Skydiving on your mind? But want to know what it is like to take the leap of faith? Our blog on skydiving experience will help you get started on an experience of a lifetime.
Jumping out of a plane is one of the craziest things we’ve done so far. For a really long time, skydiving in Australia has been on our bucket list. We managed to tick it off in Wollongong which also happens to be amongst the best places to go skydiving in NSW offering you a panoramic coastline view and perfect beachside landing.
Navigation Guide
Advance booking required for a skydive?
How to reach the Wollongong skydive centre
Check-in at the reception
Introduction to your Tandem Master
Skydiving experience – Taking the flight
Skydiving experience – Freefall
What to wear for a skydive?
Useful tips before you skydive
Cost of skydiving in Australia
What if my jump is cancelled?
How safe is the skydiving experience?
Advanced booking required for a skydive?
It is best to pre-book online either directly with the official skydive site or via a third-party app/website. Both offer a decent amount of discount when you take additional services like photos and videos.
We’d suggest the ultimate media/video package where your dedicated camera flyer will capture the views of your entire jump along with the wrist-mounted videos and photos. This service cannot be pre-booked. Must be done on the day you skydive at reception which is again subject to availability. We regret not getting the service because we were the last group to take the plunge that day, so try and get an early slot.
How to reach the Wollongong skydive centre
Most skydive centres are outside of the city as they need room for planes to take off and land and Wollongong centre was no different. It is about one hour south of Sydney CBD. Free return bus transfers are provided every day of the week by centre or, you can opt for a transfer service when booking through a third-party app/website.
Alternatively, you can reach the centre by train. Take the direct South Coast Line train from Sydney, Central Station to North Wollongong Station, then take a taxi or Uber for 10 minutes.
By car, you can drive to Skydive Sydney-Wollongong drop zone office in Stuart Park. It is roughly over an hour from the southern and western suburbs of Sydney.
Check-in at the reception
As we checked-in at the reception, we completed the paperwork. This is the part where you sign your life away and waive the centre of any liability in the event of a mishap (injury or death). Read all the safety rules and watch their videos but, if you choose a free return transfer, you can do this activity on the way to the drop zone office.
All jumpers must register online at APF (Australian Parachute Federation) before their skydive, and new members will be required to pay a membership fee of 35 (AUD). There is a choice to add on a photo & video package to your payment if not done earlier. We were weighed in and waited for our names to be called.
Introduction to your Tandem Master
As soon as we heard our group name we were asked to suit up, one of the instructors will help you fit your harness securely. Next, we met our tandem masters who had 22,000 jumps between them, so nothing to worry about in terms of the experience of the instructors. There is nothing technical that you will need to handle throughout the skydive experience, so no responsibility on you except to smile for the camera.
Our tandem masters took our interview videos together and asked several questions whether it was our first jump, were we nervous etc. They quickly ran us through the stages of the jump and the positions needed to adopt during the experience.
Skydiving experience – Taking the flight
For our jump in Wollongong, we were taxied to an airstrip, which is about 10 minutes from the centre. Seven of us took to the skies in a mini plane with our instructors attached to us.
Squashed into two benches that face one another, We were all crammed cross-legged facing each other’s back. As the plane takes-off, you begin to question your decision. Once you go beyond the clouds, you are in two minds, but the instructors are so relaxed and fun, which certainly helped calm our nerves.
On reaching 15,000ft, the instructors will open the side door. Goggles on, final high-fives and harnesses double-checked. Pair by pair we shuffled towards the door until we were on the edge of the plane.
The plan was to look at Chaicy and say something cool like “see you downstairs” before jumping out the plane, but as soon as I saw the pair in front of me disappear into thin air seconds after they made the jump, there was a change of plan to just hold on to my harness as firm as possible. It’s a good thing tandem jumpers don’t have to make the call to jump.
Skydiving experience – Freefall
Crouched in the door of a plane soaring at an altitude of 15,000ft above the ground. There is an unsurmountable urge to hold on to the door rails but, of course, that’s not allowed.
