Skydiving: Getting started

Three, two, one, go. I closed my eyes as we fell out of the side of a little 20 seater aircraft, 15,000 feet above Taupo on the North Island of New Zealand. Once my head had stopped spinning, I was able to open my eyes to be greeted with the most amazing view I have ever experienced. We were in free fall, plummeting at a rate of 120km per hour towards the earth. The volcanoes of Tongariro National Park were a distant blot on the landscape. Twisting and turning, I reaching out to the camera operator jumping with us to give us a lasting souvenir. I Screamed as loud as I could, but was heard by no body. The air rushed towards me, distorting my face. Free fall; incredible!

Skydiving is an extreme sport that beats most others. Your first jump is guaranteed to be an amazingly memorable experience, wherever in the world you decide to jump. Achieving your first jump requires you to jump tandem. This is where you are basically harnessed to the front of an experienced skydiver, who is in total control of the free fall and subsequent parachute release and landing.

On arriving at the skydiving base, we were shown a video of what to expect, before being kitted up in bodysuits, gloves, helmets and harnesses. It was then time to meet our instructor who would be our tandem buddy for the flight. Simple instructions on how to position oneself when in free fall and how to land followed. It was then time to board the aircraft. Everyone fell silent as the engines started and we began our climb to 15,000 feet. Once at altitude the side door of the aircraft opened, and two by two, those nearest the door jumped back to earth.

Sitting in the open door of an aircraft does not seem like a particularly sensible thing to do, but by that stage there was no going back. Three, two, one and we were falling.

Once the parachute had been opened the experienced changed from one of sheer exhilaration to a more casual ride. It was now time to sit back and enjoy the views, twisting this way and that. Gradually the pounding in the chest abated. All to soon it is time to land. When can we go again?

For many, one jump is not enough. To train to skydive solo requires many further tandem flights. This is followed by your first solo during which you are closely supported by instructors who are able to steady you if needed during free fall. All this requires time, finance, determination, and guts. Is it worth it? You bet it is!