kenthediver

Congrats - it is a really great feeling to be able to jump with your son.

You get the bends because you dive at an atmospherc pressure greater than sea level atmos pressure (every 10 meters of water descent the atmosphere doubles!), and your blood absorbs more oxygen and nitrogen, which, if you surface too rapidly, the gas molecules expand and get trapped in the veins, causing the limbs to bend. As for Pure Oxygen - diving beyond a certain depth will require Nitrox or even a tri-mix, n order to minimise the potental for oxygen poisoning - very little chance of either oxygen poisonnig or the bends while sky-diving. Skydiving reduces atmospheric pressure by climbing above ground level, and then falling back down increases pressure to sea level. Only danger would be if you did a sink hole jump, and even then you would need to drop thousands of feet below ground level for the AIR pressure to affect you (sea pressure (liquid) has a far greater effect due to its density / weight!)

Good luck. I am sure there are people all over the world that would be honoured to host you for a while if you are in there area.

Grimmie, for those of us unable to make your opening but who have been following the story - how was it? How many jumps? Good party? Any photos that will allow you to blackmail folk into gving you all their jumping money? Ken

in french - "Ek sal you bliksem?" lol

Thank you very much.

Hi - then we will see you on Saturday and Sunday morning - have fun and enjoy!

Depends on what You want! There are pro's and con's to both means of learning. Chat to your instructors - ask every question you can think off, (no such thng as a stupid question!), listen and then decide based on your requirements and needs - cover thngs like cost, availability of instructors, likelihood of getting "dropped" at lower altitude versus a full load going high (and is there a cost difference), are you more likely to want a video record of your training? (not sure about video on SL??), etc. But remember, this is your choice - based on what you want! Most of all, enjoy it, have fun, buy beer for your instructors (most important!! lol)

how long are you there = Matt and I arrive on Friday night the 27th!

Ha, Wendy, this is when you need those Kirby's you sold - they were touted in SA as being able to clear blocked pipes if you put the hose onto the outlet to the bag!! LOL

Greg, that is the issue - You need to go there and apologise face to face and you need to be prepared to take what ever is said to you! Man up, and apologise face to face. I dont think I would accept a virtual apology - I want to see that it is sincere, and that is only done by looking into the face of whoever is apologizing.

