Why Skydive at Coffs City Skydivers?
The ORIGINAL and only complete Skydiving Centre in Coffs Harbour, our Drop-zone has been operating for over 15 years. Coffs City Skydivers has always been a wonderful skydiving destination with superb beaches and subtropical countryside. The panoramic views are simply breathtaking. Our instructors are accredited by the Australian Parachute Federation (the governing body of skydiving within Australia) and each have thousands of skydives to their credit. Coffs City Skydivers has an impeccable safety record, one of the best in the World. When you skydive at Coffs City Skydivers we guarantee you quality service and value for money. You can take advantage of full kitchen and BBQ facilities and soak up a truly amazing experience. You will feel the enthusiasm of our club members and understand how fantastic a sport Skydiving really is.
Why jump out of a perfectly good airplane?
If you haven’t done it, you can’t understand it. If you have done it, you can’t explain it. Check out our gallery…feel the vibe!! It is the closest thing to being able to fly. It can be a life changing experience and a whole heap of fun. It is without a doubt the best way to see Coffs Harbour.
How safe is this sport?
Skydiving is an extreme sport, and like any extreme sport there is a certain amount of risk involved. All incidents, as small as they may seem are reported to the Australian Parachute Federation. Last year’s statistics stated that 1 in 10,000 skydives resulted in accident or injury. Compared with the statistics for registered cars in reported accidents in NSW being 9.8% the most dangerous part of your day is going to be driving to the drop zone!
Skydiving is as safe as the individual makes it. With careful training and implementation, combined with reliable regularly maintained equipment to the highest standards, skydiving can be as safe as or safer than any other extreme sports. At Coffs City Skydivers all skydiving activities are monitored and regulated by the Australian Parachute Federation (APF) and all our instructors are APF approved and qualified. Our chief instructor Tony Maurer has been jumping for 29years and has over 6500 jumps. He is our rigger and maintains all the equipment at the highest possible standards. Tony oversees the entire operation ensuring that we adhere to the highest standards in every aspect. Our instructors are highly experienced and qualified. Our aircraft is maintained by John Davison of Davison Aviation in Coffs Harbour to the requirements of Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Both owners and staff take pride in maintaining our great safety records.
How are we regulated?
Our sport is regulated by the Australian Parachute Federation (APF) who operate under the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The APF have specific Operational Regulations and a Code of Ethics that we as members of the APF agree to abide by. The APF conducts regular safety audits of all skydiving operations in Australia.
How fast do you Fall?
Exactly how fast you fall depends on a number of factors including body-position, weight, the type of clothing you’re wearing and even the weather. An average skydiver falls at about 220 km an hour. A tandem will fall faster than this but is slowed down to regular terminal velocity by the release of a small stabilising parachute called a drogue
Does weather affect skydiving?
Yes weather definitely can affect skydiving. We do not jump in unsafe weather conditions which includes rain or strong winds.
Are there female skydivers?
Yes, there are women who skydive all around the world on a regular basis. Coffs City Skydivers has regular female club jumpers and a female instructor. Grab a copy of Australian Skydiving Magazine (ASM) to get the real picture. Bring it on girls!!
How much does it Cost?
The cost of your skydive varies depending on how high you would like to go, and what type of skydive you would like to do. DVD and still photos are also available for an extra charge. We have regular specials and group discounts are available.
For prices on doing a tandem skydive, click here.
For prices on doing a solo skydive, click here.
What should I wear?
Make sure to wear comfortable casual clothes, shorts in summer and jeans or tracksuit pants in winter. We will provide you with a skydiving jumpsuit to wear over your clothes. Closed in shoes are a must, sneakers or runners that lace up firmly are preferable (no hooks). Please leave any valuable jewellery at home. All necklaces must be taken off and hair, if long, tied back.
Are there age restrictions?
Yes, the minimum age for tandem skydiving in Australia is 14 years of age and solo skydiving is 16 years of age. Any person wishing to partake in skydiving who is under 18 years of age needs their parent or guardian permission.
Are there any physical requirements?
You need to be a generally healthy human being with an average fitness level. If you have any major concerns give us a call prior or seek a medical clearance.
Can family and friends watch?
Absolutely!! Our facilities ensure everyone is catered for. Friends and family can watch your training and enjoy a coffee or cold drink. Your family and friends can watch the day’s action safely from our club house and surrounding grassed areas. You will take off from the airstrip and land back in our grassed landing area. Your family can even see you exit the aircraft 14,000ft up! Everyone can watch your DVD being edited to music straight after you jump. Please note that children must be supervised at all times. Pets are not permitted on the drop zone.
How much time should I allow for my skydive?
