Tandem skydiving — where a diver is harnessed to an instructor — involves a hefty level of adrenaline before, during and after the fall, even though by the time a diver climbs into the airplane, they know what to expect. Australia is an ideal place to take the plunge, particularly along its east coast. Divers can soak up views of hills, beaches, rainforest and ocean — even the Great Barrier Reef — on the way down.
What Happens Before a Skydive
Skydiving centres mark the east coast of Australia, from Sydney to Surfers Paradise, from Byron Bay to Brisbane, and up to Cairns. Many offer tandem skydiving that can be booked online through their websites. Some centres’ staff will pick up divers at their accommodation and drive them to and from their dives.
A tandem skydive starts with the diver reading and signing a waiver form. From there, they’ll meet his or her instructor and get the gear on: Goggles, a jumpsuit and a harness. The instructor will help a diver get strapped into the harness, and will talk about the procedure for exiting the plane and body positioning for the fall and landing.
Divers need to keep their bodies in a banana-like shape, so the centre of gravity is at their midsections during the fall. Legs and upper body are curled up, and arms are bent and kept close to the body. Upon landing, the diver only has to lift his or her legs straight up and close together.
Exiting the Plane During a Skydive
A tandem skydive in Burleigh Heads, Australia, in particular, involves a 20-minute cold and loud plane ride, without seats. Divers and instructors sit on the floor. While the plane reaches altitude — divers can choose to drop from various heights — 9,000, 12,000 or 14,000 feet — another staff member heads to the beach landing site to place a big, yellow X on the sand as a landmark for the instructors.
Moments before exiting the plane, the instructor will attach himself or herself to the diver. It’s at this point a diver may realize there’s no going back. Actually, they can, but he or she would probably have to forfeit the fee (up to around $300 for the dive, and more for extras like photographs or filming for a DVD).
The instructor and diver will inch toward the door and sit on the edge of the plane. Then, after a count of three, the two roll (it’s really more of a roll than an actual jump) out of the plane into a massive gush of wind. It doesn’t really feel like a fall, more like being in a wind tunnel.
What Skydiving Feels Like
The length of a free fall varies with the height of a jump. It’s about 60 seconds from 14,000 feet, and 28 seconds from 9,000 feet. Divers may find this the most scary — and exhilarating — part of the jump. A tug signals the deployment of the parachute, and from then on, the experience is like a ride on a swing.
Now, there’s silence. It’s so quiet that it’s easy to chat with the instructor. A few minutes later, prior to landing, the instructor will tell the diver to lift his or her legs to land. For the diver, the landing is a mere slide into the sand, ending on his or her behind.
Tandem skydiving may be the way to go for individuals not quite up to taking the plunge by themselves. Centres can provide transportation, gear and a brief lesson, all topped off with the exhilaration — and bragging rights — of having experienced a fall of up to 14,000 feet over the amazing Australian coast.
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