The beginning. About 6 months ago, my son who lived in South Africa, decided he wanted to come and live with me in the UK. He has a plan to get into the armed forces - this is now in progress. In chatting with him before he arrived, I discovered that he wanted to skydive, which I had done nearly 30 years ago and wanted to do again. So, onto the internet and research, look at DZ’s and clubs in the UK, the facilities, whether there is week long jumping, what factor will the weather play etc. After a lot of time investigating and ummm’ing and ahhh’ing, I eventually decided on the FFU in Spain. Not an easy decision – but once decided, it was always going to be where we went for training. I started to plan the dates for our AFF, spoke a lot with Matt about it, shared the websites and generally started getting excited. I also spent time speaking with Paula, the service manager, who was very patient and answered all my questions. I booked my medical (as I am over 40 I need a medical every 3 years), booked tickets, and started to wait. Matt arrived and then shortly after – we were on our way. It is one thing to think about skydiving, and a totally different sensation when it is planned, paid for, and happening. The excitement kicks in, the anticipation and – wow. The journey there. The Friday arrives, I arrange to leave work early to catch our flight to Madrid, and for Matt to collect me from work to go to the airport. As usual, things don’t go to plan. My meetings over-run, and we end up leaving late for the airport. On top, it was a bank holiday weekend, there was a lot of traffic, and the local authority had started road-works on the M4, which all combined to make us miss our flight. We actually got to the airport at 7 minutes past 5, and the flight gate closed at 5! Cue lots of pleading with the flight clerk at the counter – but boy – they must run some really good resistance courses, as he held firm. Eventually, we agreed that Matt and I would fly to Barcelona and get a connecting flight to Madrid. Not happy but also relieved that we were not just sitting around. We got on the Barcelona flight, and settled back. We had downloaded the BPA AFF course material, the CH1 manual, and used the time on the flight to re-read the material. We arrived in Barcelona, went to get the connecting flight to be told that the next connecting flight would be on Saturday morning, all the hotels were full, and that we would have to sleep in the Airport concourse. Not comfortable, and not at all happy. But part of the experience. Matt slept like a log – (must be something about being young!) Me, I tossed and turned but could not get comfortable! I would doze for 10 minutes then wake up. Eventually, the morning came about, and we got some breakfast (at about 6:15), and freshen up. We go, wait in line and buy the tickets from Barcelona to Madrid. Have I mentioned Paula’s patience with me? What a saint – she was available – at 6 on the Friday evening, to assist and recommend travelling via Barcelona, and again, when we landed at Barcelona (about 10:40 PM – Friday night – Paula still answered my texts about times and delays – a really good lady!!!) We eventually land at Madrid about 10:30 and take the train to Arunjuez. There we were met by Anna who took us to the Drop-Zone. We were here and were about to become skydivers! The sleepless night was forgotten, the adrenaline was running and both Matt and I were seriously pumped and keen to get started. Ground School We grabbed a quick bite to eat at the DZ and a drink and got ready to practice. Cue Darren and Anna – both with the patience of saints! We got shown the equipment and kit, the kit checks, and were quizzed on the names and acronyms, until even I could remember what AAD stood for, and all the rest! Then onto the arch! I feel slightly self conscious as we stand ready to start the next part of the training – but realise about 10 seconds later that nobody is even watching – all have been there, done that – and this is part of the journey we are making. Have I mentioned that I am older – sheesh – try arching on the ground and then on a table when you are older and slightly larger and stiffer than your son (oh, and I realise that I am really competitive as I try to out-do Matt on everything!), it hurts. I find that I can arch for about a nano second, then the body “sorta” relaxes – and Daz gives the “thumbs down” and I push my legs and head up – groaning – (Lord surely it is not this difficult in freefall – please!!!) What have I let myself in for! More embarrassingly, Daz gets Anna to demonstrate the arch – not fair – she must be triple jointed or something. How does anyone almost get their feet to touch the back of their head while lying on their belly? Well, Anna does! Practice pulls and throwing the plot chute away, over and over, the thumb kept pointing down, I kept groaning and Daz and Anna kept drilling it. I think that in a previous life, Daz would have made an excellent slave galley master – no sympathy – no let-up – and we got told that if we don’t get it right we are not jumping! But all with a twinkle in his eye! Secretly I think he enjoys seeing an “older” bloke (by all of 5 or 6 years) pushing through the pain and discomfort. Onto the emergency procedures – lots of pictures – repeating the mantra – Is it Square? Yes; Is it big? Yes; Is it controllable? Yes – and if any are No then its Look, locate, Cut Away, Pull Reserve – all almost shouted out! Lots of repetition! And as someone who has taught martial arts in the past, I appreciate the “muscle memory” required to stay alive and so I persevere. Onto the harness, suspended, more pictures, more identifying the canopy state, and all the emergency drills. Landing patterns, decision altitudes, kicking out of line twists – soooo much to take in! Eventually, Daz declares himself happy, and we do a written exam. Written exams for a sport? Man – this requires a lot more than just pitching up and jumping! About 7 in the evening, we eventually get told we are good to start jumping! Phew! The first jump. Sunday You think it