For the fourth successive year, 16 professional cliff divers from around the world are gathering in the Azores to participate in the third stop of the 2016 International Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series.

The extreme sport diving competition is being held Saturday, July 9, at the Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo, an islet offshore São Miguel island.

Competitions are held in a limited number of venues around the globe. The four previous competitions on the Vila Franca do Campo islet were held in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Divers will leap from a platform situated 28 meters above the Atlantic Ocean to take a free fall from a monolith off the crater walls of the islet achieving speeds of approximately 85kph. Without the support of a rock solid platform the challenge creates a special thrill for the athletes and the spectators.

This year competing athletes include six women and 10 men namely: Adriana Jimenez (Mexico); Andy Jones (USA); Artem Slichenco (Russia); Blake Aldridge (UK); Cesilie Carlton (USA); David Colturi (USA); Gary Hunt (UK), Ginger Huber (USA) and Helena Merten (Autralia), Jonathan Paredes (Mexico); Rachelle Simpson (USA); Sergio Guzman (Mexico); and Steven LoBlue (USA).

Established in 2009, the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series is a sport extreme international annual completion created in 2009 by Red Bull. The cliff diving events are limited to number competitors in a limited number of venues around the globe. Five international judges score each dive based on a scale of 0 to 10 in half-point increments.

The location has been proved to be a tournament favorite. Classified as a Nature Reserve, the islet of Vila Franca do Campo is home to many species of birds, crustaceans and flora. Formed from the remains of a collapsed underwater volcano, the islet is named after the nearby Vila Franca do Campo town.

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paj.staff