Skydiving in Australia – A First-Timer Guide

Looking to travel to Sydney? If so, skydiving should definitely be on your to do list. Aside from there are lots of skydiving operators to choose from, the landscapes in and around Sydney are just so picturesque, which makes for a great skydiving experience. I got my chance to go skydiving in a region called Tugerah.

It goes without saying that skydiving is not for the faint of hear, but if you think you can do it, go for it and it will surely be one of the most  exciting and memorable things you’ll ever do. In this article, I’ll be sharing thoughts and tips to help you prepare for your skydiving adventure.

We started our day early and upon arriving at the site we were instructed to fill up some forms. Although, we got there 30 minutes before our appointed time, we still queued for 2 hours. Finally, while watching skydiving previews at the lounge an instructor called out my name, I waved at him and he introduced himself.

Kent my instructor was a veteran skydiver with 18 years of experience, this was very reassuring. He and his co-instructors do anywhere from five to ten jumps each day. We were provided thick pants which surprisingly were quite comfortable, then after a 10-minute briefing  our instructors attached our straps and harnesses and we were on our way.

 Skydiving 101

The lounge and briefing area

A shuttle took us to an airstrip which was at least 20 minutes away from the parachute landing zone. I didn’t feel anxious at all, however, once we arrived at the airstrip, the sight of the tiny cessna plane got me feeling quite nervous.

It was a tiny 5-seater plane which seemed slightly larger than a boat but with wings. I’ve never feared traveling on commercial flights, but the petiteness of this plane made me feel uneasy.

Our petite Cessna plane

There were five of us including the pilot. Once we were all on board, there wasn’t much legroom left. A few minutes later, the plane was speeding on the tarmac and before we knew it we were flying towards the clouds. Tugerah is in Central Coast, NSW. From the sky, it’s a vast landscape of trees, fields and the ocean. The view from above was awe-inspiring.

My reverie was interrupted when my instructor suddenly shouted “three minutes!!” my heart started pounding, “one minute!!” In a flash I saw my sister and her instructor jump-off. Terrifying!

The force of the wind from the open door was immense and it was hard to move toward the door with my instructor strapped on to me like a huge backpack, but we got there eventually.

You’ll be following your instructor’s lead the whole time and don’t try anything stupid as your life is in his hands. So finally there we were, sitting on the side of the plane, feet dangling thousands of feet above the earth. Then, once we were all set, we jumped…

The free fall speed is said to be about 200 kilometers per hour. During that time, my mind couldn’t really process anything, I felt like a spectator watching something like a sack of rice fall from a plane, except that I was that sack of rice.

I had my arms folded against my chest, then my instructor tapped my shoulder which meant I should spread my arms out. I felt the cool mist on my face and realized we were falling through a cloud.

As you fall, the pull of gravity can be overwhelming and the pressure begins to pound on your ears. I felt a simultaneous mix of fear, excitement, and awe. The sight of the earth below was captivating.

The free fall lasts for about only 30 seconds, by the time you reach 5,000 feet or so, your instructor has to break the fall. So, just as I was getting a hang of the free fall, my instructor released the parachute. It was quite abrupt.

At the instant the parachute opened, our weight pulled heavily against it causing the strap in my mid section to move up to my chest which hurt. Thankfully, my instructor sensed my discomfort and offered to loosen the straps, so ladies just be mindful that this can happen.

Soaking-in the Central Coast on our way down

With the parachute open we were descending at a more relaxed pace. The freefall was the highlight of the jump, but the parachute ride was equally fun. I was transfixed at the sight of the far-stretching coastline, rugged mountains and endless greens. I didn’t want the moment to end.

But as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end, and soon after Kent seamlessly navigated us toward the drop zone. We had a perfect landing, thank God.

Landing can be quite risky. For tandem jumps, you’d need to stretch your legs out to a 90 degree angle as best as you can so that only the instructor’s feet hits the ground, otherwise things could go bad.

A FEW TIPS FOR FIRST TIMERS

SKYDIVING SITES

Our skydiving site was in Tugerah, at the Central Coast. It’s roughly 1 hour away from Sydney by car. Coming from a farther suburb it can take 1.5 hours or longer. Skydiving is a sport that requires wide landing zones so the sites are far out from the city. Some skydiving companies offer free shuttles to and from the city.

TANDEM SKYDIVING

Tandem skydiving is exactly what we did and is what most people will do. Only professionals and licensed skydivers are allowed to jump solo.

SKYDIVING COSTS (Australia Skydiving sites)

Tandem Skydiving rates start at $300 AUD (rates are often higher on weekends and vary with the location).

SKYDIVING WEBSITES

Skydive the beach

Sydney Skydivers

OTHER COSTS

$30 AUD Levy to be paid at the site

$99 – $150 AUD – Photos package (photos are grabbed from the video)

$30 Insurance – (This is optional but I recommend it)

CLOTHING

Wear light and comfortable clothes that you can easily move in and footwear that won’t slip off like a pair of sneakers.

OTHER PREPARATIONS

You will be asked to arrive 30 minutes before your schedule for briefing and paperwork. Basically, you have to sign some papers confirming that you understand what you’re getting into and that you won’t hold the company responsible in case things go wrong.

This is where the insurance comes in and I highly recommend it, especially if you are from a foreign country. Finally, it’s a half-day activity and could take longer than expected due to long queues, so bring packed food, snacks and drinks.

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Skydiving is an extreme sport and requires an attitude of welcoming risk. I’m not an adrenaline junkie, but I gave it a go as skydiving is something I’ve always wanted to do even just once. It’s an exhilarating way to immerse in nature, overall a transcendental experience.

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