I awoke this morning a little nervy and scared about what I was going to be doing within the next few hours but also filled with excitement and adrenaline - it was a good feeling, plus nobody back home was aware about what I was going to embark on, which added to the feelings of excitement (I thought it was best noone knew to eliminate any worry - mum and nan inparticular). I didn't have too much time to sit around thinking about it this morning however, because I had to be packed and checked out before my 7.30 am pick up for my 14000 ft skydive - eeeeek!!!
As soon as we were picked up, we were given a form to complete, where we basically signed our life away, agreeing to jump out of a plane, strapped to another person, who was attached to a parachute. This was the most nervous I was signing this form on the drive to the skydive base and was probably the worst writing I have ever done, shaking a little as I was completing it; but I think it was because I was actually thinking about what I was going to do and the fact I couldn't quite believe I was going to be doing something I'd only ever dreamt of or imagined.
When we arrived at the skydiving base we had to sit around for a little bit because a group had just left for their jump. The lounge area was nice to be chilling in and they had a dvd showing other peoples photos and videos of their skydive, but I'm sure part of the waiting around is just to try and add to the anticipation and emotions before jumping! While we were waiting we were shown a safety dvd which informed us of the position we had to take as we jumped out of plane and then for the free fall part of the jump and this was followed by more instructions from one of the guides - I mean they have to make it thorough, we are jumping out of a plane after all, not like there isn't any risk involved!!!
We were waiting around for about 40 minutes and then in the sky over the beach we started to see the previous group appear in the form of little dots and then one by one disappear down onto the beach. This was the cue for us to head down to start to get harnessed up and to meet the guy who was going to guide me to safety. In this time my excitement had increased by 80% and my nerves had decreased by 80%, surprisingly! I can honestly say I was really looking forward to the jump and mega excited for the feeling of free fall, I had no idea what I was about to experience but I knew it was going to be the best feeling in the world.
When I met my guide he got me into my harness but left it loose so it was comfortable in the car and plane and started doing some filming for the video of my skydive which I had already purchased. We then were put into a minibus and was driven to the airport, where waiting for us was a very small plane we were going to jump out of. It wasn't too far to the airport and I still wasn't feeling that nervous just so excited! At the airport my harness was tightened slightly before getting on the plane, but my guide told me he would do the final tightening on the plane when we were near our drop zone.
This was it now and I was buzzing! I climbed into this little plane which only held 20 of us and took my seat on the floor facing backwards, right by the shutter door which was more of less left open for take off. As we sped up down the run way I realised this was it, there was no turning back now and adrenaline was pumping through my body! It was strange being in such a small plane, but also part of the experience because it was by far the smallest plane I have ever been on!!!
We had a great view as we climbed further and further into the sky and it did seem like we were climbing for ages! My guide informed when we were just over half way and I was quite surprised because we already seemed to be really high and as though we were near to the drop zone. Again he filmed the journey up and some of the view so I can share that with you (if you watch the video).
As we came 5000 ft from the drop zone the final adjustments were made to my harness, my goggles were put on, I was attached to the instructor and he went over with me again what I needed to do and the body positions I needed to take. I was looking at the red, orange and green lights on the back of the plane and as the orange light indicating we were 1000 ft from the drop zone lit up, the shutter was flung up and before long the green light came on. I was so excited!
It was all actions go as soon as the green light came on and before I knew it the girl infront of my sitting by the door was hanging over the edge of the plane and then disappeared! It was my turn - eeek!
Me and my tandem guide slide down slightly to the door and I immediately had my legs hanging out the side of the plane. As soon as they were out the strong wind and air resistance had pushed me down to the end of the door and 3 ... 2 ... 1 we were flung out of the side of the plane! There was none of this hanging me over the edge to make me a little anxious!
I haven't even got the words to describe the feeling of free falling from 14000 ft but I can say it was absolutely AWESOME and I can confirm it was the BEST FEELING IN THE WORLD!!! For those 30 seconds I was free falling my mind was completely shut off to anything and everything and I was totally absorbed into the amazing and indescribable feeling of falling!
When my guide pulled the tug to open the parachute we were pulled up slightly which actually hurt a little, ok a fair bit (you can see it in my face on the video) because the harness was pretty damn tight on my legs. At the same time of being relieved, I was quite gutted for the opening on the parachute because the free fall had finished, but on the rest on the long cruise down to the ground I got to admire the amazing view of the sea, rainforest and beautiful sandy beaches under another gorgeous Australian day! Life couldn't get any better than this!
There was one more bit to achieve to satisfy the criteria of completing my skydive safely and that was a safe landing on the beach. We seemed to approach the beach pretty quickly and all of a sudden as we came into land, I had to lift my legs so the guide could get us to the ground with no broken bones. This also hurt a fair bit because again the harness was cutting into my legs but I didn't really care because it was 1 million percent worth it! Once I was on the ground I headed straight over to my guide, who seemed to be 10 meters away from me in two seconds (still bewilders me), to do the final bit of filming for my dvd and then I headed back to the skydiving base to get out of the harness!
