Skydiving in Australia FAQs

Skydiving Requirements

How old do you have to be to skydive in Australia?

The minimum age to skydive in Australia is 16 years. For those under 18, written consent from a parent or legal guardian is mandatory.

Are there any weight limits to skydive?

For tandem skydiving in Australia, the maximum weight is 115 kg. This limit is set due to safety considerations, equipment constraints, and aircraft limitations. Please note there is a weight surcharge over 95kg:

• 95-99kg +$25
• 100-109kg +$50
• 110-115kg +$100

What are the physical requirements to skydive?

Most individuals in good health can participate in tandem skydiving, including seniors over 80. The main requirements for tandem skydiving are:

• The ability to lift your legs for landing.
• Absence of severe health conditions.

To ensure the safety of our staff and customers, we reserve the right to decline participation based on our assessment of age, weight, and health. If you have any concerns, please contact us in advance to avoid any disappointment on the day of your scheduled skydive.

 

Skydiving Bookings and Prices

Why is skydiving expensive?

The cost of skydiving reflects the expenses associated with operating a safe and professional skydiving facility. While the price may seem high, profit margins are actually quite modest due to various factors:

• Significant aircraft expenses: acquisition costs, ongoing maintenance, insurance premiums, and fuel consumption…
• Infrastructure costs: hangar facilities, land lease fees, aerodrome operational expenses…
• High-end equipment, requiring regular maintenance and upgrades.
• Skilled staff: skydiving instructors, ground crew, aircraft pilots, parachute riggers, aircraft engineers, customer service representatives, and operations teams. A large number of professionals are involved in making each skydive possible.

Now, is the price really that high when you get to experience the most incredible adrenaline rush, jumping out of an aircraft, enjoying the views, the freefall, the parachute flight…with a highly trained professional?

How much does it cost to skydive in Australia?

2024 SKYONE Skydiving Prices in Australia:

Tandem Skydiving prices:

• Skydiving Cairns: $349
• Skydiving Townsville: $349
• Skydiving Airlie Beach: $349
• Skydiving Sunshine Coast: $349
• Skydiving Port Macquarie: $399
• Skydiving Hunter Valley: $349
• Skydiving Sydney: $349
• Skydiving Moruya: $349
• Skydiving Canberra: $449
• Skydiving Melbourne Great Ocean Road: $399
• Skydiving Tasmania: $540

Skydiving Photos and Videos:

• Photos: $130
• Video and Photos: $170
• Ultimate Video Package: $290

AFF Learn to Skydive / Skydive Licence Course

• AFF Stage 1: from $495
• AFF full course package: from $2,399
• A-Licence exam: $120

Tickets for licensed skydivers:

• Single ticket: $50
• 10-pack: $380-$430, depending on the dropzone.

Can I cancel a skydiving booking?

• Full refunds will only be made if 48 hours or more notice is provided ahead of your scheduled booking.
• Cancellations made within 48 hours of the jump date will incur a $100 per person cancellation fee.
• Cancellations made within 24 hours of the jump date will result in forfeit of your skydive payment.
• If we are not able to proceed with your skydive due to weather, you can choose an alternative date within 3 years of the original booking date, or you may receive a refund.

Can I change the date and time of my skydive?

Our bookings are flexible. Provide us with a 48h minimum notice to change your skydive date. Credit and gift vouchers are valid for 3 years.

Are photos or videos included with my skydive?

You can add skydiving video and photos as an optional extra, at the time of booking or when you arrive at the dropzone for your check-in.

Did you know that?…SKYONE dropzones are self-contained, no buses required from the lounge to the plane. This means your friends and family can watch you board the plane and land with the parachute from just a few meters away, and can take as many photos and videos as they want.

 

On the day of your skydive

What should I wear skydiving?

• Wear comfortable and flexible clothing suitable for the weather on the day. Keep in mind it will be cooler at higher altitudes.
• If you wear glasses, don’t worry – we provide special oversized goggles to wear over your glasses.
• Secure, enclosed footwear is essential. Sneakers or running shoes are perfect, flip-flops or thongs are not allowed during the skydive.
• Don’t forget to empty your pockets before the jump!

For more detailed guidance, visit our blog post on what to wear skydiving.

What does my booking time mean?

• Self-drive: your booking time is your check-in time.
• Bus transfers: your booking time is your bus pick-up time.

How long does the skydive last?

When you arrive to the dropzone and check-in you will have to complete some paperwork. You will be assigned an instructor and load (flight number). The timeline for your skydive will be as follows:

• Safety briefing and gear up: 10 min
• Flight to altitude: 20min
• Freefall: 60 seconds
• Parachute flight: 7min

How long does the total skydiving experience last?

You will find this information in the product details and your booking confirmation email. The total experience duration will depend on the location, your transportation method, and the weather on the day. As a rough guide, on days with no weather delays:

• Self-drive bookings: allow for 1-2h total experience duration
• Skydive with bus transfer: allow for 3-6h total experience duration.

We do our best to keep the day running smoothly but sometimes we are held up due to unforeseen circumstances. At SKYONE we use the best safety and risk management system, with real time flight departure boards at the dropzone to keep you informed of your flight. Staff will also keep you updated in regard to timings or any delays. Safety is of the utmost importance to us and if we have to wait on the ground or put jumping on hold to ensure your safety, then we will. We endeavour to complete all skydives in a timely manner.

Can I bring friends or family on the day of my skydive?

Absolutely! Friends and family are more than welcome to hang out with you before and after your skydive. Most of our locations are pet-friendly and have open areas perfect for picnics.

Please note: if you have a booking with bus transfer we cannot guarantee space for companions.

