Burning divers to set Ekka crowds alight

The international debut of a spectacular new show is set to light up the Ekka this year.

Queensland's iconic agricultural field days will welcome the aptly-named Extreme Diving to its lineup of events and exhibitors this year.

Divers make their way up a ladder to a diving board high enough to overlook the showgrounds and then leap off into a shallow pool down the bottom - often as not while on fire.

"It keeps you warm, especially on a cold day," diver Steve Black said.

The Ekka opens on Friday in Brisbane, but the Cattleman's Bar is already open and patrons enjoying their first beers of the show.