I was feeling absolutely unbelievable and adrenaline was rushing through every single millimeter of my body. I just wanted to get straight back on the bus to go for another ago and I will 100% being doing a second skydive in my lifetime - nutter I know and who says it is once in a lifetime thing?!
Once we were out of the harness we were told it would be around a 45 minute wait for our video and photo dvd. That was no problem though because they put on a BBQ for us which was actually pretty good. As we were hanging around we saw the next group land and I was pretty jealous of them because I wished it was me landing for a second time!
Once I collected my dvd I was dropped back to my hostel where my mission was to immediately find a laptop to be able to watch it. I was still pumped full of adrenaline and I wanted to relive the best feeling in the world. I was able to use the hostel laptop and watched my video a couple of times and just could not stop smiling - it was awesome and a very good reflection of my dive. Even though I struggled to find the words to describe it, I think it does a pretty good job at filling in the rest.
To watch my skydiving video CLICK HERE - Skydiving Video
It wasn't long before I needed to head into town to catch my bus onto the next destination so I just chilled out at the hostel and took pictures of the really cute and beautiful little place where I had spent the last two nights. I would definitely recommend the Jackaroo Mission Beach hostel for anyone heading that way because although on first opinion I didn't like it, it was actually my favourite hostel because it was so different to the others and just had a really good chilled out vibe about it.
So now I am heading to my next location - Airlie Beach where I will step aboard a boat to sail around the Whitsundays. First though I have a nice, long, 9 hour coach until I arrive to Airlie Beach (around 11.30 pm tonight) so time to put some films and tv on to kill the time, oh and a quick phonecall home to tell them I'm alive from today's activity! This really is a trip of a lifetime and I'm not sure what I'm gunna do when all these adrenaline pumping activities comes to a hault!
Speak to you all soon xoxo
For more pictures of my skydive and of the Jackeroo Hostel Click Here - 8th October Mission Beach Day 5
When I met my guide he got me into my harness but left it loose so it was comfortable in the car and plane and started doing some filming for the video of my skydive which I had already purchased. We then were put into a minibus and was driven to the airport, where waiting for us was a very small plane we were going to jump out of. It wasn't too far to the airport and I still wasn't feeling that nervous just so excited! At the airport my harness was tightened slightly before getting on the plane, but my guide told me he would do the final tightening on the plane when we were near our drop zone.
We had a great view as we climbed further and further into the sky and it did seem like we were climbing for ages! My guide informed when we were just over half way and I was quite surprised because we already seemed to be really high and as though we were near to the drop zone. Again he filmed the journey up and some of the view so I can share that with you (if you watch the video).
It was all actions go as soon as the green light came on and before I knew it the girl infront of my sitting by the door was hanging over the edge of the plane and then disappeared! It was my turn - eeek!
Me and my tandem guide slide down slightly to the door and I immediately had my legs hanging out the side of the plane. As soon as they were out the strong wind and air resistance had pushed me down to the end of the door and 3 ... 2 ... 1 we were flung out of the side of the plane! There was none of this hanging me over the edge to make me a little anxious!
I haven't even got the words to describe the feeling of free falling from 14000 ft but I can say it was absolutely AWESOME and I can confirm it was the BEST FEELING IN THE WORLD!!! For those 30 seconds I was free falling my mind was completely shut off to anything and everything and I was totally absorbed into the amazing and indescribable feeling of falling!
Once we were out of the harness we were told it would be around a 45 minute wait for our video and photo dvd. That was no problem though because they put on a BBQ for us which was actually pretty good. As we were hanging around we saw the next group land and I was pretty jealous of them because I wished it was me landing for a second time!
Once I collected my dvd I was dropped back to my hostel where my mission was to immediately find a laptop to be able to watch it. I was still pumped full of adrenaline and I wanted to relive the best feeling in the world. I was able to use the hostel laptop and watched my video a couple of times and just could not stop smiling - it was awesome and a very good reflection of my dive. Even though I struggled to find the words to describe it, I think it does a pretty good job at filling in the rest.
To watch my skydiving video CLICK HERE - Skydiving Video
It wasn't long before I needed to head into town to catch my bus onto the next destination so I just chilled out at the hostel and took pictures of the really cute and beautiful little place where I had spent the last two nights. I would definitely recommend the Jackaroo Mission Beach hostel for anyone heading that way because although on first opinion I didn't like it, it was actually my favourite hostel because it was so different to the others and just had a really good chilled out vibe about it.
Speak to you all soon xoxo
For more pictures of my skydive and of the Jackeroo Hostel Click Here - 8th October Mission Beach Day 5
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