Rhiannan Iffland of Australia dives from 20 metres off the pinnacle in the Small Lagoon during the second competition day of the first stop of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in El Nido, Philippines on April 12, 2025. Romina Amato, Red Bull 

EL NIDO, Palawan -- Reigning eight-time world champion Rhiannan Iffland of Australia soared to the lead in the women's division of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series on Saturday morning, as the athletes navigated a new location at the Small Lagoon in El Nido.

After Friday's opening at the Lagen Island, the divers this time had to cross a narrow pathway on speedy kayaks to get to Saturday's site, where they once more sought to impress the judges with acrobatic leaps off rocky terrain.

Having placed second after Day 1, Iffland snatched the lead on Saturday with a dive worth 57.20 points. With a total of 145.60, she has built a lead over Ukraine's Nelli Chukanivska, who moved to second place with 137.55 points in total.

Romania's Popovici, USA's Arnett lead way after Day 1 of El Nido cliff diving

"So far, so good," Iffland said after the day's dive. "This location is absolutely stunning, and I feel like I'm in my natural habitat."

"Yesterday was solid, a great start. Today could've been better, could've been worse, but it's still solid," she added. "But I think tomorrow, the last two rounds are the ones that actually count. I feel like I put myself in a good position for the last two rounds."

Canada's Molly Clarkson, last year's runner-up to Iffland, is now in third place with 131.80 points after topping the round with a dive worth 68.90 points. American Kaylea Arnett -- the Day 1 leader -- fell to fourth place with 130.40 points.

Xantheia Pennisi, representing both Australia and the Philippines in this extreme sport, is in seventh place with a total of 112.00 points. 

There is still all to play for on Sunday, when the final two rounds take place at the Big Lagoon.

There was no movement at the top in the men's division, as Romania's Constantin Popovici built on his lead from Day 1 with a dive worth 77.00 points. He now has 171.50 points, still good enough to hold off Mexico's Jonathan Paredes, whose total of 164.85 puts him in second.

Constantin Popovici of Romania dives from 27.5 metres off the cliff at Lagen Island during the first competition day of the first stop of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in El Nido, Philippines on April 11, 2025. Dean Treml, Red Bull Content Pool 

Ukraine's Oleksiy Prygorov made a massive leap up the rankings, wowing the crowd -- watching while on kayaks -- with a dive that had a 3.6 level of difficulty that earned three 9.0s from the judges. From sixth place on Day 1, he is now at third with a total of 164.40 points.

"Consistency has been [my goal] for the last few years," said Popovici, last year's runner-up. "But not just for me. For the others as well, that's the main goal. So far we had two easy rounds, and tomorrow is the big day with the big dive, so everybody is putting their focus there."

With the leaders in both divisions still within reach for the other divers, the champion of the opening leg of this year's Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series will be decided on Sunday, with rounds 3 and 4 to be held at the Big Lagoon.

After El Nido, the Cliff Diving World Series will head to Polignano A Mare in Italy on June 28 to 29; Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina on September 5 to 6; and Boston in the USA on September 19 to 20.

This extreme sport sees the male divers  jump from a height of 27 meters, while the female divers leap from 21 meters. The divers will hit speeds of about 85 kph before slicing into the waters.

The champions for the men's and women's divisions will earn the King Kahekili trophy at the end of the season.