North Coast Challenge

Coasteering was born from the exhilarating blend of mountaineering and orienteering, and was first mentioned in a climbing guidebook dedicated to Devon.

This dynamic activity marries sea swimming, low-level climbing, traversing, natural rapid riding and thrilling jumps from ledges into deep-sea plunge pools. Our coasteering adventures are conducted along the Gazzle, a Cornish term meaning ‘armpit’, which is a sheltered stretch of coastline teeming with a diverse range of native wildlife. Experiencing coasteering in Newquay, Cornwall is a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in the stunning landscape and observe coastal flora and fauna up close.

All our Instructors are fully qualified Beach and Surf Safety Lifeguards, ISA surf Instructors and Coasteering trailblazers. They’ve undertaken extensive First Aid training and we endeavour as an Activity Centre to regularly train our staff so they have experience in all weather and water conditions. All coasteering routes have been risk assessed and developed to ensure an adrenaline-fuelled but low risk coasteer. We also work in close partnership with the RNLI presence on every beach to ensure your safety in and out of the water.

Yes! Coasteering is a year-round activity, you just need a few extra bits of kit to keep you warmer in winter months! We even coasteer all the way up to Christmas.

• Wetsuits – You’ll be given a full body 5mm neoprene suit designed to prevent chill whilst submerged in water.
• Buoyancy Aid – Our non-obstructive buoyancy aids zip up like flotation jackets, designed to ensure you bob in the water and can move freely for climbing!
• Helmet – You’ll be clambering up and along rocky outcrops during your coasteer, so the helmet will protect you from any unstable debris that may fall during your activity.

All our coasteering instructors wear exactly the same equipment as you, but carry some extra gear to ensure your safety.

• First Aid Kit – Instructors will carry a first aid kit in case of minor injuries along the coasteer route.
• Peterson Tubes – Each instructor will carry a large yellow float, useful as a jump guide for leaps into the water and easily adaptable into a life float for rest and recovery.
• Throw lines – Your coasteer instructors carry a 15-metre, super flexible floating rope that can be tossed out into the water at a moment’s notice. It’s an essential part of coasteering safety kit and strong enough to pull the weight of multiple people.
• Towlines – Another piece of useful safety kit is a towline, easily attached if anyone needs towing from the water to the shore during larger swells.
• Torches – You’ll be exploring rocky nooks and old smugglers caves during our coasteers, so a torch is a useful guide whilst in darker corners.
• Mobile phone – One instructor carries a mobile phone during the coasteer, protected by waterproof casing and fully charged in case of an emergency.
• Goggles – Goggles are an optional extra if you’d like to peak under the water’s surface on a clear and sunny day! The water is very clear in the Gazzle.
• Diving knife – Useful for cutting old fishing lines.

We’ve found over 80 marine species along our coasteering route! Whilst making the most of the ocean elements the Gazzle has to offer, we think it is important to consider that it’s a thriving habitat. We work in partnership with the Cornwall Wildlife Trust and endeavour to ensure we make as little negative impact on the ecosystem as possible! You’ll be very likely see Native Seals, Kittiwakes birds, lobsters, and fish whilst on your coasteer.

Towards the end of your coasteer, we always run a 2-minute coasteer clean-up to give back to the environment and help protect the quality of the area.

If you have your own suit please bring it along but wait until you’ve spoken with our instructors before putting it on. Some wetsuits are not suitable for coasteering, specifically shorties and triathlon suits. The same applies for wetsuit boots / beach shoes. Some are suitable and others aren’t. Trainers for example, are perfect for the rocky terrain.

All you need to bring is your swimwear, a towel and some old trainers to wear in the water. We will provide you with everything else, including a wetsuit, buoyancy aid, helmet and a rash vest.

Please bring a pair of lace-up trainers to wear during your coasteer. They will of course get wet, so you can also hire wetsuit boots or trainers for a small charge of £5.

During your coasteering journey, various jumps await you, the highest reaching 8 meters. However, depending on the tide, this can fluctuate. Our skilled instructors ensure you master the necessary technique before you take on the big leaps.

But don’t fret if high jumps aren’t your thing – they’re entirely optional!

With years of local knowledge, we’ve identified all the route’s entry and exit points. We’ve made sure there’s an alternative path for every challenge, whether it’s swimming with an instructor or taking a scenic cliff path. Rest assured, we tailor each activity to your preference, ensuring you enjoy the experience just the way you like it!

If you have any medical needs, injuries or special requirements, just give us a ring and we can talk through how best we can cater for your needs during your coasteering experience!

We ask that everybody who takes part in our coasteering experiences can swim a minimum of 50 metres. However, you’ll be given a buoyancy aid as part of your coasteering kit so there’s no need to be nervous of you’re not the strongest swimmer!

Coasteering requires a basic level of fitness. During the route you’ll be doing low level climbing and will need to be able to pull yourself out of the winter onto rocky traverses. It’ll certainly get the heart pumping but you don’t have to be an athlete.

It is generally best not to wear glasses if possible. Talk to your instructor on the day and explain what level of sight you have without glasses and they will advise. In calm conditions it should not be a problem, however we always suggest glasses have a cord/lanyard, or that they are securely tied onto your buoyancy aid. Using disposable contact lenses is advisable.

We would love everyone to take part! We will tailor the session to everyone’s abilities and you don’t have to do anything you don’t feel comfortable with.

Having said that, the Gazzle is only a short walk from our activity centre and easily accessible for those not wishing to take part in the coasteer. You’ll be able to follow the coasteer group from above if you choose not to take part yourself.