The Mostar Bridge Diving Competition

MY PARENTS CONVINCED ME not to study abroad in Bosnia and Herzegovina when I was in college. While I don’t regret my time spent in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland, part of me wishes I had “accidentally” filled out the wrong application. The Mostar Bridge jump is one of those reasons — while I probably won’t be diving there myself, I think the 46-year old diving competition would be amazing to watch. Only skilled professionals make the leap, as the bridge’s clearance below is over 65 feet, and the water below is too cold for normal swimming.

The bridge was destroyed during the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in 1993. Before then, it had stood for 427 years. It was reopened in 2004, and the diving competition began once again.