The training, paper work, skydive and DVD should take about an hour and a half. It is wise however to allow half a day, say 3 hours so you and your family can really soak up the experience together. It generally does not take this long, but sometimes we get put on hold by air traffic control or the weather. We do our best to keep the day running smoothly but sometimes we are held up due to unforeseen circumstances. These include weather holds; there are certain wind and cloud conditions that we are unable to skydive in. Air Traffic Control also have a say in when and where we can fly, sometimes we can be put on hold for up to 15 minutes, if this happens a couple of times in one day we can run behind. Safety is of the utmost importance to us and if we have to wait on the ground for half an hour to ensure your safety, then we will.
Do I need to book?
It is preferable that you book so we can expect you and have the equipment and staff ready to go!! If you decide on the spur of the moment you want to go skydiving, give us a call and we will do our best to fit you in!!
How do I become a licenced skydiver?
You can learn to skydive with Coffs City Skydivers using the Accelerated Free Fall (AFF) method. Courses are run many times throughout the year and can be geared to suit your availability and commitments. We pride ourselves on our attention to each individual student and small tuition classes. If you are interested in the AFF course give us a call and we will do our best to work it for you.
The AFF course consists of nine stages. Each stage needs to be successfully completed before moving on to the next. At the end of the course you are licensed to skydive on your own or with an instructor. To become a fully licensed skydiver you will need to meet the requirements for the International A License. The requirements are that you successfully complete the AFF Course, know how to pack a parachute for your own use and have had 10 unassisted landings within 25m of a nominated target. This takes 17-25 skydives including your AFF. Your A licence allows you to jump at drop zones all around the world. What an awesome way to travel and meet some fantastic people!!
Is it normal to be nervous?
Yes, it is absolutely normal to feel nervous. Jumping out of a perfectly good airplane is not something that normal people do every day. Your instructors & or tandem master will make you feel as safe and confident as possible so that you do not miss a second of absolute adrenalin and amazing fun!! You will leave Coffs City Skydivers feeling like you have not left the clouds….it is sooooo worth it!! It’s real livin!
What happens if I am afraid of heights?
Believe it or not, a good percentage of skydivers and pilots are afraid of heights. From 10,000 ft up you will not experience vertigo like you would climbing a ladder or standing on top of a building. Skydiving is truly a unique feeling.
What does Freefall feel like?
Freefall is the closest a human can get to flying and no words can do it justice!! In freefall you are accelerated by gravity so you will not experience the stomach turns associated with roller coasters or park rides. It is addictive, breathtaking and out of this world. Ask a skydiver anywhere!!
How long is Freefall?
The amount of time you spend in freefall will depend on what altitude you decide to skydive from.
8,000 feet approximately 15-20 seconds freefall
10,000 feet approximately 30-35 seconds freefall
12,000 feet approximately 50-55 seconds freefall
14,000 feet approximately 65-70 seconds freefall
What happens if I get motion sickness?
It is very rare that anyone is sick in freefall. If you are prone to motion sickness eat light at least an hour before your booking time. It is very wise not to drink alcohol the night prior to Skydiving. If you do start to feel queasy under canopy, let your tandem master know so they can make minimum spirals and fly a slower more relaxing pace.
Does it hurt when the parachute opens?
You will feel a deceleration sensation as the canopy starts to open and sometimes a slight jolt, but you will be just fine. You will be more disappointed that the freefall is over!!
How long will I be under the parachute?
Then comes the canopy ride…it does not matter what altitude you decide to skydive from, tandem skydives have the same canopy ride. Your tandem instructor will deploy your parachute at approximately 5,000 feet. This will give you about 5 minutes to soak up the spectacular views of Coffs Harbour as you fly around under canopy. Fun jumpers may deploy their parachute at lower altitudes. Skydivers can find as big a thrill in canopy skills and flight as with freefall.
What happens if the parachute doesn’t work?
All skydiving rigs are equipped with two parachutes (main & reserve) by law. The main parachute is the one that gets used all the time. In the event that the main parachute is malfunctioning, the reserve parachute will be activated. In the event that no main parachute is deployed, all of our rigs are equipped with an automatic activation device (AAD) that will deploy the reserve parachute if you are still in freefall at a certain height. If you would like to understand more about our equipment please do not hesitate to ask.
How hard is the landing?
As a tandem student you will be instructed to lift your legs up in front of you so your tandem instructor can touch the ground first. If you don’t land on your feet, you will glide in on your bottom and the landing impact is just like stepping off of a chair or a step. Tandem training will cover all safety instructions in about 15minutes.
What is a “Fun Jumper”?
A “fun-jumper” is just another term for a licensed skydiver, that is, someone who has completed their solo (AFF) course. Once you have completed your AFF course and received your “A” licence, you can go for a skydive by yourself or with other fun jumpers whenever you like! Click here to check out our prices for fun jumpers.