How many people can go up in the same plane?

That will depend on how many people are in your group. At most of the SKYONE dropzones we operate large turbine aircraft which are perfect for groups, however exact numbers on aircraft are affected by weights, how many want outside cameras, and other operational factors. The number of your group on the aircraft can vary from 2-3 people up to 5-6 people on average. We can advise you on the day who and how many will be on each plane load and we will do our best to accommodate group requests. If you have any special requirements please let us know at check-in.

Can I bring my own GoPro or action camera skydiving?

Under the Australian Parachute Federation regulations, only licensed skydivers with more than 100 jumps are allowed to operate a camera while skydiving. This is for safety reasons, as wearing or operating a camera introduces a number of risk factors, like entanglement with the equipment or obstruction to operate handles and gear. Skydiving instructors receive specific training to address these potential safety issues.

We offer optional video and photo packages at all our dropzones, to make sure you have the opportunity to capture the incredible experience of falling out of a plane. If you come with family or friends they can watch and film you boarding the plane and landing under a parachute.

 

Skydiving Safety

How dangerous is skydiving?

At SKYONE, we prioritise safety through comprehensive training, cutting-edge equipment, and strict adherence to industry best practices, ensuring your skydiving experience is as safe as it is exhilarating. For more information, check out our blog post dedicated to skydiving safety protocols.

What if my parachute doesn’t open?

Every skydiving rig is equipped with a main parachute, a reserve parachute, and an Automatic Activation Device (AAD). In the event of a main parachute malfunction, your instructor will deploy the reserve. In the highly improbable scenario where your instructor is incapacitated, the AAD will automatically deploy the reserve parachute at a predetermined safe altitude. Parachute malfunctions are rare, but they do happen, and that’s why we always have a plan B. Main parachutes take 10 mins to repack, reserve parachutes take hours of meticulous effort.  We open, inspect, and repack our reserve parachutes every 6 months.

How qualified are your skydiving instructors?

We set rigorous standards that exceed the minimum requirements set by the Australian Parachute Federation. Our skydiving instructors must have completed a minimum of 800-1,000 skydives before they can even begin tandem instructor training. The majority of our SKYONE team members have accumulated well over 5,000 skydives and have years of experience conducting tandem jumps. This extensive experience ensures you’re in the hands of highly skilled professionals throughout your skydiving adventure.

How safe are your aircraft and skydiving equipment?

All our equipment incorporates the latest technology. We employ in-house riggers whose primary responsibility is to maintain all our gear through regular inspections and reserve parachute repacks. We apply the same rigorous principles to our aircraft, which undergo frequent checks and maintenance by our in-house engineers.

Can you breathe while skydiving?

Yes, you can breathe skydiving, and we actively recommend that you do! The freefall part of a skydive usually lasts anywhere between 40 and 60 seconds, therefore it is a long time to be holding your breath. If you do feel like you can’t breathe, it’s probably because you are holding your breath, just relax and breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth.

How does the weather affect skydiving?

Skydiving is weather dependent. The main factors affecting the safety or likelihood of a skydive taking place are winds, clouds and rain. Our blog post How weather affects skydiving explains it in detail.
Note: if we cannot jump due to weather restrictions we will re-schedule your skydive to another suitable date and time at no extra cost.

 

Learning to skydive

What are the requirements to learn to skydive?

• Minimum age 16 years old; Minors need parent or guardian consent.
• Maximum weight of 110kg.
• No previous tandem skydiving experience required

What is the price of the AFF Course?

• AFF Stage 1 from $495
• AFF Full Course from $2,399

Check out our skydive licence page to know more. You can learn to skydive at your own pace, with no upfront payment required for the full course. Or you can book one of our AFF course packages and get your licence in about a week.

What is the skydive licence cost in Australia?

The A-Licence is the first skydiving licence or rating you can acquire. You will need to complete:

• The AFF Course: 1 day of ground theory and 9 AFF skydives
• The A-licence course and exam. (Half a day)
• 5 or more skydives to achieve the A licence landing accuracy requirements

The total cost to obtain the A-licence will depend on the individual. It typically takes between 15 and 25 skydives, about $3,000 to $4,000.

How long does it take to get the skydive licence?

You can achieve it in as little as 5-7 days, depending on the weather conditions. If you choose to book a full A Licence package you could get all skydives and the A licence exam done in under a week. If you are not in a rush you can choose to complete the course at your own pace. At SKYONE we don’t require full payment upfront. You can do two or three skydives per weekend if you wish to do so, and get your skydive licence in a few weeks. To know more visit our AFF course page or contact us

Do I have to pay for the full AFF course upfront?

You can complete the AFF course and get your skydive licence at your own pace, there is no need to pay for the full course upfront. PAYG is a good option if you are not sure about it, but you can get better value with an AFF package.

Can I fly a wingsuit once I complete the AFF course?

Under the current APF regulations you will need a minimum of 200 jumps, a D licence, and complete a course of instruction with a qualified coach. Some dropzones may have additional requirements, like a higher number of minimum jumps before you are allowed to fly a wingsuit.

 

Licensed skydivers

Do you offer fun jumps at SKYONE locations?

Yes, most of our locations can accommodate fun jumping, and some of them have a very active community. Visit our licensed skydivers page to know more.

What is the price for fun jumps?

Visit our fun jumpers page for an up to date price list.

How can I jump at SKYONE locations as a visitor from overseas?

• You will need to get a short term APF membership
• Ask for the DZSO or Chief Instructor at the dropzone for a licence, gear and logbook check.
• You will receive a dropzone safety briefing before being cleared to jump

Contact us before heading out, to check the specifics for the location you plan to visit.