitudes of jumps compared to skydiving, making parachute deployment more critical. BASE jumping is parachuting or wing-suit flying from a fixed structure. The word BASE is an acronym that stands for four categories of fixed objects from which BASE jumpers jump: building, antenna, span, and Earth. Business Insider says, “If you choose to participate in B.A.S.E. jumping, you’ll sadly find that this activity will not be covered” by your insurance.
Cave Diving
This dangerous hobby mixes scuba diving with spelunking. As the name suggests, it involves exploring caves underwater. Underwater tunnels and caves are quite tight, and being stuck or getting lost with a limited amount of air is a real fear. But the views are worth it.
Hang Gliding
Hang gliding is an air sport or recreational activity in which the pilot flies a light, non-motorized foot-launched aircraft called a hang glider. There is one deadly accident per about 116,000 flights.
Heli-Skiing
Any activity that involves jumping out of a helicopter is going to be somewhat dangerous. Heli-skiing is all about tackling slopes that are only accessible via helicopter and unpatrolled for normal skiers. There is the chance of setting off an avalanche, which could be life-ending. Forbes reminds us, “Frank Wells, former president of The Walt Disney Co., died in a helicopter crash during a heli-skiing trip in 1994.”
Rock Climbing
Rock climbers usually use ropes and harnesses to increase their safety, but it is still a dangerous hobby. Injuries due to falls are relatively rare, but injuries caused by overuse are very common. Some more extreme climbers climb without the safety of ropes, which is called free soloing.
Big Wave Surfing
Big wave surfing is surfing or riding on waves at least 20 feet tall. The risk of being pulled under by a large wave or seriously injured is high and, therefore, dangerous. It takes years and years of practice and training for normal surfers to become eligible for this, and even then, the sea ends up winning against the bravery of these individuals and claiming a lot of lives each year.
Skydiving
Skydiving is a popular adrenaline sport that involves a free fall at the speed of gravity and a controlled fall with the use of a parachute. Most skydivers are required to carry two parachutes, but fatalities still occur in this sport, with about 1 death per 150,000 jumps.
Whitewater Rafting
Whitewater rafting has become increasingly popular. There are numerous dangers related to this hobby, including the risk of drowning, getting injured by rocks and branches hidden underwater, and heart problems caused by the adrenaline rush.
Scuba Diving
This is underwater diving with a breathing apparatus; risks include decompression sickness and running out of air. The definition of deep diving might vary with certain categories, but in terms of recreational diving, a depth below about 30 meters (98 feet) is usually considered a “deep dive,” as it is where nitrogen narcosis becomes a significant hazard for some divers.
Bungee Jumping
The most popular adrenaline sport, bungee jumping involves jumping from a tall structure while connected to a large elastic cord. The thrill comes from the free-falling and the rebound. In addition to all potential mechanical failures related to the cord, injuries are quite common, even when everything is right. The sudden change in pressure can damage the eyes and the pulmonary system, and there is a risk of severe whiplash.
Motocross/Motorcycle Racing
Motorcycle racing is also extremely dangerous mainly because there is nothing between the driver and the ground. Almost every motorcycle accident results in serious injuries and possibly even death. With the highest speeds exceeding 185 miles per hour, the consequences of an accident are mostly fatal.
Canyoneering
Navigating a canyon or mountain involves a variety of skills, including hiking, rappelling, swimming, and rock climbing. You also need to use your problem-solving skills to work out how to get from one point to the other. People often get lost or stranded in the middle of nowhere. This is why it is considered a dangerous hobby.
Spelunking (Caving)
Caving is an adventurous activity of exploring wild cave systems. As caves are very dangerous places to be around, there are many risks associated with caving including hypothermia, falling, flooding, falling rocks, and physical exhaustion. Moreover, rescuing people from caves is often very difficult.
Ice Climbing
Ice climbing refers to roped and protected climbing of features such as icefalls, frozen waterfalls, and cliffs and rock slabs covered with ice. Very popular among adrenaline-seeking mountaineers, this extreme sport is similar to rock climbing, but as ice is a more volatile and unpredictable material than rock, it is way more dangerous.
Bull Riding
In the U.S., bull riding is attempting to stay mounted on a bull with risks that include being trampled or thrown. There have been a few deaths in competitions. “In 2019, rider Mason Lowe died from injuries at a Denver event where a bull stomped on his chest. In 2021, Amadeu Silva was killed at an event in California when he got caught underneath a bull,” reports Fox News.
Volcano Boarding
Descending a volcano’s slope at high speeds risks falls and high temperatures. Normal people tend to run far away from volcanoes; some look at them and say, “Let me slide down it.” This death-defying activity involves volcano divers wearing safety suits descending a volcano’s 41-degree slope at high speeds, sometimes up to 50 miles per hour.
Running of the Bulls
This extremely dangerous activity is practiced in Spain, Portugal, Mexico, and southern France. Up to 100 people are injured during the run each year. Deaths are relatively rare, but there have been several cases of goring that eventually resulted in deaths. NBC reported, “Since record-keeping began in 1924, 13 people have been killed during the runs, the most recent in 1995.”