[Bleak Lemming]

Next year I'm taking 5 months off work as I'll be studying full time in that period. Today I realised that it would be an amazing opportunity to do things which I've wanted to do for a while but haven't had the time to do because of work commitments. The first thing that came to mind was skydiving...

I've had a look online and the prices are something around £2000 for a 3 day course with 18 jumps to obtain a UK parachute license.

Has anybody got any experience in obtaining a license for this? What competencies need to be met? (I'm fit & healthy, normal BMI etc)

Also, once you have a license.. I know membership to the BPA is around £120 / year but how are jumps organised? Does one have to join a local club or what? How much do days out in clubs set members back? (not sure how it works!)

Another thought is that I'm waiting to do my fitness tests for the Navy Reserves so perhaps once I'm in (I'll pass the tests...) then I could sort something out with them. Not sure if they do anything like this tho.

Cheers

[SummerAnthems]

It's a fairly intensive course, AFF I guess? You'll do a classroom sit down based bit and then start the jumps.

It's an expensive hobby, no doubt about that. about 30 quid to jump each time and you need to jump a fair bit to stay current but you can jump from any BPA approved centre.

With regards to the Naval reserves, it is possible however the chances of getting yourself onto the courses are slim. Priority goes to regulars first and then to the reserves. There's only one UK forces skydiving centre down at Netheravon. You generally have to pay for the course and then use your MTDs to offset the cost yourself.

[Bleak Lemming]

(Original post by SummerAnthems)
It's a fairly intensive course, AFF I guess? You'll do a classroom sit down based bit and then start the jumps.

It's an expensive hobby, no doubt about that. about 30 quid to jump each time and you need to jump a fair bit to stay current but you can jump from any BPA approved centre.

With regards to the Naval reserves, it is possible however the chances of getting yourself onto the courses are slim. Priority goes to regulars first and then to the reserves. There's only one UK forces skydiving centre down at Netheravon. You generally have to pay for the course and then use your MTDs to offset the cost yourself.

Brill that's some good info thanks. £30 doesn't seem too bad really - it's the kit that's ridiculously expensive. Can't believe how safe the sport is after doing some research today.. but the idea of landing my first jump on my own scares me a little - seems the majority of deaths / serious injury come from low turns.