would be simple from here on – but nature has a cruel streak about her! Sunday morning – at the DZ at about 9am, get kit, and then we wait. Have I mentioned it hardly ever rains in Madrid. But…you guessed it, we get there and it rains and the wind blows. So we spend the day walking around, reaching behind and throwing imaginary pilot chutes, mentally rehearsing the emergency procedures, play grabbing handles and pulling the cut-away and reserve. Lots and lots. Also, at this point we were introduced to Ryan who would be the main AFF instructor for both Matt and I. he talks us through what we learnt the day before, and then shows us the Aircraft Exit procedures. He also explains what the AFF Level 1 requires, the circle of awareness, dummy pulls, and generally just trying to relax and enjoy the jump! More walking about mentally rehearsing. More gazing at the skies, mutterings about “God not wanting us to jump”, and all the while the anticipation of the jump – dry mouths, sweaty hands, nervous glances at all around me. But everyone seems normal, and relaxed, so…how bad could it be? At about 6 in the evening we decide to return to the hotel and sleep. Monday No clouds or rain! This is it. Dressed quickly and I am ready about 2 hours before pickup time. I check on Matt and go for breakfast – which consists of coffee and not much else. Spare clothes? Check, contacts list in the event of….well – who knows? Check, right – rock and roll! Matt and I are collected about 8:45 and get to the DZ about 9am. The winds are starting to blow, and as we are virgins, there is a jump wind limit of 14 knots, so we are grounded. We watch the tandems, watch the more experienced jumpers, watch the packing staff pack chutes, and walk about, asking questions of anyone who has just completed a jump as to what the jump was like, was it eventful, and just generally being a nuisance. I have to state here that the DZ staff and members are absolutely fantastic. I think they know that the nerves are getting us, and the longer we wait, the more we think about the jump and what could work or worse, what could also go wrong. More mental rehearsing, more dummy pulls on an imaginary rig, more mental run-through of emergency procedures, more waiting and more waiting. Monday evening – and no jumps. Back to the hotel. But the outlook for Tuesday is great – low or no wind and clear skies! Or so we are told! Tuesday No clouds, no rain and NO WIND!!! Its here. The day we become skydivers! All of a sudden the reality bites. We are about to do something that is inherently dangerous and that all my friends have told me is bonkers! Breakfast – coffee. Lift to the DZ. Silence in the car this morning. Into the kit room, get kit, and Ryan puts Matt on the 3rd lift of the day, and I am shortly after that. We run through the brief again and meet the 2nd AFF instructor that will be on the jump – one of the Spanish instructors! Crazy grins, we get told to relax and lots of smiling! Relax he says! WTF! I am anything but relaxed. Matt goes up and comes down – safely – but what a smile – all he says is WOW!!!!! I have my gear on, and get checked by Ryan. The walk out to the plane. Suddenly I need to pee, but I cannot bale out now, so I control it. In the plane, we are the first load out so we are by the door. The door closes, the plane taxis and we are away and up. 1000 feet and the helmets come off. 6000 feet, Ryan asks what level this is, I answer – wave off and pull. Thumbs up. Really feeling very nervous and just a touch scared. Thinking to myself, am I insane? Much internal bargaining with myself on how I will be a better person if I survive! 9000 feet, run through the jump profile, helmets on, door opens, Ryan into the door, I am on my knees and we are out! How did that happen? I realise that I have pulled my canopy and it is open, big, square and controllable. Much relief and deep breathing. Everything is clear and I can see for miles. The sound of the slider flapping. Controlled turns – extremely gently. I did not want to stress the harness too much. My biggest fear was (and still is) that the harness would fail! Landing pattern, listen to the radio and …….Flare – standing landing – damn – hot dog – relief – ecstasy – I am alive and wow!!!!! What a rush! You don’t need drugs to enjoy life! The walk back to the hanger to get the chute packed, the swagger to the video room for de-briefing! All of a sudden I am a skydiver. Very inexperienced, very ignorant – but I can skydive! In the debrief, we check – and both Matt and I were stable, we did our Circle Of Awareness, dummy touches and we both deployed as taught. Pass level 1. Now for level 2. I don’t remember very much about the jump at all. I remember having to tell myself to breathe when the door opened. I think my eyes must have been huge! But, I did jump!! Jump 2 We walk out to the plane – again, the need to pee and again the control! Ryan, the second instructor and myself amongst the other jumpers – its amazing how lonely you can feel in a crowd! Second out the plane this time. Same routine, 1000 feet, helmets off, 2500 feet – decision time, 6000 feet wave off and deploy time, 9000 feet – helmets on, rehearse the jump profile and start the internal bargaining – it is amazing how many times I promised to be a better person. I watch the first load exit and then again I am in the door, we exit and fall. I recall seeing my altimeter this time – not much else but I take it as a positive. Wave off, deploy the chute and yes – I am not going to bounce this time! Its big, square and controllable. I suddenly realize how much I love my packers! Never ever piss them off! Not even as a joke! Buy them lots of beer – at the end of the day! On the ground, debrief and video – and see that I was stable, I did the dummy touches and I did a left and right 90% turn! Fantastic – but I don’t really remember it other than a blur! I still have sensory overload but wow – all of a sudden I realise that this is going to make me very broke. I suddenly see the costs of gear, rig, jumps etc – for myself and yes – I will be driving