The 2025 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series burst into life with a spectacular season opener in El Nido, Philippines, a location so stunning it feels like stepping into a dream.
01
Location
Round 1 kicked off in the remote setting of Lagen Island, where the divers were surrounded by towering limestone cliffs and crystal-clear waters. This paradise setting brought the sport closer to its purest form, offering a raw, elemental stage for the world’s elite.
For all divers on the El Nido roster, Round 1 was truly uncharted territory. Day 1 saw athletes leaping from a brand-new dive site – a rugged island outcrop that had never before featured in the competition’s history.
With no platforms or built-in take-offs, this was an “off-the-cliff” round in the truest sense. Divers had to climb and traverse rocky terrain to reach their launch spots before committing to an adrenaline-spiked, daring flight into the unknown.
Day 2 saw a switch-up as the divers performed their Round 2 dives in the remote, hidden piece of paradise in the Small Lagoon. Tucked between towering limestone cliffs and accessible only by kayak or a narrow crevice in the rock, the Small Lagoon is one of El Nido’s most iconic natural wonders, with the enclosed arena adding a sense of rugged drama to every dive.
“It´s the perfect place to cliff dive… it's so beautiful,” legendary 10-time World Series champion and El Nido wildcard Gary Hunt said after completing his second day of diving. “As long as you have good shoes to protect yourself from these sharp rocks! The climb is amazing. When you're up there you feel like the king of the world. It´s an incredible feeling.”
For Day 3, the divers headed to the Big Lagoon on Miniloc Island, a larger slice of paradise where they would launch their final dives of the competition from the 21 and 27 metre platforms in front of a sea of spectators.
02
Who won?
The 2025 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series couldn’t have kicked off with a more fitting storyline. In a full-circle moment, the same champions who topped the podium in El Nido back in 2019 returned to win again, showing that experience still counts when it comes to conquering one of the sport’s most iconic locations.
In the women’s competition, Rhiannan Iffland continued her dominance with a confident performance across all four rounds, locking in her 42nd World Series win and 50th career podium. Her Round 4 Optional Inward 3 Somersaults ½ Twist Tuck dive was the highest-scoring women’s dive of the stop and a clear signal that she’s gunning for her ninth King Kahekili title.
“I'm super, super happy. I didn't know if I could do it and I've done it. So I'm happy to start the season like that. I'm actually really looking forward to going back and to working really hard and to hitting the rest of the season,” Iffland said.
“As beautiful as it is, it's a challenging location to dive at. And I guess it just shows those who have experienced are going to have the upper hand. That's just the way it goes. It's amazing. I was standing up on the platform and I took a breath, and I closed my eyes and then I opened them, and the Big Lagoon was in the back, and I just said to myself, "Oh wow, this is incredible." So, we are definitely very privileged to be here,” the Australian acknowledged.
But while Iffland remains out front, the pressure is building from the next generation. Former wildcards Kaylea Arnett and Nelli Chukanivska, now permanent athletes, both impressed across the event. Chukanivska, the 18-year-old Ukrainian, is disrupting the status quo with two podiums from just five career starts, making the most of her brand new permanent diver status.
In the men’s event, there was a sensational return to form for cliff diving GOAT Gary Hunt. The 10-time World Series champion, diving in El Nido as a wildcard after missing most of 2024 for the Paris Games, delivered a masterclass in precision, artistry, power and composure. The 40-year-old Frenchman’s Round 4 performance sealed his first win since 2022, earning him his 47th World Series victory – a result for the competition’s oldest competitor, which has also secured his spot at the next stop in Polignano a Mare in June.
“I feel great,” Hunt quipped after securing his win. “... I think I've only had maybe like eight or nine sessions in the diving pool since the Olympics. So, I've had to work outside the box, but this game is mental.”
“Of course, there's relief. My head was on the chopping block. If I didn't do well here, it was like ‘goodbye season’. So, I didn't expect to win. For sure, I was thinking about a podium – a podium will probably be enough,” he commented. “I just took it out of their hands. They're going to have to invite me back now!”
While the women’s contest is shaping up to be a battle between a dominant force and hungry challengers, the men’s podium in El Nido was a show of experience. All three top finishers had competed – and podiumed – here back in 2019. That familiarity may have given the sport’s veterans an edge this weekend, but in a challenging four-stop season where every dive counts, there’s no time to get comfortable. The race for the 2025 title is wide open.
03
What went down on Day 1 in El Nido?
With a shortened season on the cards – just 16 dives between now and the final – every single manoeuvre matters. The race for the coveted King Kahekili Trophy is more intense than ever, with less room for error and even fewer chances to climb the leaderboard.
