Skydive Ramblers Frequently Asked Questions

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Why would you jump out of a perfectly good airplane?

Any answer below is acceptable. Choose one and go with it (also if you have any other good ones, send them to us and we will upload them in this space with your name next to them):

1. The door was open.
2. Because it is the most fun you can have with your clothes on.
3. Why wouldn’t you?
4. Because I want to live before I die.
5. My mum wouldn’t let me.
6. Why does a dog stick its head out of the car window?
7. Because I know why birds sing.
8. Because planes have doors.
9. Why would I land in an airplane when I have two perfectly good parachutes?
10. Because I can.
11. I didn’t like the in-flight entertainment.
12. I like to call it 'extreme bird watching’.
13. Because no plane is perfect.
14. I could not wait to strap myself to that handsome tandem master.
15. The view really improves when you leave the plane.
16. My hair dryer is broken.
17. I have a life wish, not a death wish.
18. The cops get annoyed when I go this fast on the ground.
19. I am searching for that helium balloon I let go two days ago.
20. I am afraid of heights and when the airplane gets too high I get scared and jump out.
21. Think of it as jumping into a perfectly good sky.
22. I am trying to prove to myself that I am not crazy.
23. Riding in a boat is not swimming thus riding in a plane is not flying…

Is skydiving safe?

Well no… Skydiving is an inherently dangerous sport. If you think about it, you ride in a plane, get to 14,000ft, open the door while the plane is still moving, jump out of it and entrust your life with a stranger with a pack of silk and strings! Sounds so cool, doesn’t it? This is where we come in. We transform these dangers into calculated risks which we choose to take (search for reasons above) while we are showing you one of the most unique experiences you will ever have. How do we do that?

1. Safety is number one.
2. Fun is number two (and we are Famous For Fun). If there is no safety there is no fun!
3. We operate under the rules and regulations of the Australian Parachute Federation (APF) and the Civil Aviation Security Authority (CASA).
4. We use state of the art equipment. (The technology used these days to built parachute equipment is hard to grasp.)
5. We maintain the state of the art equipment following even stricter schedules than those recommended by the manufacturers.
6. We employ highly experienced tandem masters (Wayne, Darren), pilots (David, Adam), packers (Marios), riggers (Wayne, Motzi) and ground crew officers (Faye, Gareth, Marios). Our Chief Instructor (David McEvoy) has over 35 years experience in skydiving and well over 10,000 jumps. He is Australian Master of Sport Parachuting # 5 (the most prestigious award from the Australian Parachute Federation). Our Safety Officer (Wayne McLachlan) has 32 years experience in skydiving and is nearing 13,000 jumps.
7. We constantly monitor the weather by observation, by contacting the Bureau of Meteorology and by checking several weather aviation specialist websites. We never jump if we are in doubt.
8. We give you a thorough briefing in regards to what you need to do during the jump.
9. We perform multiple gear checks before we emplane and again before exiting the plane.
10. We engulf a positive attitude towards life.

How long is the freefall? How long is the ride with the parachute?

When you jump from 14,000ft you get 9,000ft + 60 seconds of freefalling. When you jump from 10,000ft you get 5,000ft + 35 seconds of freefalling. In Australia the legal height to deploy the main tandem parachute is 5,000ft. The most popular is of course 14,000ft as you get almost double the freefall time, double the jump, but not double the price. The peaceful parachute ride is approximately 5-6 minutes before you land onto the sandy Coolum Beach.

How fast will I be going?

You will be plummeting towards the earth with speeds reaching 200 km/h (120 m/h)! When you exit the plane you are travelling at sub-terminal speed. The first 1,000ft takes 10 seconds. After that, you reach terminal velocity which is 1,000ft every 6 seconds.

What happens if I am afraid of heights?

It is a great way to get over your fear! Typically though you do not get vertigo as when you are standing on a tall building or on a ladder as you are too high up. You don’t feel like you are going to hurt yourself if you fall (like off the ladder). When you are up there flying around, you are too busy and preoccupied to worry about the height. In fact Susie, the Managing Director, is terrified of heights (don’t put her on tall building) but she has done over 2,500 jumps. If you have been in a commercial plane, you will be fine. If you haven’t, come and skydive and you can always share the story, “The first time I was ever in a plane I had to jump out…”

I hate that feeling of my stomach coming up to my mouth. I am going to experience that?

No. Freefall is totally different from a roller coaster. It is actually extremely difficult to explain what freefall feels like. It doesn’t feel like falling or floating or flying… Just come and try it and then we will ask you to describe it!

What happens if the parachute doesn’t open?

Buy a lotto ticket and celebrate! Even though we pack our parachutes very carefully, malfunctions can happen. Statistics tell us that in tandem skydiving, 1 in every 1,100 jumps results in a main parachute malfunction. If the main parachute is malfunctioning the reserve parachute will be activated. The reserve parachutes are being checked and packed by riggers qualified under the Australian Parachute Federation (APF) and the World Federation of Aerosports (FAI). Additionally, our parachute rigs are fitted with an Automatic Activation Device (AAD) which is a little computer which will deploy the reserve parachute if for any reason the main parachute is not deployed.