my cheap car instead of buying another sports car – but hey ho, I don’t care. And if I meet a lady – she will hopefully be into jumping and skiing so probably won’t care about the car either! Jump 3 No need to urgently pee this time. Into the plane, up to altitude – with the same routine (I have worked out that this is all about getting your mind onto the jump and not thinking to much about the dangers – and I am very grateful to the skill and subtlety of the instructors)! Exit and start to notice my instructors – still not seeing anything beyond about 10 feet, but I am improving. Both instructors release and I do a left and right turn by myself. Ryan re-docks for the deployment and this time I decide to play under canopy. Slightly more daring in the turns, and even trying some half brake turns! Wow! The instructions from Ryan actually work! Too soon I am entering the landing pattern, identifying my route, and realising that even though I get the basics right, flying a canopy is a bit harder than it appears – or at least trying to land within a reasonable distance. About a 400m walk back to the hanger – but I am grinning. Debrief and video. Ryan is pleased with both Matt and I, and we progress to level 4 – jumping with 1 instructor only. Funnily enough, I am more worried about this jump than any of the jumps I have done so far. Only 1 instructor – crap!!! Wednesday Jump 4 I slept very well last night – early in bed – I can only assume that the adrenaline overload really exhausted me – but man, It feels good to be jumping. I have decided to limit myself to 3 or max 4 jumps a day – some folks do a lot more – but I feel that this is the most I can do without getting too tired and making silly mistakes. And I really don’t want a mistake while skydiving! Jump at 13K, with Ryan, get stable, and he lets go. Check alti and Ryan, 90 degree turn – check Alti and Ryan, 90 degree turn back, check alti, dummy pull, relax and enjoy the flight. I actually look at the horizon for about 15 seconds, get to about 7K feet, and then all I do is stare at the alti, 6K feet, wave off and pull. It all works. I am really stoked. Heading control – check, turns – check, altitude – check. Still not noticing much while going through the drills, but – such a rush! Every time. Start to play with a short spiral – heart in mouth – and again, I am starting to learn (not just head knowledge but to actually know) that the kit is designed so that it wont fail and that I can start to push it! But I will still only expand my limits a bit at a time. I have no desire to die prematurely! Landing pattern and this time a PLF – I flared a little late – no harm other than to my pride! Jump 5 Very similar to 4, except the turns are 360’s not 90 degrees. Enjoying the control; and how it takes small controlled movements to move about – no need for effort – relax and let the wind do the work! Sounds simple, but when every nerve tells you that you are being un-natural – well – I hope I never loose the rush of jumping. It feels so good! I have never wanted to do drugs – but am getting to seriously like the adrenaline! It is goooood! Debrief and video are fine – onto level 6. Jump 6 So we start with more serious stuff now. The plan is to exit, get stable and do a back somersault before doing a short track! WTF! This worries me – Ryan explains the technique, we ground rehearse it, but I am worried. Relax! I have heard that about a quadzillion times – but how? I am freaking skydiving and it is nerve racking! But so exhilarating that I don’t think I will be able to give this up! Into the plane, up and through the routine, into the door and exit. Maybe it was me over-thinking, but it took a few seconds to get stable – and settle. Deep breathe, knees up and pull with my arms and – I am back on my belly! Lots of thumbs up from Ryan, so I suppose that worked – but …. It’s a blur. Slowly into the track position – hold for a second or two and then out into the arch – altitude, relax, look at the horizon, wave and deploy. On the ground, we de-brief, and do a video review. I am amazed at how fast I somersaulted! And straight back onto my belly! This rocks! The relief at completing level 6 is huge. For me, this was a milestone. I had really anticipated making a pigs’ ear of this jump! Sign off, pack up and home to the hotel to sleep. Thursday Jump 7 – Jump, forward somersault, and play – turns and track, with Ryan watching and ensuring that I am fine to jump solo. I track a bit, turn a bit and settle down to enjoy the view. Before I know it, it is 6K and I wave off. Reality check there – note to self – Check your Altitude! Not a bad lesson to learn while under supervision. It is amazing how quickly you can fall if you are not careful! Debrief, and Ryan signs myself and Matt off. We just have to do 10 consolidation jumps, as well as our AFF level 8 Hop ‘n Pop, as well as doing the required exercises for CH1, and we will get our BPA A license. Consols I completed 9 of the 10 consols, and also my Level 8 hop ‘n pop. I am returning to FFU to finish my last consol at the end of July (I know – I will have to redo level 7 as a check dive) as the weather in the UK has been atrocious! But an excuse to jump in Spain again. Also planned is my FS1, and starting my CH2 as I work to getting enough jumps for my B license. I have found where I will base myself in England – and have met the CCI. I have visited and reviewed a number of DZ’s and while this one is not the closest, I believe it is where I will best fit in. I need to thank all the FFU staff, from the folk who run the canteen, the manifest lady, the packers, the safety guy, as well as all the instructors, Tandem masters, video flyers and also the other AFF students, and everyone that I spoke to and who all, without fail, encouraged me and my son. We did buy beers, for all, at the end of the day, and yes, made some friends. We are planning a HALO jump in the USA for 2013 – once we have enough jumps – and I will visit a few DZ’s while travelling, so who knows, maybe, just maybe we will meet up! Blue Skies and cold beers!