The opening round of the 2025 season unfolded in one of the most picturesque locations in Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series history. It’s been six years since the competition last touched down in this tropical paradise in 2019, making El Nido a brand-new experience for most of the athletes in this year’s line-up.
The day’s action featured a mix of Required and Intermediate dives, with competitors strategically selecting their opening moves. It was a calculated blend of risk and precision – each diver balancing artistry and athleticism to impress the judges and gain early ground.
Arnett aiming for El Nido podium
First to emerge as a strong contender in the women’s competition was the USA’s Kaylea Arnett – a 2024 rookie who earned her spot in the permanent line-up this year thanks to a 5th-place overall finish last season.
“I’m very satisfied with my dive. I woke up this morning super anxious and super nervous, but I know that just means that I care. When I turned up to this location, I just started crying because of how beautiful it is – and I didn’t feel nervous at all after that,” Arnett shared after her dive.
“Climbing up that mountain is something else I’ve never done before – it was absolutely incredible,” she added. “Luckily, I’m not scared of heights at all, so it was just super fun for me. I got up there on that platform and it was almost this moment of purgatory that I felt; just peace. And in that moment I just went, and it felt like flying. I didn’t even think about it. It was amazing,” the American said.
Arnett earned 90.10 points from the judges – two 9.0s and one 8.5 – with her Intermediate dive off Lagen Island.
Former 2019 El Nido winner, Australia’s Rhiannan Iffland, followed closely in second place with 88.40 points. The 33-year-old chose the same dive as Arnett, with her typically graceful and composed execution earning two 8.5s and a 9.0.
Third place on Day 1 went to rising Ukrainian star Nelli Chukanivska, who previously finished on the podium at the 2024 season finale. At just 18, and in only her fifth World Series start, the tall and powerful Ukrainian is proving that experience isn’t everything when it comes to climbing the ranks.
Canada’s Molly Carlson – the only diver to have beaten Iffland to a top podium spot in the past three seasons – returned to action after missing last year’s Sydney finale due to a knee injury. She finished Day 1 in fifth, just behind Dutch diver Ginni Van Katwijk, having finally tamed and tempered the adrenaline that led to her “over-hyped, too-fast” warm-up dives.
Popovici chasing the El Nido crown
The men’s competition kicked off with a commanding performance from Romania’s Constantin Popovici. The 2023 King Kahekili champion, who also placed second in El Nido in 2019, closed Day 1 at the top of the leaderboard. Popovici earned three 9.0 scores for his 3.4 DD Intermediate dive – a Forward 3 Somersaults ½ Twist in Pike – collecting 94.50 points so far.
“It was a good start. I’ve been working hard on my barani [entry maneouvre] technique, and I hope to keep it up,” Popovici said. “When I was here last, six years ago, I was so focused on training and competition. I don’t know when I’ll get the chance to come back again and dive from the cliffs, so this time I took my time to enjoy it.”
The USA’s James Lichtenstein and Spain’s Carlos Gimeno finished second and third respectively, performing the same dive as Popovici. Lichtenstein scored 89.25 points with three 8.5s, while Gimeno followed with 84.00 points from three 8.0s.
Lichtenstein, who notched five podium finishes last season, including a win, will be laser-focused on closing the gap to Popovici in the upcoming rounds. Meanwhile, Gimeno’s drive and momentum appear to be supercharged by the stunning surroundings.
Tough opening round for rookie Barnaba
There was, however, a moment of drama when Italy’s Andrea Barnaba – a new permanent addition this year – entered the water head-first, an uncharacteristic misstep in the high-stakes world of cliff diving. Travelling at speeds up to 85km/h in under three seconds, divers must enter feet-first to safely absorb the immense forces of up to 10G, allowing them to remain strong and streamlined on entry.
Thankfully uninjured, Barnaba explained that he misjudged the timing of his barani, feeling mid-air that the water was too far away. Making a split-second decision, the 20-year-old chose to continue into a head-first entry, prioritising safety over form.
As head-first entries are not permitted due to the risk of injury, Barnaba scored 0 points for his dive – a sobering but invaluable lesson early in the season.
04
What went down on Day 2 in El Nido?
The second day of the 2025 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in El Nido, Philippines, brought thrilling performances and notable shifts in the leaderboard.
The action ramped up on Day 2, as the athletes faced the iconic and ethereal Small Lagoon – a stunning and dramatic backdrop for Round 2, where they tackled a mix of Required and Intermediate dives in the final capped-points round of the competition.
