Wet wet wet! (From Western Telegraph)

Wet wet wet!

What is it about wide-eyed, gut-wrenching terror that not only makes us do things that are, on the face of it, madness, but actually has us coming back for more?

Whatever the answer, Oakwood has built that certain something into their latest adrenaline-pumping ride, Hydro, also known, quite rightly, as waters revenge.

At the opening run on Friday, a collection of water experts, including firemen, members of the fire brigades underwater rescue team and Celtic Divers strapped themselves in for the ride.

The brave souls were winched up to enjoy a spectacular view of Pembrokeshire before plunging down a near-vertical drop of 111 feet to land in a splash-pool where they were engulfed by a massive tidal-wave.

Despite being decked out in firefighting gear and wetsuits, the guinea pigs emerged from the spray looking more than a little damp.

It took more than a 100-foot drop and a thorough soaking to dent the enthusiasm in the boat and it was only after quite a few more runs that the water-boys moved over to make way for a nervous gaggle of reporters.

Myself and Amy Bramley, of the Milford Mercury, bagged seats in the back row on advice from Ryan Hackett of the Rollercoaster Club of Great Britain. Ryan said the back row was the choice of the real terror enthusiast, giving them more air time.

During the slow, steady climb the silence of 23 terrified reporters, who knew there was no going back, was broken only by an enthusiastic wheee! from Ryan.

The tip over the edge is really not that bad. It is when you realise the boat is essentially falling from the sky that you feel the urge to start clicking your heels together and muttering theres no place like home in a falsetto voice.

Words cannot describe the absolute terror of falling, without control and completely helpless, at 4 G-force before crashing down into the water with nothing but a waterproof poncho to protect you. Feeling the water come in from every angle actually comes as a relief because it means youre still alive.

Much as the divers and the firemen before us, the first thing we wanted to do once the shock had worn off was get straight back up to the top for another go.

Ryan Hackett decided Hydro holds its own against any of the 170 roller-coasters he has sampled over his ten years with the rollercoaster club.

As Oakwood managing director, Paddy McNamara said: On this ride, youre going to get wet. Buy a poncho if you want a poncho but dont for a second think you can escape a severe drenching if you tangle with the waters revenge.