Mission Beach and THAT SKY DIVE

Before leaving Townsville i decided to book us a skydive in Mission Beach without telling Sonya, so you can imagine her face when we arrived in Mission Beach and i mentioned the surprise, a few expletives were said and i believe the words "YOUR DUMPED" were mentioned. Mission Beach itself wasn't what we were expecting, it was a very small village with just one small street, the beach was nice but you couldn't swim in the sea do to dangerous stingers (Boxed Jellyfish) so the first day we just relaxed (well i did) around the camp site. Sonya continued to worry about all the things that could go wrong. Finally the day of doom arrived with Sonya having no sleep (for some reason i was feeling quietly calm). It seemed to take ages for the 11.30 pick up time to arrive, eventually it did and we were wisked off to the air field in a van, Sonya didn't speak at all, all the way there. On route we picked up two Irish guys who were also doing the jump and i think they were shitting themselves more than Sonya (seriously i was still calm) After arriving at the airfield we were introduced to our tandem instructors, given (quite litterally) a 2 minute training course, put into our harnesses and put onto the plane, all within 10 mins of arriving, so no time to think about it. The Plane had no door on it and i was sat right next to the where it should have been, so i had a great view (still Calm) We then took off and climbed....1000ft......2000ft.....3000ft etc, the views below of the coastline and the clear blue sea were fantastic. After about 20 minutes and thinking we were quite high, i stupidly asked if we were about at the intended height of 14000ft (approx 3 miles high) to which the instructor replied "we are only half way at 7000ft" that was when it hit me and the thoughts of what the hell am i doing entered my head. We eventually arrived at 14000ft, one of the Irish guys was first to go and before i could even think, i was being ushered towards the door and then i was kneeling just outside the door and just had this surreal feeling which i can't begin to explain, but i wasn't feeling scared or worrying about parachutes not opening, and then i was gone hurtling towards the ground at 200km's an hour, despite the wind wistling past my face, it felt like i was floating, the views were amazing. The 60 second freefall seemed to last 10 seconds before the parachute was pulled, then we really did just float back down to earth and landed on Mission Beach. It was the most amazing feeling i've ever had and my legs were still shaking some hours later. If you ever get the chance to do a jump, go for it, it is the most insane thing ever

Lee

well the day Lee told me we were doing the sky dive i froze completely and did not speak much or sleep for the next day or so. But the day eventually arrived and we were whisked away in the minibus to pick up the other stupid people who were also going to hurtle to the ground at 200kph. As Lee said it was literally arrive at the airfiled, receive two minutes training, meet your instructor and then get into the plane. Lucky for me my instructor was fab and quickly relaxed me and as much as i was shitting myself i was now feeling quite excited.One of the other instructors in the plane asked if it would be ok to take me out for a drink if Lee did not make it and of course i accepted even though i knew he would!
As the plane reached its destination of 14,000ft and after getting my instructor to check my harness and clips a 1000 times we were ready. i wittnessed lee and the irish guys disappear from the plance and then it was my time. At this point my heart was in overdrive, i sat on the edge of the plane thinking oh my god, oh my god, oh my god! and my whole body felt like jelly then we were gone! As the wind was hurtling on my face trying to breathe normally was definitely an achievement and at the same time trying to smile and wave at the camera and look at the views i could definitely say i am a great multitasker! Then the free fall was over and the parachute opened then all you could hear was me screaming oh my god i did it!! over and over again with the instructor in hysterics behind me trying to give me high fives!! A very relaxing parachuting experience was then had taking in all the views of mission beach and the great barrier reef absolutely magical! Then it was time to land on the beach straight on my bum!. Took a while to get up but when i did i jumped straight on Lee and was just so proud of myself and Lee of course for doing the most maddest thing in the world, what an experience definitely reccommneded and i am still buzzing from the experience now just writing this brings an enormous smile to my face.

Sonya x