Carlson and Chukanivska pile pressure on Iffland
In the women’s category, Ukraine’s Nelli Chukanivska continued her meteoric rise. The 18-year-old former wildcard, now a permanent diver in just her fifth-ever World Series appearance, turned heads with a fearless performance that built on her incredible Round 1 success. Three 7.5 scores from the judges for a soaring Forward Flying 2 Somersaults 1/2 Twist elevated Chukanivska into 2nd place at the end of Day 2, marking the rising star as one to watch this season.
In Round 2, Canada’s Molly Carlson showcased exactly why she’s considered Rhiannan Iffland’s fiercest rival. Returning strong after a mediocre first outing in El Nido, Carlson delivered a powerful Forward 2 Somersaults 1/2 Twist dive that actually outscored Iffland’s Round 2 dive, keeping the pressure on the reigning champion.
Iffland, however, held her nerve with trademark poise and precision, serving up a reliable performance that earned 7.5 scores from the judges for a Required Reverse Flying 1 Somersault dive, giving the Australian the boost needed to take the top spot.
“I’m leading right now, but only by a hair and a freckle - not by much!” the Australian conceded. “I haven’t done my dives yet so let’s see if today hasn’t boosted my confidence. I think it’s never good to be too confident because you have to do four consistent dives. It’s never over until the last dive’s over. But yeah – [1st] is a good place to sit.”
“I wish today’s dive could have been better,” she added, ”but it could have been much worse, so it was pretty solid. I guess I put myself in a good place to go into the last two rounds.”
Iffland finished the day tentatively in control at the top of the leaderboard ahead of Day 3’s high-DD Optional Dives.
“Like every season, every competition is important if you’re talking about the World Series title and the race to hold that trophy,” the defending champion said after wrapping Day 2. “It’s a short season this year, and it’s going to be interesting. I don’t think we’ve had one like this before and definitely the divers who’re fighting for the world season title are going to make an interesting battle – there’s not really much room for error,” she explained. “That’s the way I’m looking at it. But coming to this location, how can you not enjoy it?!”
Heading into the last day of competition, just 8.05 points currently stands between the 8-time King Kahekili champion and the 18-year-old rookie Chukanivksa, who sits in second with two rounds remaining.
Popovici edges further ahead in El Nido
Over in the men’s field, experience reigned supreme. The top three positions after two rounds of diving were claimed by divers who’ve previously launched from El Nido’s cliffs. Romania’s Constantin Popovici backed up his Day 1 lead with another standout dive, demonstrating his dynamic style and steadfast consistency.
“Day 1 and Day 2 was pretty smooth for me – my double half and triple half dives [Forward 2 Somersaults 1/2 Twist and Forward 3 Somersaults 1/2 Twist] were nothing too crazy,” Popovici said.
“I scored 9.0s and a 9.5 which I’m really happy with. I was working hard on my barani technique because last year I think this was the issue with the scoring on my easier dives, so I’ve really tried hard to improve on it,” the Romanian diver commented. “Today and yesterday were successful, and I’ll try to maintain that.”
Mexico’s Jonathan Paredes, who claimed third place overall in El Nido back in 2019, returned to the cliffs as a 2025 wildcard, delivered a trademark display of artistry and finesse. The ‘Stylemaster’ earned three 8.5s for his Forward 3 Somersaults 1/2 Twist, propelling the seasoned 35-year-old into second place overall.
And another standout from El Nido’s class of 2019, Ukraine’s Oleksiy Prygorov, also brought his winning momentum from last season’s finale in Sydney when he threw down a rock-solid performance in the Philippines. Prygorov’s Forward 3 Somersaults 1/2 Twist picked up three impressive 9.0 scores from the judges, giving the Ukrainian the highest scoring dive of Round 2, and a points boost that saw him rise up the ranks from 6th into 3rd.
The familiar terrain may have given these seasoned pros an edge – but with every dive counting in this unforgiving four-stop season, there’s no room to relax.
05
What went down on Day 3 in El Nido?
The final day of diving in El Nido brought the action to the breathtaking Big Lagoon on Miniloc Island, where calm turquoise waters contrasted sharply with the high-stakes adrenaline and energy from the 21 and 27-metre platforms.
With two rounds of high-DD Optional dives remaining at the season opener, the race to the podium was wide open. The final day of the 2025’s first competition was ready to serve up a stunning spectacle, where the sport’s biggest names ultimately rose to the challenge.
Unstoppable Iffland wins first battle for ninth title
Under the blazing sun, the women’s competition kicked off the last day of diving in the Big Lagoon, the battle heating up from the 21 metre platform perched over the natural rocky arena.
Kaylea Arnett was first to make her move in Round 3, shaking off her middling Round 2 with a sharp Inward 3 Somersaults ½ Twist. Looking confident and nailing a solid entry, the American soared back into podium contention, slotting into third from fourth.
