Comments on: Diving at Rick’s (Negril, Jamaica)

By: Pauline Murphy

Pauline Murphy — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:27:43 +0000

I jumped on Monday, was in Jamaica for my son’s wedding (yep, I’m 55 years old). I didn’t jump the right way and hurt my back and have some really cool bruises on my legs, but it was a blast and I wouldn’t have missed it.

By: charles

charles — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:35:12 +0000

I jumped at Ricks 5 times, once from the platform in the tree. A man from North Dakota jumped also, i bruised my butt really bad. Ricks fault? HELL NO, MY FAULT, jump and view was amazing. The next time i go to Jamaica I’ll jump again. For all you people crying about your injuries, keep your asses in bed live in a bubble, don’t slander Ricks it is the highlight of my wife’s and my vacation. By the way my wife jumped too, and had no problems…. bunch of right wing panzies

By: Me me me

Me me me — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:02:32 +0000

I jumped.
It was my first time ever.
Got bruises on my butt and both upper legs.
Loved it!
Will d it again, next time I am there.

By: chris

chris — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 20:52:51 +0000

I was born in jamaica but left at age 13 to live in america. There are alot of things i did not get to do when i lived there, jumping off the cliffs is one thing i have always wanted to do. next week i am visiting with a group of friends and i am looking foward to visiting “risk” cafe. some of these stories are scary so i want to get a little more info on these: 1) to those who got injuried, was it because u didnt enter the water foot first and straight why u got hurt or did u dive correctly and got hurt anyway?
I really want to just and i think i will but i would hate for one of my friends to get hurt if the do. I will make sure no jumps if they were drinking.

BTW to all those who were injuried, stop blaming Ricks and Jamaica for lack of certain luxuries that we enjoy here. Most if not all the really fun attractions in Jamaica are owned by American and European companies so they are the ones not providing proper safety guide lines and equipment for emergencies.

By: ryan

ryan — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:12:04 +0000

Julie.. Don’t tell people not to jump just cause YOU landed wrong.. how the hell do u land wrong on a 35 foot jump into water?? did you not watch the 100 other people jump feet first off the cliff?? it just pisses me off.. its like this. i could wake up next a.m. get in my car, drive 5 minutes down the road and get in a accedent.shatter my vert or even worse die. am i going to go on a forum and tell the world DONT DRIVE, JUST DONT DRIVE.. cars are bad, the road to recovery is LONG, VERY LONG… no, im not cause its just retarded.. you take a chance everyday by waking up and walking out your front door.. for the hundreds of people that jump the cliffs at Ricks and dont get hurt, theres always gonna be that one time that someone Fs it up and trys to ruin it for the hundreds of people that read this forum that are iffy about jumping.. its a great feeling to jump.. dont be scared and just jump.. belive me!! ive been to Jamaica many times and have jumped many many times and its great.. just use your head and be careful.. live your life!!!

By: STL

STL — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:04:07 +0000

I was at Ricks last year and had a nice time, do I think they should have medical supplies/AED on sight, yes.

People, it’s not the USA and you are in a third world country. You know that if you get hurt jumping, you are screwed, it’s called personal responsibility and you should be extra carefull.

Too many Americans look for someone else to blame, its part of the lawsuit culture. Come on, do you really think jumping off a high cliff is a good idea when in a 3rd world nation? If they had professional lifegaurds, signs saying you must be this tall to jump, etc…it’s an American theme park, not Negril.

Sorry about your father, not having an AED is messed up but too many people (not you) blame everyone else except themselves.