there has been a lot of skydiving adverts on the TV recently - maybe this has sparked the interest?

Chris, dont even consider buying gear yet - do the training - and if either of you decide you really love and want to do the sport, then start to look at gear. ALl the DZ's I have visited or read about provide good quality student gear. The kit should be in good condition (in UK a log book for each rig is kept and each jump logged), and the instructors really are the best to advise you on what to use in your early days. FWIW, oth my son and I are newbies, totally addicted to the sport (my son wants to go the AFF instructor route!), but we wont contemplate buying kit until we have between 50 and 75 jumps - as progression and downsizing each time incurs additional costs. Stop worrying and go experience the rush - then decide on whether you want to progress this!

Suggesting forgiveness does not mean ignoring the mistakes of the staff or just walking away (if you read my post to suggest this then I apologise - it is not what I intended at all!) - we all have a responsibility to do the best we can - and we should all be held accountable to the highest level of service. And your task is indeed to ensure that the appropriate lessons are learned and mitigations put in place to ensure they do not occur again. But do not let this eat away at and ultimately destroy your peace of mind.

Most people want to get on with each other. Have you physically gone to the DZ, either very early or late in the day (less likely to get interrupted), offered an apology face to face including a handshake, and offered to do whatever it takes to learn without being seen to criticise or question their expert advice?

Sounds like an epic journey! Good luck, I will visit at some time in the future.

So, I have read, re-read, written, deleted and re-written this. My absolute condolences and sympathies. 2 of my immediate family have beaten cancer (twin sister and half brother), and 2 of my best friends family (who were my surrogate family when I was a teenager) have died - so - it sucks and hurts. Oh and the platitude about time healing - nope - it just dulls the pain a bit! Now for the sensitive part - You can choose to harbour bitterness about the mistakes made by the medical staff - and it will slowly eat you up, or you can choose to forgive and walk on. The question is how do you get the valuable lessons learned without being bitter? And this is not a rhetorical question - as I do not have that answer. Whatever you do, let it be to make things better for the next person. Blue skies - and peace to your soul!

thanks Blue skies

Chur, Hi. My son is exploring the possibility of the school - but as his sponsor (bank) - I want to make sure this is not a waste of money. Where are you doing your placement, what is your placement (manifest / video / packing??) and what exactely do you get for the school -= no of jumps, video, rigging etc?? Also, what assocation are they? (USPA / BPA / NZ???) Cheers Ken

smiksou, does it have to be in Poland or England? If a dropzone has a BPA affiliated instructor, then you should be able to get a BPA A license, but this does require the 8 AFF levels as well as the 10 consols, (and also CH1 as part of the consols) - at a minimum. There are other european dropzones that are BPA affiliated or that have a BPA instructor working at them. It may be worth exploring these options as well.Whatever you decide, be safe and enjoy!

Blood donor - uk - every 6 months, registered bone marrow donor, registered organ donor - something of me will live on, even after I die! What a gift to someone needy - or if I live till I am old, then for research!

And if I do get to lick vegemite off your fingers, then I will (for a limited time only) promse to try speak in an Aussie accent - but considering my accent is a mix of SA and englsh.....but actually - nope - not even for that would I pretend to be an Aussie!

England, BBQ, South Africa - Braai, host does the fire, tables etc, and normally (at least me) some of the meat - the brits normally do cheap sausages and hamburger patties (yuck) so I supply meat ( steak, chops (lamb and pork), chicken, ribs, good sausages) or sometimes fresh sea-fish, the ladies to bring various salads and the blokes a bottle or two. I do list what salads / drinks as I dont want everyone bringing lots of potatoe salad and nothing else! Always do it on a wood fire (will use lumpwood charcoal if nothing else) and always have a lot of people, music and good times! The art of braai means that I will always do the cooking at these events - even f I am a guest - the brits cannot bbq at all - the meat will be burnt outside and raw inside! Really not good at all!

Its in the incidents forum, which is for "incidents"! Thats why!