A date with danger

It turned out the chaps she met on a swaying, 150m-high suspension bridge were much more inclined to call than those on a low, sturdy concrete bridge.

The moral of the story: a little danger makes a rendezvous memorable. See if one of these heartbeat raisers does the trick on your next date.

Swim with sharks

Chucking your date in sharkinfested waters is not a good idea. But inviting him or her for a paddle with the aquatic world's mightiest predators in a controlled environment will set you apart from the competition. The Blue Planet Aquarium, in Ellesmere Port, Merseyside, offers a chance to do just that. A two-hour scuba training session is followed by a 30min dive with sand tiger sharks, lemon sharks, nurse sharks, as well as stingrays and eels.

For Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, take Junction 10 off the M53 motorway. Tel: 0151 357 8804, www.blueplanetaquarium.com

Firefighting

You'll be extinguishing rather than lighting their fire but who cares? Everybody loves a fireman and what better way to play the hero for the day? Get grubby together in firefighters' uniforms while enjoying full training from qualified instructors: drive a fire engine, use the breathing apparatus and cutting equipment. The climax is your own major incident at the end of the day.

Be A Firefighter For A Day takes place in Redhill, Surrey, and costs £125 each. For more information visit www.buyagift.co.uk

Tandem bungee jump

The best way to guarantee you bounce up and down together on your first date is a tandem bungee jump. Chaps should bear in mind that it is over in seconds - something that may prove an unwelcome portent. Sadly, Britain doesn't offer the spectacular scenery found at bungee locations abroad - we usually have to settle for a crane by a man-made lake.

UK Bungee Club organises jump days across Britain. A tandem jump costs £99. Tel: 07000 286 433, www.ukbungee.co.uk

Tandem sky dive

Not tempted by dangling off a crane? Try jumping out of a plane instead. You won't be able to do this one bound to your date - tandem in this case means doing it with a qualified parachutist. But you will at least be able to say you've taken him or her to heaven and back - the leap is usually from 3km up.

Tandem sky dives cost £275 each and are offered around Britain from www.redletterdays.co.uk

Rollercoaster

Some may find it a bit tacky but if you can avoid the kids, trying out the biggest rides at a theme park makes for a great day out. Throwing up is a big dating taboo, though, so don't drink too much then push yourselves too far. Blackpool Pleasure Beach's Pepsi Max Big One (once the biggest ride in the world) should provide sufficient excitement. Alton Towers in Staffordshire, with its verticaldrop Oblivion, is another good bet. Londoners can try Thorpe Park's Nemesis Inferno and, for the Scots, there is M&D's at Strathclyde Country Park.

www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.co.uk www.alton-towers.co.uk www.thorpepark.co.uk www.scotlandsthemepark.com