Q: Deep Water Solo? What's that?
A: Basically it's a form a of freestyle rock climbing without safety equipment like ropes and climbing harnesses; with the logic being that if/when you fall, you land in the Andaman Sea unharmed. Although it should be noted that a fall from really high up comes with the risk of hitting the water so damn hard that drowning commences immediately after. But no worries, there's always some Thai kid in a kayak employed as a safety officer kind of paying attention to all the climbers. In fact, I think this might even be safe from a statisticians point of view.

Q: Awesome, how do I sign up for that?
A: Well, you too my friend can participate in this nonsense by making your way to Krabi, Thailand; a place where everyone walking around is so fit, in shape, and ripped with muscle that you swear to yourself you will begin a proper exercise routine the moment you get home; or for those of us constantly on the road, at least to a place with fewer bars and happy hours. These are the rock climbers that come here from around the world to challenge themselves on the climbing routes. Besides the human eye candy, Krabi boasts amazing limestone karst formations with blow-you-away photographic scenery. So from Tonsai or Railay Beach, just sign up for one of the statistically safe tours on offer daily. Putting your name on the sign up sheet is the easy part.

Q: Is it easy, can anyone do it?
A: Hell no. Although the pro climbers make it look easy, it definitely is not. And trying to keep up with or follow a pro will certainly give you the opportunity to ask yourself the following: "I wonder what it feels like to hit the water from up here?" The answer usually comes not long after that! I have photos of some of the pros navigating routes that required them to hang upside down using some kind of Spidermanesque techniques to get past huge undercuts in the rock formation. It was simply amazing to watch.

Q: How much does it cost?
A: I can't remember.... maybe US$30 dollars for the afternoon.

Q: Is it fun?
A: The climbing and falling and jumping is fun! Landing in the water at a twisted, awkward angle is not fun. If you're lucky or good, you can jump in the sea from whatever ledge you make it to. This usually doesn't hurt as much unless you find yourself 20 meters (66 feet) up. Then there's no way down except to jump.