How to jump off a plane from 10 000 feet

Have you ever thought to yourself: “Screw it, let’s do it!” This is exactly how it felt as I jumped off a plane over the Namib desert. ๐Ÿ™‚

Don’t believe me? Enjoy the video. ๐Ÿ˜‰

What You Need to Know About Skydiving in Swakopmund, Namibia

How much does it cost to skydive?

The company with which I jumped.

Depending on where you skydive and who you jump with, a tandem skydive costs between $200 and $300. In my case, I paid N$1900 (approximately USD 280).

On top of that, you may want to pay extra for video footage of your jump (from N$400 for basic footage).

How high is the airplane when you take your parachute and jump?

Off it goes.

Swakopmund skydives take place at an altitude of 5000-10 000 feet (10 000 feet = +/- 3000 m).

What is the average speed of a skydive drop?

And down they come.

On average, one drops like a rock at a drastic speed of over 200-220 km/h.

How long does a skydive last?

I look “petrified”, don’t I? ๐Ÿ™‚

The first two seconds of a skydive jump are known as the “shit feeling” and, you guessed it, it’s not the best of feelings at the time.

Next, the adrenalin rush kicks in for about 30-35 seconds of pure pleasure free fall.

Once the parachute opens up, you have approximately 3-5 minutes in the air before landing firmly on the ground.

Is it scary to jump off a plane?

The plane is gone… and so are we! ๐Ÿ˜‰

Did I look scared on the video (I certainly looked “scary”, but hey, that’s another story ๐Ÿ™‚ )?

The scariest bit is certainly the waiting:

– First you wait for your turn on the ground while the others are jumping. What’s really nice about this part is that you get to experience people’s reactions as they reach the ground. Most people have a huge grin on their face, which is kind of reassuring. ๐Ÿ™‚

– Then comes takeoff. As the minutes go by and the number on your instructor’s altimeter increases, pressure mounts. “Ok, now you’re getting a little nervous.”

– “Oops, the door’s rolling up.” Now you’re sh…ting yourself! Too late to go back. ๐Ÿ™‚

Ready set go… you’re gone; and well on your way towards the ground! ๐Ÿ˜‰

Is it considered safe to skydive in Namibia, Africa?

Packing the parachutes with care is an extremely important aspect of the safety procedure.

Whether you are skydiving in Africa, America, Asia or… Antarctica, there are always risks associated with this extreme sport. That being said, as long as you stick to a serious company with highly qualified personnel you should be fine.

Ground Rush Adventures, the company I jumped with, has a team of very experienced instructors with at least 4000 jumps each. On average, the guys skydive three times a day and over 1000 times a year, so they definitely know what they’re talking about.

Matthias, skydiving instructor and co-founder of the company, lands safely on the desert floor.

Rules are very strict and they are controlled by the Parachute Association of Namibia (PANAM), the governing body for all forms of skydiving in Namibia.

Refueling the “beast”.

The company also has top notch equipment controlled on a regular basis:

Ground Rush Adventures / Skydive Swakopmund own and fly two Cessna 206 U-model aircrafts which are specifically equipped for skydiving complete with handles and roll up doors that make it more comfortable to use for skydiving. The two aircrafts are certified and maintained to the standard of Directorate of Civil Aviation (DCA).

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