Skydiving is a popular experience throughout Australia, and no doubt if you miss one opportunity they’ll be another just around the corner. I had my first chance to skydive in Airlie Beach. But my tour guide confused me and I thought we could only do one experience. So I chose to do scuba diving instead.
Arriving in Sydney
Two weeks later and I arrived in Sydney, immediately after checking into my hostel I headed downstairs and sat with a travel rep about booking my skydive. This was my final chance to jump before I left Australia. I had told my friends and family I wasn’t fussed, but I knew I’d regret it if I didn’t. They offered me two options, Newcastle was cheaper and they could pick me up from the hostel. But I could go to the more expensive North Wollongong and jump from a bigger height. I opted for Wollongong on the basis that of the two it was the only one landing by a beach, and you jump from 15,000 feet as opposed to the standard 14,000.
My skydive was booked for my third day, and I found the wait to be excruciating. I was busy which helped provide a distraction. But the night before I was taking part in the Bridge Climb experience in Sydney Harbour, I was being buffeted by gale force winds when my tour guide Dash told me that the skydive will feel exactly the same just with more falling involved.
The day of the Skydive
The next morning I was awkwardly waiting at the train station, trying not to dwell on what I was about to do. Once aboard I grabbed a seat with a view from the window, put my headphones on and turned the music up loud. It felt like the journey took a lifetime, when in reality it was an hour and fifteen. When I arrived I overheard some German backpackers and made conversation, finding out they were here for the same reason. We were soon collected by a minivan and driven down to the centre.
We signed in, filled the disclaimers and were given our insurance options. I didn’t take the risk and got the cover although I realised afterwards my travel insurance protected me anyway. Then came the worst part. For health and safety reasons you have to be weighed, there are surcharges if you are over a certain size, and for even heavier weights they may be restricted from skydiving altogether. I jumped on the scale and recorded my weight, and was asked to select my camera options. Since this was one of my last experiences in Australia, I opted for the Ultimate tier. This included footage recorded by a camera held by my jump instructor, as well as a second person to jump with me and record external footage. It also included a T-shirt which I decided to save as something clean for my flight home.
The day of the jump
We hung around outside watching previous flights land, before an instructor came over and kitted us out in our jumpsuits. We had to do training before we were allowed to depart, so that we were aware of the positions we had to hold. This consisted mostly of sitting on a bench and tucking our legs up on command, which was good because even I could remember that. I was soon being piled into a minibus. Most people were jumping with a friend, so the minibus was full of nervous chatter amongst them, but this soon ripped out into a full conversation and teasing. With many jokes made by the Australian about how tight us Brits are when it comes to buying a round of drinks.
We reached the airport and started making our way towards the plane. This was when it dawned on me that I wasn’t really nervous, and that was out of character. See, I am terrified of Roller Coasters, but skydiving I had no issue with at all. I was more weirded out by the fact that I had no fear at all. Even as we boarded and started to make our way up, the light aircraft feeling turbulence on even the slightest of breezes.
Time to skydive
What I was about to do started to kick in when they rolled up the shutter doors. We were told you sit on the edge of the plane before pushing off, but that’s not quite true. In fact it’s your instructor who sits on the edge, you yourself are hanging from him over the abyss, looking like a gigantic child being carried in a papoose. At this stage there’s nothing you can do about it, and you’re in for the ride. I was told to relax, and I took it too literally. Although I was fully aware of what was happening, it does look like I passed out on the video recording.
My instructor pushed off and we began our freefall. The photographer jumped just before us to capture me leaving the aircraft. He eventually levelled with me and tried to get me to look straight ahead into the camera, but I was so consumed by the curvature of the earth and increasingly more so by the rapidly approaching ground that I kept looking back down. Before I knew it I was being yanked back up in the sky as my instructor pulled the ripcord and released the chute.
