How do I learn?
There are several ways to learn to skydive, and believe us, teaching yourself is not one of them!
The way in which you choose to learn depends on money, time and how serious you are about becoming a Skydiver. We appreciate that no one knows if they will like it or not until they've tried it, but there is a real difference between a "one-off charity jump" and Accelerated Free Fall (AFF).
If you imagine that learning to skydive is like learning to swim. Think about how long it would take you to learn to swim if we threw you in the pool, on your own , for 3 seconds, then pulled you out and said "Great we'll try that again, next weekend". How much better it would be if your own two expert swimming instructors took you in the pool, and coached you for extended periods? That is the difference between learning to skydive the traditional way, where your first 6 jumps are static-line, and AFF where your first jump is 50 seconds of actual freefall.
The AFF program started some years ago in the USA , when someone realised that there had to be a better way of teaching students, than launching them out on a static-line and hoping they would somehow pick it up. AFF has now developed into an internationally recognised system, used by the majority of professional skydiving instructors. The beauty of the system is that it can be adapted to suit the pace and needs of the individual student.
AFF is a great way to learn and it is lots of fun because every jump is with other experienced skydivers. Don't forget every jumper, no matter how experienced, started as a student, so we know how you feel.
All your jumps are recorded on video or DVD, so that we can debrief you properly after each jump, showing you how to improve your body position etc, and making a nice memento to keep and show your friends back home. Just imagine how thrilling it's going to be and the sense of achievement you're going to feel?
The golden rule is that we never progress the student faster than they want to or beyond their capabilities. Out of the 8 jumps on the course the first 3 levels require two instructors to jump with you. The next 4 levels need only one instructor and the last level is a solo 'exit and pull'. The whole thing is about confidence and gradually learning to overcome the initial, quite natural, fear factor.
We are also keen that a student learns all they can about handling the parachute and landing it safely. It is a sophisticated flying machine and using it simply as a decelerator will not guarantee a good landing in all conditions, so great importance is placed upon canopy handling skills.
Each course can be designed around your wishes and needs. For instance if you are not sure whether it is for you, try a 2 or 3 jump session over a long weekend in Spain. If you're sure you want to do it, then we can arrange a 10 day or 14 day concentrated session in California.