Travel Guides and Stories

I’d heard about skydiving at the Great Barrier Reef in Cairns, Australia for a long time, but I never thought it was something I’d actually do. I mean, I’m someone who’s terrified just walking across a suspension bridge—how could I possibly go skydiving!? But in a moment of madness, I somehow found myself signing up for it. I picked the highest jump—14,000 feet—to experience a full 60 seconds of free fall before the parachute opens, all above the Great Barrier Reef.

Early that morning, I quickly grabbed a few bites of bread before hopping into the skydiving company’s van. We barely had time to look around at the company headquarters before I was signing a waiver—basically, if you die, it’s your own fault. After a two-hour drive, we arrived at Mission Beach. To be honest, I was so nervous while waiting that I thought I might throw up. I waited on the beach, hoping to see the previous group land, staring into the distance for what felt like forever, but no plane in sight. Just as I was talking about it, I suddenly saw a bunch of tiny dots dropping from the sky… Turns out, at 14,000 feet, you can’t even see the plane from the ground. That realization made me feel even more nauseous.

My instructor was super cool—very serious, but totally trustworthy. After a quick chat, I was pulled aside for a short interview about how I was feeling, which they recorded on DVD. Then it was onto another van, heading for the small airstrip.

This is the legendary plane—basically, it doesn’t even have a real door, just a sheet of plastic. I guess that’s to stop people like me from clinging to the door for dear life at the last second…

Before boarding, I was totally calm—probably because I couldn’t quite believe it was really happening. I was grinning like an idiot, which probably made my instructor think I was braver than I actually was.

And just like that, we boarded the plane. The wind was insane.

This is the runway—all golden and shining.

This is my cameraman, the person I admire most. He jumps with me but has to manage both his speed and direction to get all those lovely (and terrified) shots of my face—not too fast, not too slow.

By this point, my expression had already started to go blank…

Here’s the basic gear.

Even though I was too nervous to really appreciate it, the view of the Great Barrier Reef was absolutely stunning.

Just when I thought I was about to pass out, my instructor casually raised his arm—it was only 7,000 feet, just halfway up. I almost bolted for the door… If not now, then when?

This was my last pep talk to myself. The cameraman insisted on a high-five. The guy sitting on the floor next to me was about to be the first one tossed out.

At that height, I couldn’t think about anything else… My life, it was all about my life.

Here’s that guy by the door, about to be pushed out. When the door opened, the rush of cold air left me in shock.

Here’s me making my leap out of the plane. I think I managed to keep my form pretty well. At that moment, all I could think was: my life is in the instructor’s hands now.

As soon as you jump, there’s no way to keep your balance—you just spin and drop. The speed is incredible! If you’re curious, you can try calculating the acceleration.

And that’s how my 60 seconds of free fall began. Honestly, the scariest part is the moment you leave the plane. Imagine it: nothing but ocean below, a few clouds, and you, this tiny person, just leaping out into the void. Nothing beneath you, total weightlessness.

After a bit, my instructor opened a small white parachute to stabilize us, so we could stop tumbling and finally enjoy the view.

At this point, my cameraman was right in front of me, also free falling, but still managing to film—he’s a legend.

Two butts stacked together…

By now, I was completely calm. The wind was so intense it was hard to breathe—using both my mouth and nose to get air.

My instructor had to tug at me for ages before I realized he wanted a handshake.

It was insanely fun—like flying. Looking down at the Great Barrier Reef, the bright blue ocean, nothing but the sound of wind in my ears. For a moment, I felt like a hero in some epic tale. Haha.

Time to land! At this point, the parachute was fully open. The instructor controlled our direction, letting us circle around in the air for a while. The feeling was pure exhilaration—spinning and spinning, with the ocean all around.

Landing.

I love my instructor. I love my cameraman. I even got a certificate at the end.

And if you go skydiving again in Australia within the next two months, it’s only $50!