The Thrilling SkyDive Jump !!

Only moment when you can actually view the entire Palm !

There are many things on my bucket list & just like yours this one is on the top of my list too !(specially after ZNMD :p). Yes, The Sky Dive !

Well I went Dubai, had my chance but still didn't do it (can't even blame Viraaj for this one :P)

Anyways, my college bestie Meenal, who live in Dubai- a gracious host is also bitten by travel bug & is an adventure enthusiast..well great minds think alike ;) So here she is with her story of The JUMP as my 1st guest blogger. 

Through Meenal's p.o.v....

Dubai is the perfect place to check Skydive off your bucket list. The experience itself is quite thrilling and the views from top are absolutely stunning. Here is a small post on what to expect from Skydive at Dubai along with some tidbits from my own experience.

Location & Price:

There are 2 different spots for tandem sky diving experience in Dubai -

1. Palm Views: The campus is located at Dubai Marina on Al Seyahi street. Very close to JBR. This place is accessible by taxi directly and the nearest metro station is Damac Properties. Cost per person is AED 2200 (Rs.38,500 aprrox)

2. Desert campus: Plain Desert views: This is located approx 60 kms away from Dubai on the Dubai - Al Ain highway. The cost is somewhat lesser - AED 1700 per person (Rs.29,800), but you get dusty desert views. This is mostly preferred by people who are practicing to become a certified diver. 

Above costs include the cost of tandem jump as well as an album of photographs and a video of your jump. The photos and videos are provided in a flash drive and can be collected from their goodies counter later. Sadly, there are no discounts / coupons for skydive. Nor is it on the Entertainer. You gotta pay the full price only. 

Booking & Time Slots: Skydive experience can be booked from their website-https://bookings.skydivedubai.ae/Slot/GetSlotsForDate. You can choose your date and slot as well. Usually the months of Nov - Feb are the busiest since it's the best weather around. It's recommended to book at least 2 weeks in advance in case you want to go on a weekend.

On the Skydive day :

The Skydive at Palm starts from 10 a.m. and goes on till 4:30 p.m.. There is a slot every half an hour and 5 to 6 people can do the jump in one slot. A 10 a.m. slot really means that you get done with the whole experience only by 12:30 p.m. Once you reach the campus, you would be asked to fill a 6-page registration form. This would be one page of your bio and 5 pages of terms and conditions with check boxes of Agree and Disagree (you need to agree to all, obviously). It's basically a liability waiver form. Please also bear in mind that Skydive experience is not covered under any form of insurance. In case of any illness, sickness, medical condition other health related issue, please check with your doc before going for it. The minimum age requirement of Skydive is 18 years and you would be required to present a Photo ID as well.

After this paperwork, they would check your BMI (Body Mass Index) for you need to be in a certain range of BMI to be able to go for the jump. This range is 18-30 (I barely made it with 18.5). 

IMP - in case they find out that your BMI is not within the acceptable range for skydive, they DO NOT refund the deposit amount (which is good AED 1000 i.e. Rs, 18,000 !!!)

Each skydiver is allotted an instructor and a photographer. The three of you then become like one team who moves together everywhere - even up in the sky! The instructor will spend some good 15 minutes giving you a safety briefing and training you on the body postures that you should maintain at various stages. Both these guys would actually help you ease your pre-dive anxieties and nervousness!

Each batch of 5-6 skydivers board an aircraft that takes them to a certain height from where they do the dive. Meaning a total of 15-18 people in the aircraft. The flight up takes approx 15-20 mins. Before boarding the aircraft you are made to wear safety glasses and a harness which is later fixed to your tandem instructor once you are in the aircraft and ready to jump.

Just before the jump

The Jump:

Once your aircraft reaches a certain height, you take turns to jump along with your instructor. This certain height being approx.13,000 ft above the ground level! By this time you will already be affixed to your instructor's harness and would have prayed in your mind at least a hundred times. If you are one of those adrenaline junkies who are always on the look-out for new thrills and adventures, this moment is made for you. And if you're not, you have no choice but to trust your instructor! 

Your photographer takes a step before you and jumps first. And then, you and your partner follow (My instructor literally had to kick me out). On the count of 1.. 2.. And whoopp! You JUMP..! 

Right after you take the leap

Dubai Marina View

For about 1-2 minutes you fall freely in the sky. This free-fall is all about clouds, super cold air and well, gravity.! After about 2 minutes, you spot a tiny Palm Jumeirah and you know you are back on earth! Then of course Atlantis, Burj al Arab and what not. Somewhere in the middle your instructor opens the parachute and you can then ease a bit and look around. 

From high above, it looks like a vibrant drawing with shades of blue and green and with buildings and towers placed neatly on the shore line. And you suddenly feel like that kid who builds his own empire from Legos and then proudly looks at his creation from the top. You feel like you have the power to fly and be free. You don't feel afraid of the unknown any more. Its a beautiful feeling - of being free and fearless. 10 minutes of action and an adventure of a lifetime..! That's Skydive for you!

After the free fall

So after about 8-10 minutes, you land safely on a lawn within the campus.Throughout the flight you are being captured from various angles and positions by your photographer, so expect some really weird clicks up in the air. After about 30 mins of landing, your photos and video are ready and handed over to you in a flash drive. 

Yey !! Done & Dusted ..

If this is your first skydive experience, Skydive Dubai will not disappoint you at all. The views are amazing and the over-all experience is quite hassle-free. All the instructors are very good and they take full care of the safety aspect. The campus itself is a fun and lively place. There is a small cafeteria just next to the landing pitch, if you have people accompanying you, they can wait at the cafe and watch your landing. 

If you're visiting Dubai and have 4/5 days, spending half a day for this activity is highly recommended !