Definitions in deep water soloing

• Armchair landing - The required landing position upon entering shallow water from height
• Body slap - Loosely applies to any untidy landing, e.g. one in which a slapping noise is heard
• Chalking stick - The contraption used for chalking holds before that moment of commitment, usually in the caves.
• DWS - Deep Water Soloing. Rather cutely referred to by Rock & Ice editorship as 'above water soloing'.
• Enema - What occurs when the legs are left a little apart upon landing! Best avoided as it's uncomfortable and messy.
• Inverted - The nature of the climbing on some of the wilder, upside-down routes, especially crux roof sections.
• Neap tides - These represent the smallest tide deviations of the month; mediocre highs, usually at around midday times.
• Shallow water solo - Yep, not quite enough of the wet stuff. Hopefully a bit safer than a theoretical! Usually S3 (see Grading).
• Splashdown - The moment of falling into the water!
• Spring tides - These represent the biggest tide deviations of the month; the biggest highs and the lowest of the lows, with the best highs early and late in the day.
• Swim-in - A route which usually needs to be tackled after a swim to the start.
• Theoretical solo - A route which could conceivably be labelled a DWS; generally a little too high, or maybe a little too shallow... strictly, one of these might find itself a little outside the parameters of the S grading system (see Grading).
• Tide timetable - An annual booklet, giving all projected tide movements in a given region.
• Venue - Any area or crag which offers DWS climbing, whether realised or not.

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