Youths risks their lives at waterfall

Agus Maryono, Purwokerto, Central Java

A group of youths in colorful shorts wave frantically for attention from the top of a hill at the Baturaden tourist resort. They yell loudly to be heard over the roaring noise of the waterfall cascading down from the top of the hill, hoping that the tourists crowding the site some 20 meters below will turn their heads.

Once they catch a visitor's eye, they hold up one or two fingers for the visitor's approval. No, this is not an extreme sport attraction -- rather the youths are offering to dive from the hilltop into the river about 25 meters below in return for a small payment.

One finger stands for Rp 1,000 (US$ 11 cents) while two fingers signify Rp 2,000. For Rp 2,000, they will dive from the hilltop. For Rp 1,000, however, they will only dive from halfway up the hill.

Their dives are greeted by long and loud applause from the spectators. The youths always start off by counting to slowly to three so that the tourists will have time to get their cameras ready.

Sometimes the divers show off a bit, performing somersaults like professional divers, with the waterfall as a backdrop.

"There are around 25 divers here. However, we only perform as a team on Sundays," said one of the divers, Suwanto, 17, of Karangmangu, Baturaden.

After diving, the intrepid young men surface from the river and approach the tourists to collect their money. Then, they climb up the hill again waiting for more offers until the crowd thins out by sunset.

The youths have to earn money by diving as their families are very poor.

Suwanto, who lives about a kilometer away from the waterfall, said he had been working as a diver for approximately three years. Throughout these years, he had managed to pay his own school fees, thus relieving the burden on his parents, who are very poor.

"I can earn an average of Rp 20,000 a day but I only work on Sundays. I cannot dive on weekdays as I have to study. But sometimes I work in the afternoon when I feel OK and am not too tired," he said.

He pointed out that most of the youths worked as divers to pay for their education, or that of their brothers and sisters.

"Only a few of us spend the money on having a good time," he said

Radimin, 20, who has been a diver for five years, said that the money he made was enough to pay for his younger brother's education. While risking his life at the waterfall for relatively small amounts of money, Radimin has also had the pleasure of seeing his brother complete elementary school. He is now continuing his studies.

Radimin said that he earned up to Rp 10,000 every weekday, and up to Rp 25,000 per day at weekends.

"Though I work every day, I usually earn good money only on Sundays or holidays," he said.

Radimin, who is the most senior diver, said it took a lot of nerve to become a good diver. Once a person decided to try his luck, he would have to bear all the risks involved.

"Therefore, if you have doubts about whether you can jump safely, I would suggest you quit. The risks are too great. It could even cost you your life," he said.

As the water is extremely cold, unexperienced divers could experience cramps in their legs. Many divers experienced such cramps or injured themselves by slipping on wet rocks, Radimin said.

There had never been any fatalities, however.

"You might as well wish us luck so that nothing bad will happen to us," he said.

In order to ensure that everyone gets his fair share, the divers have agreed to take turns at diving.

"In this way, each of us gets the same opportunity to earn money," said Radimin.