Once you’ve got your arms crossed and head back on the instructor’s shoulder, they give you a final countdown. 3, 2… and before you know it, you are out of the plane.
Initial few seconds, seemed to be a blur as this experience was alien to us, all you can hear is a blaring white noise but, as you get steady, you realise that it is one of the most freeing experiences of your life.
Your instructor will let you know when you can release your arms. The rush of freefall at over 200 km/hr for up to an insane 60 seconds is impossible to put into words.
They’ll release the parachute after a minute of freefall, and then you will float under canopy for next 5-7 minutes, where only the wind and the flutter of your slider can be heard. Soak up spectacular views of Wollongong and the Southern Sydney beaches from the air until you get down for a stunning beach landing.
This experience was nothing like we had ever imagined & our adrenaline was sky high even after we landed.
We also received the personalised certificate of achievement after our skydive, which we hold very close even to this day.
What to wear for a skydive?
It’s bound to be chilly as you take the flight up to 15,000ft. Wear comfy and warm casual clothing with trainers but, once you jump out of that plane, being cold will definitely not be on your mind.
If you are a beginner jumper or doing a tandem skydive, you will be required to wear a jumpsuit so wear clothes that will fit comfortably under that. Don’t wear thick clothes that make movement difficult or a dress that will cause problems putting on a jumpsuit.
We also wouldn’t recommend any Accessories, boots and high heels for this activity.
Useful tips before you skydive
Age Limit – You need to be at least 12 years old to undertake tandem skydive in Australia. If under 18 years old, a parent or legal guardian must be present on the day of the jump.
Weight Limit – A surcharge will apply if the participant is or over 95 kg. Anyone over 110 kg will be subject to assessment from tandem master and approval of the safety officer. You may or may not be allowed to skydive based on the assessment.
No Alcohol – You must not have consumed any drugs or alcohol in the eight hours preceding your skydive.
Eat Right – Eat normally, sensibly and moderately. Plan well so that you don’t show up for your tandem jump with a very full stomach or an empty one.
Weather – Skydiving is a weather dependent activity & the conditions need to be suitable for skydiving, so arrive with no time constraints.
Cost of skydiving in Australia
If booked directly a basic tandem skydive without photos and videos is usually $319 on weekdays and $379 on weekends plus APF levy. The additional $35 is for the Australian Parachute Federation fee to be paid on arrival.
Video & photo packages are optional and can be added to your skydive cost. The most popular package is the Handicam video and photos at $179. There are other options and combos which are priced accordingly.
If booked through a third-party app/website, they offer a decent amount of discount when you take additional services like photos and videos or even otherwise.
What if my jump is cancelled?
If the weather is unfavourable for skydive on the day of your booking due to high winds, rain, your jump will be rescheduled to another date that best suits you.
A ‘limbo’ voucher equal to the value of the original skydive will be issued if you are not sure of a date. This voucher will remain valid for 12 months from the original jump date. This voucher can also be transferred to another Skydive Australia location. Difference amount must be paid if upgrading to an experience of higher booking value.
When you book through a third-party app/website, similar rescheduling options are provided or you can get a 100% refund.
How safe is the skydiving experience?
This definitely is the number one thing on everyone’s mind. After all, the idea of stepping out the door of a perfectly good aeroplane is more than little knee-knocking. Skydiving with a professionally run company is safer now than it has ever been. It is a surprisingly safe extreme sport & most fatalities are due to human error and not equipment malfunctions.
Living a life free of risks is not possible. Obviously, accidents do happen and what makes skydiving such a thrilling experience is that there is a degree of danger involved. The trick is to take measured and calculated risks that will help you to grow as a person and truly experience the world in all its entirety.
Very good post. Highly informative for adventure enthusiasts who want to experience skydiving in Australia. Keep up the good work.
Very good post. Highly informative for adventure enthusiasts who want to experience skydiving in Australia. Keep up the good work.