Having just returned home from my annual climbing trip to one of the world's best climbing spots, Railay, I found, to my dismay, that all Deep Water Soloing (DWS) had recently been banned! DWS is a thrilling way of climbing that entails free climbing (without a rope and harness) up a cliff and jumping or falling off the rock into the deep water that lies below!

The ban came into effect after the new National Park chief instituted very strict guidelines for the purpose of overseeing the sport of climbing in Railay and Phi Phi in an apparent effort to ensure and enforce better safety standards. The crackdown that began in January 2016 was initially aimed at the climbing schools in Phi Phi, but fortunately the climbing scene in Railay itself seems to be rather unaffected, except for DWS of course!

This means that it is business as usual for all the climbers in Railay! Climb on! 😀

At the top of the magnificent multipitch route 'Humanality'! - Photo credit to Dave Allen!