Feature: Best places to skydive around the world

Wednesday, 27 July 2011 12:26 PM

While some people might think it’s a crazy act to jump out of a moving plane at 15,000ft, we disagree! There are actually only two or three seconds of pure terror during a skydive, which is then followed by a heady mixture of euphoria as adrenaline and endorphins kick in. This is because the human eye has no perception above 1500 metres so the ground tends to stay where it is, giving no sensation of falling. It’s like floating on air! And when the parachute comes out, the slow descent to earth as you witness the world from a bird’s eye point of view is truly breathtaking.

Whether you’re a first timer or a veteran of this extreme sport, here are some of the best places in the world to skydive…

Mauritius – 10,000ft

Without a doubt, Mauritius is one of the most spectacularly beautiful island sceneries in the world. A great place to try your first tandem jump, Mauritius Attractions offer a 10,000ft drop with the island chain’s awesome scenery of sea, jungle and mountain screaming up at you from below. Beforehand you’ll enjoy a very scenic flight before jumping out and freefalling for a minute at speeds of 200 kilometres per hour with Mauritius’ stunning lagoons and the Indian Ocean shining below. Prices start from £260.

Zambia – 10,000ft

For an ultimate rush, nothing can beat skydiving over the stunning Victoria Falls. The largest waterfall on earth is 354ft tall and over 5600ft wide! Although Victoria Falls Adventures only offers a 10,000ft jump, seeing the spray rise up almost double the size of the falls makes up for it. You’ll get fantastic aerial views of the falls as well as the mighty Zambezi river and if you’re lucky you might even see a rainbow. Prices start from £187, but smaller skydives are available for less.

Namibia – 12,000ft

With clear skies, psychedelic sand dunes and a starkly beautiful coastline, Namibia is one of the most unusual places to skydive. Complete with caramel coloured dunes, endless blue skies and a desert devoid of wildlife below you, jumping with Overland Africa is great. Based in the town of Swakopmund, it means you’ll get to the city and its unique architecture rise up from the ground too! After a 30 second free fall, the 10 minute ride to the ground after your parachute opens will be one of desert mirages and shifting sands below.

Sydney -14,000 ft

With an adrenaline pumping 60 second freefall, Skydive The Beach is one of the premier jump organizers in Australia. After checking in and going through a safety briefing, you’ll be transferred to Albion Park Airport for a speedy 10 minute plane ride to 14,000ft. With Sydney’s stunning South Coast beaches underneath you, it’ll be your job to scream, smile and wave as you make the descent! And if you’re lucky you might see dolphins and whales splashing about far below. Prices start from £189 and you have an option of taking a DVD home, which captures the whole event!

Seville – 15,000ft

With mountains, pastureland and Spain’s cultural city of Seville seen from above; for Europe’s highest jump you need to book with Skydive Spain. With numerous courses and a large range of tandem jumps, this is a great place to learn how to skydive to home! And at £181, this is an absolute bargain. Jump early in the morning and touchdown in time for a siesta.

Hawaii – 15,000ft

Largely regarded as the most beautiful drop zone in the world, it’s not hard to understand why. This volcanic archipelago in the middle of the Atlantic is thousands of miles from any landmass, so from your 15,000 foot jump, all you’ll be able to see end to end is the deep blue waters of the Pacific. Not only can you see practically the entire island chain too, you’ll quite easily be able to pinpoint Diamond Head, Pearl Harbour, Kaena Point and perhaps a few dolphins mixed in. You’ll also jump from an energy efficient plane. Skydive Hawaii uses fuel conserving engines which mean you reduce your carbon footprint by 40 per cent.

New Zealand – 15,000ft

While Taupo is the skydiving capital of the world, seeing more than 30,000 divers visiting here for a jump each year, for an alternative, why not try another location? Nzone Skydive offer two jump locations from Queenstown on the South Island and Rotorua on the North Island. As the first company to offer commercial tandem jumps, you know you’ll be in good hands. Queenstown is the adventure capital of the world and your 60 second freefall will be full of mountain ranges and green fields. But for out-of-this-world scenery, Rotorua is nestled amid volcanoes, boiling mud pools and steaming geysers. Both jumps cost £227.

Nepal – 29,000ft

That’s right, you heard us; 29,000ft! This is the big one, the world’s most elite skydiving adventure to date. Actually falling the entire length of Mount Everest, this 14 day trip with Incredible Adventures starts with numerous treks before the jump itself. There are only four jumping trips a year, which costs a whopping £9,200! But the Himalayan mountain scenery will surely make up for that….