Frequently Asked Questions

Why jump with Go Skydive?
..If you have a bit of adventurous spirit and the love of life – it is definitely the thing for you! Go Skydive is the number 1 choice for your tandem skydive, servicing Byron Bay, Ballina, Gold Coast and the surrounding areas. All of our instructors are highly experienced with thousands of skydives each and a perfect safety record. You will never feel more alive than after a 220kmh freefall, and it does not end there. You will still fly under a parachute for 5 minutes, enjoying the amazing Byron Bay and Ballina views, before you softly land in one of our great landing areas, right in the middle of town. 

Why would you jump from a perfectly good aeroplane?
First and foremost - it's totally exhilarating and fun!  Just come down to watch someone else enjoy the adrenaline rush - the look on their face after landing says it all!  The experience will change your life forever.  It's something you just have to try yourself in order to understand why so many people are doing it over and over again.

 
How much does it cost?
The price of a Skydive depends on any associated group discounts being utilised, the altitude chosen and any video and or photos packages used by passengers to remember their experience.  Please visit our “Booking” page for more information on prices.

What should I wear?
You need to be comfortable, so wear casual clothes that are not restrictive and closed sports shoes.  Shorts and t-shirts in summer and tracksuit pants with long sleeve t-shirts in winter are recommended. You will be provided with a skydiving jumpsuit to wear over your clothing.  Bring your own shoes if possible, however, we can provide you with lace-up sneakers if required.

How much time should I allow for my Tandem?
It is best to allow 3-4 hours for your skydiving experience.

Are there any age limits?
The minimum age for a skydive in Australia is 14 years of age and any person under the age of 18 years needs their parent or legal guardian's consent. Click here to see the Terms & Conditions page.

Are there any physical limitations?
Generally speaking, you need to possess an average level of fitness.  You need to be generally healthy and let us know about any health issue that might be relevant (we can work around most of them by using different techniques).

Do I need to book?
Bookings are essential and are on a 'first come, first served basis!' You are welcome to simply show up and go skydive. However, pre-booked passengers will receive priority over those who choose to do so.  Simply click here to book your jump online.

Can I get a video and or photos of my Skydive?
YES!! There are a few options available to help you remember your skydiving experience.  There is no doubt that you will generally remember your skydiving experience, however, due to the typically associated adrenaline rush and nervousness, many people undergo what is called 'sensory overload'!  This condition tends to render certain memories of your skydive as a little vague or fuzzy in detail.  Therefore, many people take advantage of the video and or photo options to help them remember every step and detail of their jump for ever. 
Your Tandem Master will film the action from a digital handy-cam video attached to their wrist to film and or take photos of your freefall experience.  This video footage will be professionally edited and supplied to you on a DVD. Visit our “Video Products” page for more info.

 
Is skydiving safe?
Statistics prove that the most dangerous part of your skydive is getting to the Skydiving Centre in your car.  We all drive our cars every day without a thought of how dangerous it actually is. It's just conditioning as to what is dangerous! At Go Skydive - safety always comes first. All our Tandem Masters have thousands of skydives. All our Tandem Masters are also still here; happily working with a perfect, injury free safety record. Other than lawn-bowls, there aren't many other sports that could not boast such safe statistics! 
You can't control other people driving around you on the road, however, with skydiving; you can control everything!  You can use only the best equipment, use the proper training, adhere to the rules and regulations that govern the sport and use proper judgment and discretion in deciding whether or not to jump in any given weather conditions.  Millions of people around the world have now experienced Tandem Skydiving and most probably want to do it all over again! 

What happens if the parachute doesn't open?
It is a legal requirement that skydiving equipment contain two (2) serviceable parachutes. In the unlikely event that the first parachute doesn't open, the second parachute will be deployed.  All our skydiving equipment possess Automatic Activation Devices (AADs) that deploy the second parachute automatically if neither parachutes are deployed by the Tandem Master.  Statistically, it is near impossible for both parachutes to fail.

Does it hurt when the parachute opens?
No!  All you'll feel is a slight jolt as the parachute opens!

How hard is the landing?
If you do exactly what your Tandem Master has instructed you to do, the landing will be a BREEZE! 

What if I'm afraid of heights?
Many professional skydivers and pilots are afraid of heights.  You don't experience the feeling vertigo at 14,000 feet like you do climbing a ladder or looking over the edge of a building.  We meet many people who come in to go skydiving for the one and only reason to concur their fear of heights - their most common reaction to the experience was that they were not nearly as scared as they thought they would be!

What happens if I 'chicken out'?
Of the thousands of people who have come to enjoy the skydiving experience with us, to date only three people have ever decided not to jump.  Most of our customers say how their Tandem Masters made them feel relaxed about the whole experience. It might be worth mentioning that the only free part of skydiving is FREEFALL!

Is it normal to be nervous?
If you're not nervous and don't have adrenaline pumping through your veins by the time you are about to exit the aircraft, your Tandem Master probably won't want to be attached to you and may recommend psychiatric help!  It's normal to feel nervous, as jumping from a perfectly good aeroplane is not something that most people do every day. Some people pretend not to be nervous, but nerves are fairly hard to disguise.

