Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why Should I Book with Skydive Swansea?

Skydive Swansea prides itself on a high reputation for safety and customer service. All of our instructors are highly qualified British Parachute Association instructors with a wealth of experience. We have one of the best drop zones in UK for views. Swansea Airport is located on a peninsular that is surrounded on three sides by the sea so looking down from the aircraft at 12,000 feet above the Gower is simply amazing!

Skydive Swansea is also committed to helping Welsh Charities and other good causes as well as UK National Charities raise much needed funds through individuals who want to experience the thrill of skydiving but also wish to support a charity by raising sponsorship.

Every month tens of thousands are raised by people who want to help make a difference. By booking direct with Skydive Swansea, all of your money raised after the cost of the tandem skydive goes to your chosen charity with no fee for administration or considerations for middlemen who charge fees for booking on your behalf.

2. What are the Age Restrictions?

Anyone aged 16 or 17 years old can jump but with parental or guardian consent - download the BPA Membership Agreement. Anyone aged 40 or over will require a Declaration of Fitness to Parachute form (to be stamped by their GP). Download the Solo Student Declaration for the Level 1 or Full AFF Course or if you plan to make a tandem jump download the Tandem Student Declaration.

3. What are the Weight Restrictions?

Skydive Swansea has weight limits of 15 stone for men and 13 stone for women. PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU WEIGH YOURSELF FULLY CLOTHED as weight limitations are strictly adhered to and you may be asked to be weighed on the day.

4. What are the Restrictions on Health?

Please have a look at the medical form that you will have to sign and declare that you don’t suffer from any of the illnesses listed in the second paragraph. If you have or have had any of the conditions listed in the 2nd paragraph you must get your doctor to fill in the bottom of the medical form to allow you to jump. Click here for a copy of the relevant form if you plan to make a solo (AFF) jump or here if you plan to make a tandem jump.

5. Will I need Insurance?

The amount you pay on the day will include your BPA insurance which covers you for Personal Liability 3rd Party insurance. If you require personal accident insurance then cover can be arranged through Extreme Plus. You can also download an application form here.

6. Can I Jump if I'm Disabled?

Please list the details of any disability you have on your booking form in remarks. Skydive Swansea will look at every case individually as there are various degrees of disability. It is our policy not to allow anyone who uses or relies on a wheelchair to undertake a tandem skydive. A risk assessment will be done and instructors always reserve the right not to allow any person to jump for safety reasons. If this is found to be the case then Skydive Swansea would fully refund your booking fee.

7. What do I Wear to make a Skydive?

We will provide you with a jump suit, hat goggles and gloves but you will be comfortable in leggings or tracksuit bottoms, a T shirt and sweat top to wear underneath the jump suit. Trainers are recommended, boots and jeans are not.

8. Can I wear Glasses or Contact Lenses?

Both of these are generally fine providing the glasses are not too big and goggles are supplied to keep the contacts from being moved.

9. What Time will I Jump?

No parachute centre will guarantee a time because of many factors (not least the weather) that can affect the outcome of the day. You should therefore allow all day to complete the jump.

10. What Will the Landing be Like?

Landings have been the matter of legend since the early days of parachuting. Landings under older parachutes very much depended on good technique to experience a comfortable return to earth. Landings made with modern parachutes are significantly softer and are usually described as the equivalent of jumping off a 4 foot (1.2 m) wall, added to which you enjoy the benefit of far better steering which helps to make sure that you land where you intend to. With pictures often described as being worth a thousand words, why not and take a look at this sequence of tandem parachute landing photos, which will give you a very good idea of what to expect.

11. What Would Stop us Jumping?

Winds of more than 20 knots for tandem skydives (22 mph), low cloud and rain. When the forecast is sunshine and showers, jumping normally takes place (in between showers). This is why it sometimes takes the whole day to complete and get everyone jumped. 15 knots is the maximum limit for AFF skydives. In the information pack that Skydive Swansea provides there will be a contact number you can call to check on the weather before turning up on the day. The best time to check is a day before your jump. If the weather is too bad then you will be re-booked by the parachute centre to visit on a suitable date.

12. Can I get my Skydive Filmed? How Much Will it Cost?

You can arrange to have your own Freefall camera man who will film your skydive which is then edited and put to music on a DVD. You will also receive a CD of your freefall photographs. Cost is £110 and can be booked on the day of your skydive. For an idea of how the DVD will look see our demonstration tandem video. The quality of your own DVD will be much higher as this video has been compressed for the internet.

13. How Much do Jumps Cost?

This will depend on the type of course that you undertake. Tandems cost £225. A full AFF course will cost £1240 on completion but at Skydive Swansea you pay as you jump click here for prices. 10 consolidation jumps on completion of the AFF course are then required at £38 each. During this period you will still be checked and dispatched by an instructor but you will practise your skills, improving on what you were taught during the course.

14. How do I Book and What Happens Next?

Simply fill out our booking form with your preferred dates (weekends and bank holidays only) and any specific requirements that you may have. We will then check availability and contact you with the details. No payment is required until availability and price have been confirmed. Final confirmation details of your booking will be either posted or e-mailed to you as appropriate.

Please contact us with any other questions - info@skydiveswansea.co.uk