Top 10 Most Insane Real-Life Activities

There are plenty of things that can go wrong in bungee jumping, as popular and relatively safe as it is. But things become even more intense when you decide to go crocodile bungee jumping, which is...well, bungee jumping over a crocodile-infested body of water. In 2012, an Australian thrill-seeker named Erin Langworthy actually found out first-hand how quickly it can go wrong. While jumping over the Zambezi River, the bungee cord snapped and she went plunging into the water. Thankfully, Langworthy survived the encounter and didn’t actually run – or, rather, swim – into any crocodiles. You can do this sport anywhere home to semi-aquatic reptiles, like Africa and Australia – but...maybe you shouldn’t.

You’d head to Nicaragua for this one because that’s where this extreme sport began. Volcano boarding is more or less exactly what it sounds like; you use a “board” — usually a wooden plank or metal board — and slide down the slopes of the Cerro Negro volcano. There are — unsurprisingly — plenty of hazards, but the worst is probably the one that comes to mind right away: getting caught in an eruption. Cerro Negro is an active volcano, after all, which last erupted in 1999. You can also get sick by being exposed to the gases volcanoes emit or get hurt smashing on the volcanic rock.

Mechanical bulls are, of course, a continuation of a very real tradition where a genuine bucking bull is ridden. It’s a very difficult rodeo sport – so much so that you only need to stay on the bull for eight seconds to start earning points in a professional setting. We say “only” eight seconds, but make no mistake, they’ll probably be the longest eight seconds of your life! That’s how difficult it is! Of course, it’s also very dangerous if you’re thrown off, and sometimes the bulls even escape, which can make it life-threatening for spectators as well. It’s not ideal, to say the least, for the bulls themselves either, and is quite the controversial activity.

Deserts are not for the inexperienced. If you don’t know exactly where you’re going and how to avoid dehydration, you should probably avoid them altogether. And biking across a desert is extra intense. Popular deserts to bike through include the Gobi Desert in East Asia, which is a lot colder than other deserts, and the Mojave Desert in the American southwest. Pro desert bikers advise never to stray off the beaten path or ride alone, and of course take plenty of water with you. You can take a dirt bike or go cycling, although one requires you to ensure you don’t run out of gasoline, while the other will exhaust and drain you a lot faster.

Climbing is already a difficult sport, but add ice into the equation and it may seem unnecessarily dangerous. It is, in fact, dangerous but, thankfully, there are a lot of ways for you to get the training you need without risking your life. There are plenty of indoor ice climbing walls around the world for you to practice on, and a ton of rules about safety. There are also a lot of different techniques and types of equipment involved, which vary depending on the condition and location of the ice. And there’s no doubt that climbing a waterfall with a cliff backing versus climbing a freestanding waterfall are definitely two different levels of risk. Of course, for many of us, it’s all too risky.

Remember how we said climbing is difficult? Well, try climbing up cliffs and canyons with absolutely no safety gear whatsoever – not even a helmet! An Oscar-winning documentary about the first solo climber to scale Yosemite’s El Capitan shed mainstream light on this terrifying sport – and it’s no wonder why it became buzzed about. It’s easily one of the most extreme sports in the world, and shouldn’t be attempted unless you’re already an extremely experienced climber. Actually, scratch that. It shouldn’t be attempted unless you’re​​ Alex Honnold himself! You need to know absolutely everything about yourself, your limits, and where you’re climbing, and even then, many pros still consider this activity unnecessarily dangerous.

We’ve all seen those movies where the protagonists get caught in rapids and their boat sails over the edge of a waterfall. Well, apparently this is also something that people do for fun. “Why?” you might ask. Well, because of the ‘rush’, of course! And, also, because if you’re kayaking in a whitewater river, you may eventually have no choice but to go over the edge. If that’s the case, you’ll definitely want to know what you’re doing. Even so, the highest category of dangerous waters – class 6 – is deemed so unsafe by even the most skilled paddlers that it’s advised everybody avoids it completely. Or, you know, maybe just avoid the sport altogether – whatever, just a thought.

Skiing is one of the most popular winter sports, but should it be combined with flying? You definitely need to know what you’re doing around the slopes for this one, because you’ll be dropped in at the top of extremely remote locations via helicopter, and expected to make your way to the bottom. Alive. Heli-Skiing remains common in places with the right terrain, which includes parts of Alaska, British Columbia, and Hokkaido. It also happens in some very selective parts of the Alps, but has been regulated and even banned outright in some countries, like Germany. This isn’t just because it’s dangerous, but also because the constant flying causes a lot of pollution. Heli-skiing, more like hell-skiing, are we right?

Caving on land can be risky if you’re not sure of your route. You can lose your way or accidentally get trapped somewhere. But caving underwater is something you just shouldn’t do unless you’re formally trained. If you happen to lose your way or get trapped... you’ll be stuck underwater. (That’s bad!) All over the world, many have died trying to explore underwater cave systems. Even with the proper scuba gear, you can still end up in a watery grave. However, it is possible to do it safely with the right training and preparation. Sometimes, underwater signs are even installed. It’s important to note that cave diving is also done for lots of scientific research projects, and not just recreationally.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few Honorable — and dangerous — Mentions:

Cage of Death
All That Stands Between You & a Saltwater Crocodile Is a Plastic Tube

Cliff Diving
Always Make Certain to Jump From a Safe Spot

Storm Chasing
Driving Towards Storms Is Risky Even for the Most Experienced Chaser

Whitewater Rafting
Fast Treacherous Waters Will Swallow You Alive if You’re Not Careful

This extreme activity has gained popularity in recent years, but please don’t go assuming that just anybody can BASE jump – not without all the necessary extensive training. You need to know how to use a parachute and possibly also a wingsuit – not to mention all the practice you’ll need. None of this is cheap or easy to learn. Not being experienced enough is one of the main reasons BASE jumpers have tragically died doing the sport they love. While the thrill of jumping off of something and free-falling through the air is anything but BASE-ic, you’re actually up to eight times more likely to meet your end BASE jumping than you are skydiving.