What happens if the weather's bad?
Naturally, we do not jump unless the weather is good.  People can choose to wait until the weather conditions improve and continue with their skydive. However, if the weather conditions persist to be unfavourable for jumping, passengers are most welcome to either reschedule for another day and time or cancel and receive a full refund.  

Can my family and friends watch?
The more the merrier!  Your friends and family are most welcome to come and watch you enjoy the experience.  They can watch all your training, take-off in the aircraft, your freefall from the ground if the weather permits and your landing under the parachute.  

Can my friends come up in the aeroplane with me?
Unfortunately not! Everyone who goes up in the aeroplane needs to be either wearing or attached to someone who is wearing a parachute - even the pilot is wearing one! All passengers wearing a parachute (other than the Tandem Passengers) need to be trained in the use of the parachute, be licensed to skydive and be a member of the Australian Parachute Federation (APF).  Don't despair, your friends can watch you train for the jump, take-off in the aeroplane, your freefall, parachute ride and landing. 

What does freefall feel like?
Different people have different interpretations as to what freefall feels like. It's difficult to describe, however, most people will agree that it is one of the greatest feelings they have ever experienced. Some say it's like floating on a cushion-of-air! Let us know your definition.

Can I breathe in freefall?
Try sticking your head out of your car window while travelling at 220 km/hr and see if you can still breathe?  To save you the loss of your license and the bugs in your eyes - yes, you can still breathe normally!

How long does freefall last?
Your freefall time is determined by your exit altitude i.e. the higher you go, the longer you fall. It is a legal requirement in Australia, that Tandem Parachutes be open no lower than 4,000 feet. Therefore, any height above 4,000 feet will determine your freefall time. Freefall time can be calculated as follows:
When you leave the aircraft the first 1,000 feet of freefall takes approximately 10 seconds while you accelerate to Terminal Velocity - which is approximately 220 km/hr. Each 1,000 feet thereafter takes approximately 5 seconds. Therefore, if you leave the aircraft at 10,000 feet, you will freefall for 6,000 feet providing you with 35 seconds of freefall time. The maximum height that one can legally jump from in Australia is 14,000 feet. Therefore, the maximum amount of freefall time possible in Australia is 55 seconds. 

How fast do we fall?
You will accelerate to terminal velocity, which varies depending upon your total combined weight, surface area and resultant disturbance in the airflow. However, the average approximate speed of terminal velocity for a Skydive is 220 km/hr. 

How long will we be under the parachute?
Your Tandem Master will have the parachute open by 4,000 feet, giving you about four (4) to five (5) minutes to soak up the spectacular views as you fly around under the parachute. Ask your Tandem Master to do some Spiral Diving like a Rollercoaster Ride, have a steer of the parachute or simply relax and let your Tandem Master soar like an Eagle and gently bring you back to earth - the choice is yours.

What type of aeroplane will I jump from?
The type of aeroplane that you will jump from will depend upon how many people are jumping in your group.  Most passengers jump from our Cessna 182 which is the most widely used aircraft type for skydiving activities in Australia. 

 
Can I buy a Gift Voucher?
You can purchase a Gift Voucher for anyone.  Birthdays tend to be a popular reason for people buy Gift Vouchers and surprise their friends and family.  You can order a Gift Voucher online by clicking here.

Can I go scuba diving before and after skydiving?
It is important to note that 'Snorkelling' does not constitute underwater 'Scuba Diving!' The problem which may occur by Skydiving after Scuba Diving is decompression sickness - otherwise known as the 'Bends'. This is a condition which may occur with Scuba Divers if they have spent a long period of time at depth below the water and return to the surface too quickly.  It is a function of the depth of the dive, time spent at depth and speed of return to the surface. If a person is subjected to a further reduction of atmospheric pressure (i.e. Skydiving), there is a higher probability of developing decompression sickness.
The following are the recommended limitations for flying after Scuba Diving:

• Scuba Diving which does not require decompression stops may be carried out after a 1 hour rest period provided the following flight is not conducted above an altitude of 500 feet above mean sea level;
• Scuba Diving which does not require decompression stops may be followed by flying after a rest at sea level of 4 hours;
• Scuba Diving which requires decompression stops and is of less than 4 hours duration may be followed by flying after a sea level rest of 12 hours; and
• Scuba Diving which requires decompression stops and is of more than 4 hours duration may be followed by flying after a sea level rest of 48 hours.

How is Tandem Skydiving regulated?
Skydiving is regulated by the Australian Parachute Federation (APF) who works 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. 

Do I need to buy insurance?
You do not need to buy insurance. However, passengers that would like to have personal accident insurance must independently purchase their insurance cover before proceeding with their training.  Go Skydive Centre does not offer any personal accident injury insurance. 
 If you still have further questions, please contact us and our staff will happily answer any questions you have!