What can I see under the parachute?

“I always get a kick out of seeing cars driving up the main road with people on their way to work during peak hour and I think how blessed I am to be up here” (Darren Harvey). In a clear day you can see as far as Brisbane to the south and as far as Fraser Island to the north. If the season is right you might see whales in the ocean below. If you are a local you might spot your house! If you are a pessimist, you will finally see the bright sight of life!

Will I be scared?

It is normal to be nervous. If you weren’t nervous you wouldn’t be human and we would be worried about you. It is normal to feel scared as skydiving is quite an unnatural activity. Our tandem masters are trained to distinguish between fear and panic. It is quite unusual that somebody decides not to jump. (Note to mums and wives: If you need the boys and husbands to do more dishes in the house, we will make sure to scare them enough...)

Can I talk in freefall?

You can but nobody will hear you. Sorry to bust the myth from the movies where whole conversations take place… So scream as loud as you like. It’s a different story under canopy. Again, scream as loud as you like – we love it.

Can I breathe in freefall?

You better…! Exiting the plane does take your breath away though. If you feel like you can’t breath try screaming.

Can I get videos or photos of my jump?

Yes. We use high quality cameras for both. We offer handycam and outside camera (bookings essential). Handycam is when the Tandem Master wears a specially designed glove where the cameras are located. Outside camera is when another jumper jumps at the same time and takes a video and photos of you with the cameras located on his/ her helmet (bookings are essential for outside camera). The video lasts 6-8 minutes and it is a little documentary of what is happening while you are with us. We do interviews on the ground, in the plane, and under the parachute. The footage is edited with music. You get your photos burnt onto a CD or you can have them on a souvenir 2GB USB ($20).

What should I wear?

The only actual requirement is closed-in shoes. Wear comfortable clothes i.e. jeans or track pants and a jumper for winter; shorts and a t-shirt for summer. Nothing with hooks or studs. Don’t wear a collared shirt as they tend to flap your neck when you are in freefall and then everyone will be asking where you got the love bite from.

Can I wear my glasses or my contact lenses?

We have specially designed goggles which allow you to wear you glasses or your contact lenses.

Can I drink alcohol before my jump?

Definitely not! There is an 8-hour rule of no alcohol before your jump. Besides, alcohol tastes much better after you have jumped from 14,000ft!! You can drink as much as you want afterwards. You will discover why beer was invented and realise how good it can taste!

Do people vomit from skydiving?

We had five Tandem Students who threw up last year. The common denominators were hung over from the night before combined with not eating any breakfast. Vomiting (usually under canopy or after landing) is not fun for anyone, especially the Tandem Masters who usually wear it!! Ewww…So, please do not have a massive party the night before and make sure you eat something before coming for your jump.

What is the age limit for skydiving?

The minimum age limit for a tandem jump in Australia is 14 years old with parental consent. The minimum age limit for the AFF course is 16 years old with parental consent. The maximum age limit for skydiving is still an unanswered question. We once jumped with somebody who was 97 years old! The “I am too old for this stuff” excuse does not apply to skydiving.

Are there any physical requirements?

You need to be a model! No no no…just kidding.

A reasonable level of fitness should be adequate for you to jump. You need to be able to lift your legs in a 90% angle from your body. You will be required to fill in a health questionnaire. Issues that might prevent you from jumping can be heart problems, recent fractures, recent dislocations or ear problems. Consulting with your doctor if you face any of these issues is always a good idea. There is also a weight limit of 95kg, unless the Drop Zone Safety Officer allows differently. If you have any concerns or questions, please contact us so we can discuss them further.

Can I jump if I am pregnant?

Yes, you can jump and it is entirely your personal choice.

Can I jump if I am disabled?

Yes, you can jump. Please give us a call to further discuss your needs.

Is the landing rough?

No. You will be asked by your tandem master to lift your legs when you are coming in to land. This is to allow the tandem master to put his/ her legs on the ground first. Depending on the conditions you will either slide onto the beach on your bottom or have a stand-up landing which feels like jumping from a step. Your tandem master will explain and tell you what to do before the jump, during the parachute descent and during the actual landing.

What happens if the weather is bad?

We want to give you the best possible skydiving experience. If we are in doubt we do not jump. Conditions that might prevent us from jumping are solid rain, low overcast cloud layers and high winds. We need to be able to see the ground from the plane because we don’t want to become shark bait!

Skydivers tend to become meteorology freaks as we always assess the weather to see if we can go jumping. We constantly monitor the weather by observation, by contacting the Bureau of Meteorology and by checking several weather aviation specialist websites.

There are a lot of times that even though there is cloud cover or scattered showers, there are also blue holes that we can jump in. We never call off jumps the day before, we always wake up and see what the day brings, regardless of forecasts. We ask you to be patient and let us make the decision if we are jumping or not, on the actual day. If we make the decision not to perform your jump because we feel the weather is not at its best, we will reschedule your jump for another day. If you have booked directly with us and you have no alternative days to jump we will provide you with a full refund.

If I love it can I go again right away?

If there is a slot available you can go at a discounted price!