Arnett’s push was matched with bold ambition from Molly Carlson, who brought out her Forward 4 Somersaults ½ Twist – a dive with a whopping 4.4 DD. But the Canadian came in short, and her hopes of a top-three finish slipped away as she dropped back to 6th place.
In contrast, Nelli Chukanivska continued her impressive rise. Diving with the confidence and poise of a veteran, the 18-year-old Ukrainian nailed her Armstand Back 2½ Somersaults, scoring a trio of 7.0s to jump into second place and keep the pressure on the reigning champion. But a cool Rhiannan Iffland, now chasing her ninth King Kahekili title, responded in kind, hitting back with an imposing 4.4 DD Back 3 Somersaults 2 Twists and securing straight 8.0s to extend her lead heading into the final round.
Round 4 saw Arnett launch into a gutsy Reverse 3 Somersaults, delivering what would become the highest scoring dive of the round, and a statement of intent for the rest of the season.Though her final dive wasn’t quite enough to keep her in first, it was enough to propel Arnett into second overall, locking in her fourth podium in just six career starts, and underlining her status as a serious title contender.
“I am a very inconsistent diver and that's probably one of my fallbacks, but it also makes me very exciting to watch because you never know what's going to happen,” Arnett admitted after the close of Round 4. “So yeah, I'm super thrilled, especially with the last dive,” she added.
Chukanivska powered into her final Inward 3 Somersaults 1/2 Twist dive, earning a seriously impressive trio of 8.5s, and a third place overall, a repeat of last year’s finale performance. But with consistency and experience, Iffland closed out El Nido in trademark style, delivering a brilliant Inward 3 Somersaults ½ Twist that scored two 9.0s and a 9.5. It was a decisive finish that secured her 42nd career World Series win and 50th podium overall – a monumental milestone in the sport.
The Australian walks away from El Nido not just with the win, but also a bonus championship point for delivering the best dives of the stop, along with Romania’s Constantin Popovici.
With a dominant Iffland proving untouchable once again, the chase is on. But the likes of Arnett and Chukanivska are making it clear that the next generation is coming in hot in the women’s competition.
The GOAT is back – Hunt resurrects King Kahekili hopes
In Round 3, the men's stage was set for a shift. In an almost cinematic twist to the narrative, Gary Hunt, competing as a wildcard in the Philippines, surged to the top of the El Nido standings with an exceptional Forward 3 Somersaults 3½ Twists, earning three 9.0s from the judges. The GOAT was back with a bold, flawless dive that reminded everyone why he’s the most decorated diver in the sport’s history. Meanwhile, the Round 2 leader Constantin Popovici couldn’t quite keep pace, slipping into second with a less impactful Back 4 Somersaults 3 Twists dive, putting the pressure on for the final dives of the day.
Elsewhere in the field, Spain’s Carlos Gimeno and Armenian diver Nikita Fedotov showed power and poise, and Mexico’s Yolotl Martinez pulled out an ambitious Armstand Back 3½ Somersaults 2 Twists, picking up two 8.0s and an 8.5, proving the 22-year-old is not afraid to go big.
His fellow countryman Jonathan Paredes, the ever-elegant ‘Stylemaster’, appeared amped by the stunning setting of the Big Lagoon, tapping into his vintage champion-status form with a soaring Inward 3 Somersaults ½ Twist, the judges’ three 9.0 scores showing that the paradise location of El Nido has brought out Paredes’ best.
With the final dives of Round 4, the leaderboard’s top three shuffled one last time. Popovici, under pressure to climb back to the top, fell just short with a lower-scoring finish – his consistency across the first three rounds keeping him on the podium in third overall. Paredes continued his climb with a classy Forward 4 Somersaults 1½ Twists, locking in second place overall and capping off a weekend of classic, consistent diving.
But it was Gary Hunt who had the final word in El Nido. Closing out his comeback with a colossal Back 3 Somersaults 4 Twists, Hunt scored three 8.5s and 132.60 points, sealing his first win since 2022. Remarkably, the final men’s podium in El Nido mirrored the 2019 results – Hunt, Paredes and Popovici – with only with the second and third spots reversed.
“I'm happy I'm on the podium and the fight is on until the end. I'm really happy Gary is back and winning and it feels like back in the old days when we used to fight together,” Popovici reminisced.
It’s a dream return for the 10-time King Kahekili champion, and with just three stops now remaining in the season, Hunt just threw his name firmly back into title contention. Is 2025 the year of the comeback? Judging by El Nido, the GOAT isn’t done yet.
The action continues at the second stop of the 2025 season on 28–29 June, when the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series heads to the European home of cliff diving in Polignano a Mare.