Photographer Alexandre Socci and a team of daredevil kayakers are taking extreme sports to a new level, paddling their way through treacherous waters around the active and oozing volcano Kilauea on Hawaii’s Big Island.

The Brazilian shutterbug joined whitewater kayaker Pedro Oliva and his team on several expeditions for the Brazilian TV show KAIAK for Channel OFF.

On their trip this winter to the Kilauea volcano, which has been flowing lava since 1983, the team was stunned when they saw the molten rock oozing over into the water on their trail. After spending the first couple of minutes strategizing, they went for it.

“To be so close to one of nature’s biggest powers was unbelievable, but respect came first,” Socci said in an interview with Weather.com. “We are not encouraging people to do the same. It was one of the craziest things we ever did.”

Kilauea, which means “spewing” in Hawaiian, is the most active of the five Hawaiian volcanoes. It has erupted 34 times since 1952 and since Jan. 1983, it has continuously displayed eruptive activity, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Socci was in a boat shooting, while Oliva’s team navigated through the lava-filled water.

“As a water photographer I spent a few minutes trying to get wet, but I realized it was impossible,” Socci explained over e-mail. “We could see lava particles all over the place and the water temperature was about boiling – not even a drysuit could stop the lava particles.”

Though the images are stunning, Socci's "up-close and personal" approach is extremely dangerous and not recommended for the average tourist. The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park provides visitors with a safe front row seat to view the volcanic eruptions.

To see more of Socci's photography visit his website GreenPixel.com.  

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