In 2019, Nick Naydev, then 27, jumped from the 11th deck of a cruise ship while it was docked in Nassau, Bahamas. The vessel, operated by Royal Caribbean, was the Symphony of the Seas, one of the world’s largest cruise liners.
After a night of heavy drinking, Naydev leapt nearly 100 feet into the sea while friends filmed the stunt. The video quickly went viral, drawing sharp criticism from the cruise operator and safety experts. Royal Caribbean described the act as “stupid and reckless behaviour” and permanently banned Naydev and his companions from sailing with the company.
Medical professionals later warned that falls from heights of seven storeys or more carry a very high risk of death, as water behaves like a solid surface at high speed due to impact force.
“The Water Was Almost Like Cement”
Despite the danger, Naydev survived without life-threatening injuries. Speaking to Good Morning America, he described the intense pain that followed.
“Six or seven hours later, I was in quite a bit of pain, and it took about three days for it to go away,” he said. “At that height, the water is almost like cement. I would never do this again.”
In a separate interview with Inside Edition, he recalled the moment of impact.
“I remember hitting the water. The impact was pretty big. It hit my tailbone and neck pretty hard. Luckily, it wasn’t anything serious,” he said.
He admitted that he acted impulsively. “Nothing was really going through my mind. I just thought, ‘I’ve got to do this,’ and two seconds later, I jumped without thinking it through.”
Role of Alcohol
Naydev also acknowledged that alcohol played a major role in his decision. “The night before, we were drinking quite a bit, so I was still feeling the effects,” he said.
Shark-Infested Waters and Official Response
After the incident, Naydev said he learned that the waters he jumped into were considered unsafe for swimming due to marine life. In Instagram comments, he wrote that officials told him the area was “infested with sharks,” adding that he was fortunate to have survived.
Royal Caribbean confirmed at the time that it was considering legal action and issued a strong statement condemning the stunt. “This was stupid and reckless behaviour, and he and his companions have been banned from ever sailing with us again,” a spokesperson said.
Warning to Others
Reflecting on the incident, Naydev said he hopes no one tries to imitate him.
“I hope I don’t inspire anybody to do this because it’s extremely dangerous,” he said. “People might think it’s a joke, but it’s not.”
The episode remains a stark reminder of how a moment of alcohol-fuelled bravado can turn into a potentially fatal decision—one Naydev now admits he never fully thought through before stepping over the rail.
