Questions on jumping!

[Jordy 0]

Hey everyone! My name is Jordan and im from New Zealand. I really want to get into becoming a tandem skydiver and a camera man. I have only done 3 skydives at the moment and they have all been tandem. I have been looking at doing a AFF course hear in NZ and cant decide weather i should try get into the soprt that way. There is another course hear in NZ its designed to do what i want to do. It costs a lot more but seams to me to be better. The course is 32 weeks and is full time 5 days a week. You spend the first 5 months learning to skydive and going on skdiving camps around the country. You get 200 skydives in that five months and all the licences to become a camera man (or women). Then for the remaining 3 months you get placed at a dropzone in NZ or somewhere around the world, where you work for 3 months getting better at you skills and learing how to work at a dropzone. And with a bit of luck you gain employment out of that. I think there is a 98% employment rate. The second option sounds a lot better but costs around $15'000NZD. Thats including all gear and 200 jumps and training. The AFF courses costs about $3500NZD but dosn't have the same opptunites that the other course dose. I am trying to save up to be able to do the $15000 course but also need money to live on (food and rent) for 8 months while on he course. And its very hard to save that amount. So i am wodering if people can leave me some messages or email me and tell me how you all got into skydiving. And if you are a tandem master or fly the camera at a dropzone some where in the world please tell me how you went about getting there! And wether you think its worth spending that much money on it. or is better to spend less and go about getting a tamden rating another way. And is it as cooler job as i think i will be?

Thanks Everyone!

• Quote

[GreenMachine 0]

Blue Skies Jordan,

Congrats on doing your first few jumps!!

That is cool that you did a few and now know this is what you want to do with your life.... I can't really give you advice on doing skydiving as a living because I don't. I do live it and I am a tandem master, camera flyer, and coach BUT I also have a day job in the square world Monday through Friday.

As for your last question about how cool it is... Well I guess everyone's experience various but honestly, from the stories I have heard from people who have lived the DZ life full time for years on end, it does turn into a job. Granted it is better than my boring office job but still a job. Meaning there are good and bad that comes with it.

You seem to have spotted the good: amazing view, seldom boring, free adrenaline, meet new people, travel, and more.

Here is some of the bad I have seen and/or been told from close friends: low pay, no health insurance, modest living quarters, poor weather, sore neck, and occasionally death.

I would be curious to read replys with advice from people with more experience than myself because as I typed, I have not yet lived the full time DZ life.

Whatever you choose Jordon good luck, have fun, and be safe.

Rigger, Skydiver, BASE Jumper, Retired TM