If I love it can I do the course?

You can start the course at the Coolum Drop Zone and complete it at our Toogoolawah Drop Zone (www.ramblers.com.au).We offer several packages to suit your availability and your budget.

Are there any levies I will have to pay when I get there?

No. There are no extra/ hidden costs. Your membership to the Australian Parachute Federation is included in our prices and we do not charge a fuel levy.

Where are you located?

Before your jump, first arrive at our Clubhouse at the Sunshine Coast Airport, Marcoola.

Clubhouse Street Address: Skydive Ramblers Clubhouse, Kittyhawk Close, Sunshine Coast Airport, Marcoola Qld, Australia. Phone 07 5446 1855.

Our Clubhouse is the bright blue building on the corner of Airport drive and Kittyhawk Close. The main road into the airport is Airport Drive. Kittyhawk Close is the first road on the right. So turn right at the first and only roundabout and pull into the first driveway on your right.

From Gympie/North – Travel down the Bruce Highway and take either the Coolum-Yandina Rd turnoff or the Bli Bli turnoff. Follow the signs to the Sunshine Coast Airport.

From Noosa - Travel down the David Low Way or the Sunshine Coast Motorway and follow the signs to the Sunshine Coast airport.

From Mooloolaba – Get onto the Sunshine Motorway and head north. Follow this motorway for about 5 minutes and take the Sunshine Coast Airport turnoff.

From Caloundra - Travel north up the Nicklin Way and this road will turn into the Sunshine Coast Motorway. Follow this motorway for about 5 minutes and take the Sunshine Coast airport turnoff.

From Brisbane/South – Travel north up the Bruce Highway and either 1) take the Buderim/Mooloolaba/Sunshine Motorway turnoff, follow the signs to the Sunshine Motorway, head north and follow the signs to the Sunshine Coast Airport. Or 2) take the Bli Bli turnoff and follow the signs to the Sunshine Coast Airport.

From Kilcoy/West – Travel east along the D’Aguilar Highway and follow the signs to the Sunshine Coast. Take the Beerwah turnoff on the left and travel up and over the Peachester Range through the rainforest and enjoy the views of the Glasshouse Mountains. Go through Beerwah and turn left on the Old Bruce Highway and head north. When you come to the Caloundra turnoff, veer left to head north up the Bruce Highway. Now follow the directions from Brisbane/South.

Where do you take off from?

We take off from the Sunshine Coast Airport located at Marcoola.

Where is the landing area?

We land onto Coolum Beach at Stummer’s Creek.

Can my family and friends come and watch?

Of course, bring as many as you want…that it is what it is all about, right? We love having people around. They can watch the whole briefing process and then go to the beach to watch the freefall and your landing. Our experienced ground crew officers will explain to your loved ones what is happening, help them find the plane in the blue sky and answer all their questions. It is even better though when the family and friends share the experience with you!

What plane do you use? How many people can jump at a time?

We use a Super Charged Cessna 182. We can fit two tandem pairs at a time. If you have a much larger group we can accommodate you by bringing our 16 place Cessna Caravan from our Toogoolawah Drop Zone, in which we can fit up to six tandem pairs at time. Please give us extra notice for big groups so we can make the appropriate arrangements.

Is the time I was told the time I will be jumping?

No, the time you were told is the meeting time at the Conference Room of the Coolum Beach Hotel. You should estimate that you will be jumping approximately one hour after your arrival (weather permitting).

How long does it take?

You should allow approximately two hours from the arrival time for the whole process i.e. paperwork, briefing from the tandem master, going to the airport, the actual jump (where you are going to have the best time ever), landing onto Coolum beach, watching the video as it is edited, you promising to do the course, goodbyes and hugs.

Can I choose my Tandem Master? Is he cute?

Yes you can. Wayne and Darren are full time Tandem Masters. They both have completely different personalities. Wayne is quiet and calm, he does not say much but what he does say makes sense. Darren is a chatterbox and he will joke with you the whole time. They are both cute!

What are the conditions of a Gift Voucher?

Vouchers are valid for six months from date of purchase. To redeem an expired voucher up to six months after its expiry date, a fee of $150 is applicable. Vouchers are non-refundable, non-transferable, and cannot be redeemed for cash. Voucher recipients must make a booking for when they wish to jump. Changes to the booking time or date require at least 24 hours notice otherwise a cancellation fee of $150 is applicable.

Can I jump at a different location?

The money you have paid is transferable between our 3 drop zones i.e. your money is safe at Coolum, Toogoolawah and Rainbow Beach drop zones.

From time to time we also organise a mobile drop zone. If you or your town have a group of people who want to go tandem skydiving, have access to a nearby air strip and a suitable landing area (i.e. beach, airport, sporting field, farm etc.) then let's talk! Recent Ramblers excursions include Emerald in QLD, the Boulia Camel Races, Mitchell Show, and a weekend of skydiving and Station life at Jane's 40th Birthday Bash at Mataranka near Katherine in NT.

What about birds?

What about birds?

What are you talking about?

Leonardo Da Vinci: "For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return."

• Also view our FAQ Videos page!