By: Julie

Julie — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 21:08:43 +0000

On Nov 14, 2008 I jumped from the cliff at Rick’s Cafe. I now have a burst compression fracture of L1, and life as I knew it has changed…… completely. Prior to this accident I was very active and enjoyed many strenuous outdoor activities such as backpacking, mountain biking, running, water- and snow- skiing, rock and ice climbing, and many others. (I live in North Carolina) I obviously did not jump nor did I land correctly and the force of the water shattered my vertebra. I know many people jump, some many times without any injury, but my advice……..DON’T JUMP, just DON’T, it’s not worth the risk. It’s only about a 2 second free fall and it may be free…… but it’s not worth it. If you love a thrill, do something you can learn to do, take a lesson, practice, learn the do’s and dont’s and go for it. (Rick’s advertises their establishment for Cliff Jumping but they give you NO guidance.) Some things to consider before taking that jump…… imagine the ambulance or cab ride on Jamaican roads, while in pain….. OOOOUUCH. Know that US health insurance is not accepted by Jamaican hospitals, doctors, or ambulance companies…… do you have enough cash to pay for those services up front?, and how about the cost to change your airline ticket so you can spend a few extra days in a Jamaican hospital, and then the upgrade to 1st Class so you can fit on the plane with your body cast on? Also plan on a few extra dollars for all of the international phone calls you have to make because the 800#s you rely on don’t work when you are out of the US……. I could go on and on as I think about and deal with all of these things ‘after the fact’ , but I won’t. From Someone who didn’t think about the possible “cons” before jumping; Please, Please, Please realize, the risk you are taking is HUGE, the road to recovery is VERY long and unpleasant and there are too many wonderful things to see and do in Jamaica to risk ending your fun with a jump at Ricks. Everything you’ve read about the lack of emergency services is true, on top of which, they just don’t get in a hurry in Jamaica. So please, DON”T JUMP, and don’t let anyone you care about jump either. It’s not worth it.

By: Beth Wolf

Beth Wolf — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 09:29:49 +0000

I have to say, I’m pretty torn on this issue. I just returned from Rick’s, where my 7 year old jumped from several of the platforms, as did my husband. Had I read these comments beforehand, I’m sure I wouldn’t have allowed it. But our family and kids have been “cliff jumping” at various vacation spots for years. As far as Rick’s responsibility, the fact is that they do push and profit from the cliffs, and therefore should provide more caution as well as first aid. All their t-shirts promote the cliff jumping activity (“Rick’s Cafe – To Dive For”) and the paid jumpers are the centerpiece of the “cafe” (more like “bar.”) The place is built around the cliffs and it’s offered up as a fun activity while you’re there. You have to enter the bar to jump the cliffs, and the idea is definitely promoted, so in this case I have to agree that Rick,s owes more to its customers because in spite of its third world status, it does cater to stupid tourists and someone makes a bundle off them, although not the lowly tip-jumpers or “life guards.” But the man who died swimming from the boat was not even a Ricks customer at the time – why is the blame placed there? I do think, in general, that we are way too litigious and that’s eroding our quality and enjoyment of life. People really do need to do their homework and make their own calculations, especially in a foreign country. The continual cries of “I didn’t know” are too much. Is it our job to educate, think for, and keep everyone in a protected bubble? By the way, in all these years of my husband and 4 kids pressuring and teasing me to jump, I never once did. Look Ma, no bruises! I may, in future, insist that the kids give it up, so I’m thankful for the information, but not so much for the shifting of blame and responsibility.

By: james bridges

james bridges — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:13:44 +0000

Hi there, i went to Rick’s Cafe Dec 1999, i dived off the 35 ft point with no problems at all, the swell wasn’t perfect but there you go. I’m no accomplished diver but a good one never the less. I was mobbed by Americans for diving, In my opinion jumping would have been more painful. Well my experience was brilliant but safe to say that i did it only the once.

By: matt

matt — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 21:02:06 +0000

Do not blame Rick’s Cafe because you decided to take the “risk” of swimming with your family. It is unfortunate that your father died from a heart attack but do not blame innocent people because of the lack of resources they have available in the third world country that they live in. Take responsibility for your own actions and stop your pessimistic thoughts on people who are begging for money. No matter where you go in this world (including where you live) people are going to beg and to assume that the only thing that Jamaicans care about is the US dollar is a sad realization that you have to put a culture of people down to make you feel better about your fathers death. I am most positive that there are plenty of Jamaicans who are wealthier than you and would not appreciate your comments. No one held a gun to his head and said swim. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY!!! NEXT TIME DO YOUR RESEARCH. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!