The gentle glide down
The adrenaline of the freefall followed by the euphoria of floating in the sky is an incredible combination. We levelled out and my instructor asked how it was, and if I was comfortable. It truly was incredible and as I write this I’m still in disbelief that I did it. I did confess the straps were tight and starting to dig in around the legs. “No problem” he informed me “we can release them a bit” and before I could protest loosened them ever so slightly. Now I only must have dropped a single centimetre during the adjustment, I can’t repeat exactly what I said but the colour of language I used was nothing short of impressive. But it did make a big difference for my comfort.
From above the views are breathtaking, and you just gently float down to the ground. My instructor made sure I had the best view without straining my neck, as well as did some tricks spinning me around. But all too soon we were preparing for landing. I remembered my position from the earlier training (tucking my legs up) and we skidded along the grass as others landed around me. My cameraman came up to me and recorded me being asked a few questions about the experience, but truth be told I was struggling to get words out. Which explains why they dubbed over me with cheesy music.
If you come to Australia, and even a small part of you is considering a skydive. Just go for it. You won’t regret it, and in the unlikely event you don’t then you never have to do one again. But at least you can say you’ve experienced it in one of the most beautiful places on this earth.
Skydive Australia FAQs
What Skydive options are available?
Depending on the location, Skydive Australia offers midweek or weekend jumps. If you can go midweek I would recommend it as this will give you a steep discount. As well as offering daytime jumps, Skydive Australia offer the unique opportunity to do night jumps as well. These come at a higher cost ($440 at the time of writing) and you will jump from the lower height of 10,000 feet.
What other locations does Skydive Australia operate in?
Skydive Australia allow jumps in the following locations
New South Wales
Byron Bay
Hunter Valley
Sydney – Newcastle
Sydney – Wollongong
Queensland
Mission Beach
Noosa
Victoria
Great Ocean Road
Melbourne
Yarra Valley
Western Australia
Perth – Rockingham
Perth City
Do they provide transportation?
Yes, Skydive Australia does run a shuttle to and from pick-up points in Sydney for free. If however you are like me and were unable to get a space in the shuttle, if they have room for more jumpers then you can make your way down there by your own means, however, you would not be refunded for travel costs.
Is there a max weight?
The maximum weight is 115kg, if you weigh over 95kg then a surcharge will be applied.
Where can I book the jump?
You can book directly online, or often Hostels will have a desk for booking experiences. I prefer to speak to them as they often know the area and it takes the stress out of doing it yourself and leaves you to enjoy the holiday. You can also book directly using Get Your Guide using the link below. They will give me a commission for the referral but it won’t cost you any more, it just helps support this blog.
Can I buy photos?
Photos can be purchased for an additional fee. Depending on the location the prices can vary, but the options include pictures and videos, and if you are willing to pay top dollar you can have another person jump at the same time and record you as you fall. I personally went for the Ultimate Video Package listed below. This worked for me as I did my jump on the last day of my holiday, and I had already budgeted for the remainder of my trip. For travellers doing their own jump part-way through, or even at the beginning of their journey, they may want to consider some of the more economical options.
What media packages do they offer?
I have made a list of the media options Skydive Australia offer below. The prices are correct at the time of writing and do not take into consideration any promotional offers, and are subject to change.
Handicam Photos – $129
Contains around 300 photos.
Handicam Photos and Videos – $179
The most popular package contains around 300 photos and a 4-5 minute video of your dive.
Dedicated Video Package
Capture your dive with your own dedicated cameraman. An additional jumper will come with you and capture your descent. Includes a 40-second freefall video along with approximately 100 photos.
Ultimate Video Package
Combines both the dedicated cameraman and the handicam footage. You get a 2-3 minute edited video of the skydive, a 30-second highlights, a 40-second freefall video, 100 photos of the experience and a Skydive Australia T-Shirt.
Can I take my own camera instead?
Skydive Australia will not allow you to take your own camera, this is because their own equipment is closely maintained, so it won’t fall apart and land somewhere random and cause an accident.
