I only go up to Rick's middle of the afternoon as I do not enjoy the tourist crowd. Naturally traveling solo I attract some attention and I tend to fare for the drama of the risk taking jumps myself not so much awe at what others are doing. Over the two years I have went there probably 40 days, I have jumped probably 80 or so times, I made friends with several divers and their families and most when I first walk in the gates now come up the ladder or yell my name from the LTU side and tell me to come over their. I then learn new tricks and have developed a good enough relationship that they now allow/ escort me up to the tree platform and let me jump and have taught me how to do many dives or we do combo jumps and such and combo swings from the rope swing.
As far as who they are and injuries:
I have a story of my own that helped me make my own conclusions. Last October when I was there just after Tropical Storm Nicole which had destroyed most of Ricks outdoor facilities and trees and jump spots, it was a little windy like maybe 3 days after the storm not much jumping happening. I talked Omar and Spidey into letting me go from the tree, three of the trees had gotten ripped out and all their platforms were gone. We had a thin plywood board about 1 foot by 4 foot stretched across some tree limbs. Your crazy your crazy yadda yadda they said. Shark went up and checked the wind and asked how you sure? Well ofcourse I was as i get this invincible thing about myself when in Jamaica.
So up the tree, branch by branch scraping my fluffy body parts all up on the tree. I get to the top and think there's no turning back now cause it hurt to climb this tree and i not going back down it. The boys all start yelling. I pencil jump as wind is not good ,and I'll be damned if I don't hit the water and get body slammed into the cliffside by the huge waves and rough waters. I drag myself over the portion of the cliffside under the LTU divers side where there is the hole u can see the lighthouse and you can lift out of the water onto the sharp rocks. I don't want to seem like a girl you see so I plan on hiding here until the tears stop. I look up and see what looked like a rain downpour of boys jumping all at the same time. 5 count that 5 boys came to me knowing my name wanting to help me back out and get me walking and trying to wipe the blood from what I now call my homemade Jamaican tattoos on my legs and sides. When I pushed them away and decline any assistance 3 of them sit there with me for over an hour continuing to ask if I am Ok, trying to wipe the blood offering to use their shorts or get cloths and wanting to get me help. All the while i sit casually chatting and they grow their thoughts of my mania. ( Ok so this did end in major infection but to shey)
I have visited and jumped many times since with the same guys and communicate via facebook and text and cellphone when in the states. I have never had one be rude or try to hustle or gigolo. When they light up by me they blow it to the other side or ask if i mind if they do smoke before getting involved. Most no longer ask me to smoke and when someone new asks me to they answer for me that i don't smoke or they tell people to move away from me that are blowing it at me. When they leave me sitting to go jump for tips they apologize first.
These are very upstanding and as usual Jamaican style caring guys. Most have other jobs and jump as a side job. None are employed by Rick's they are all voluntary and self employed more less. Rick's insurance does not cover them in case of injury nor does LTU it is purely at there own risk. Many have had multiple serious injuries and continue.
Jumping at Ricks' is what brought me to Negril and cliff jumping is what continues to take me there.
