ACAPULCO CLIFF DIVERS TO CELEBRATE FIRST PLUNGE

ACAPULCO CLIFF DIVERS TO CELEBRATE FIRST PLUNGE

ACAPULCO, Mexico (Wireless Flash) -- Talk about making a big splash: those famous cliff divers in Acapulco, Mexico, are about to celebrate the 65th anniversary of Acapulco's first-ever cliff dive. On October 29, 1934, a teenager named Rogiberto Apac Rios became the first person to officially dive off a 130-foot cliff in the beach resort town. According to 71-year-old cliff diver Raul Garcia -- who dove daily for 50 years before retiring in 1986 -- the original divers were kids fishing from the cliffs who would jump into the water to retrieve hooks. The diving soon became a popular attraction and the kids were hired to jump off the cliffs to impress "touristas." Garcia -- who was Elvis Presley's stunt double in "Fun In Acapulco" -- says even though cliff diving is exciting, it's "the world's worst profession" because it pays too little for the risk involved. However, Garcia isn't giving up diving entirely: The grandfather is preparing to make another dive sometime in the new millennium.