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What started as a late-night dare on a cruise ship nearly turned fatal — and years later, the man involved is still warning others not to repeat his mistake.
In 2019, Nick Naydev, then 27 years old, jumped from the 11th deck of Symphony of the Seas while the ship was docked in Nassau, Bahamas.
The fall was estimated at around 100 feet. He had been drinking heavily the night before, and filmed the jump as friends watched.
What Happened That Night
The stunt quickly went viral online and drew harsh criticism from both safety experts and the cruise line itself.
- Royal Caribbean called the act “stupid and reckless behaviour.”
- Naydev and his friends were permanently banned from sailing with the company.
- Medical professionals later explained that falls from seven storeys or higher carry a very high risk of death because water behaves like a solid surface at speed.
Despite all of that, Naydev survived.
“The Water Was Almost Like Cement”
Speaking to Good Morning America, Naydev described the physical aftermath of the jump — and how painful it really was.
“Six or seven hours after I was in quite a bit of pain and it took about three days for that pain to go away,” he said.
He also admitted he fully understands now how close he came to disaster.
“I realise how dangerous this is, the height is pretty high and at that height, the water is almost like cement. I would never do this again.”
Impact Injuries and Alcohol’s Role
In a separate interview with Inside Edition, Naydev explained what the moment of impact felt like.
“I remember hitting the water, impact was pretty big ’cause it was pretty high up,” he said.
“It impacted my tailbone and my neck pretty hard, luckily it wasn’t anything serious.”
He also admitted he didn’t think things through — largely because alcohol was involved.
“Nothing was really going through my mind. I’m like, ‘I gotta do this,’ and just two seconds later, I just jumped.”
“The previous night we were drinking quite a bit so I was still feeling the effects of the alcohol.”
A Chilling Detail: Shark-Infested Waters
After the incident, Naydev said he learned something that made the situation even more terrifying.
In an Instagram comment posted later, he revealed:
“What they told me shocked me. They told me that nobody dare swim in that water where I jumped because […] it was infested with sharks.”
He added that realizing this afterward made him understand how lucky he was to be alive.
Royal Caribbean’s Response
Royal Caribbean strongly condemned the stunt and did not soften its stance.
A company spokesperson said at the time:
“This was stupid and reckless behaviour, and he and his companions have been banned from ever sailing with us again.”
The cruise line also considered legal action following the incident.
A Clear Warning to Others
Years later, Naydev says he hopes his story discourages copycats — not inspires them.
“I hope I don’t inspire anybody to do this because it is very dangerous,” he said.
“They’ll think this is a joke.”
What he once saw as a thrill now stands as a reminder of how fast alcohol, bravado, and poor judgment can lead to a life-ending decision.
