If you are looking for something a little more exhilarating to fill up an interim tranquil interlude, take a 2 hour drive to Rustenburg, South Africa to experience a few stimulating seconds of Freefall and breathtaking panoramic views of Rustenburg as you descend by parachute.
We did that on the first weekend of November 2010. Making a weekend out of our dive, we decided to stay at the Cascades Hotel in Sun City, approximately 50km from Rustenburg.
Being our first dive, we opted for a tandem jump. When we arrived at our drop zone, we went through a few minutes of briefing after which we were provided with a jump suit and goggles. Some of us were a little more distressed, deciding that the best way to get over their hysteria would be to palaver the entire way to the ground. Do remember, though, that if you are planning on diving, do not drink yourselves to a stupor the night before and definitely don’t eat before the jump, because if you do, you stand the risk of disgorging the contents of your stomach straight into the Tandem Master’s face.
Once we’d jumped into our suits, we were fitted with our harnesses. En route, on the plane, we were attached, with the assistance of the harnesses, to our Tandem Masters who took care of the minutest of details in order to ensure that we had a stress-free jump (well, relatively stress-free). Our flight took us to around 12,000ft. Your Tandem Master will give you directions during the flight; i.e. how to hold your head up, cross your arms as you jump, etc. Due to the fact that you’re attached to the Tandem Master, you don’t even have to worry about those last minute jitters. In fact, as my dive buddy was at the doors of the plane, waiting for instructions to jump (literally, hanging off the plane, being attached to the Tandem Master who sits at the edge of the plane), he was looking for a way to push the Tandem Master back into the plane. You can’t.
The freefall usually lasts around 40 seconds and once the parchute has opened between 6 to 15 minutes depending on how your Tandem Master controls the parachute.
The freefall is the most invigorating experience I’ve ever had. I had no time to think about the risks. I was just amazed at the fact that I was flying (at least, the closest I could ever come to flying with the birds). I wanted to dive again immediately after I’d landed, just for a few more seconds of the rush of the freefall.
Please contact the following for further details:
Mike Rumble: +27 (0)82 926 3591
SkyDive Rustenburg & Angel SkyDive Club Cell: +27 (0)79 345 7058
SkyDive.Rustenburg@gmail.com
