Reills

welcome aboard, quiet in here these days

You should also try skydive Algarve, great dz and popular with brits too

+1 for Scotty, you won't regret it

Skydive Madrid in Spain is open every day in October. Think it only closes over the festive season.

Depending on the price of the rig + duties being paid on receipt in your home country it may be a better/cheaper and more fun option to go pick the rig up, get a few jumps on it, then bring it back with you

If you plan to jump in France take notice of their regulations regarding canopy size/jump numbers. They are pretty strict I hear. I haven't jumped there but there is a minimum jump number for canopy sizes and they are rigidly enforced I believe so it is worth investigating if you plan on taking your own rig. Google will help you I'm sure. I jump Skydive Madrid and Algarve. Both have great people. Algarve has great beaches too

I have a safire 2 150 and a PDR143 in a 310. I have also had pilot 170 zpx in it with the same size reserve. It is tight but I have not had any issues.....as yet. I am a noob though and this is just my experience so far. I don't have enough knowledge to comment on whether or not this is good but nobody has mentioned an issue after rigger inspections and reserve repacks.

stick with it and get lvl 7 out of the way. Once you are on your console jumps you may realize just how relaxed you can be when you are not under scrutiny, no pressure :) The best advice I was ever given was to smile. Even if you have to force it, smile. It works wonders...try it. Good luck. I'll be out in Algarve in November, great DZ.

I crapped myself every time the door opened for over 100 jumps. As I would be climbing to altitude I would be in a constant struggle with my demons and nausea and would be literally shitting myself, I actually thought I had on one occasion when I was sitting next to the pilot in a porter...luckily after getting down and checking it was all clear. I had to force myself to manifest and would very often only jump a couple of times in a day even though conditions were great...I was using all sorts of excuses not to go. I am still not that happiest whilst in the plane and continually force myself to try new stuff, like opening the door or climbing onto a camera step on an unfamiliar aircraft, but am beginning to get more comfortable. The fear is a good thing but you have to battle through and let it fuel you, not overwhelm you. If you keep at it and work through it I'm sure it'll become manageable. I am still a baby at this and only have just over 200 jumps but I feel what you are going through and can sympathize. The only way I can think of is to experience it more and force yourself out of your comfort zone...try different exits, try the camera step, get your FS1and jump with others as if they're going...you're going. Best of luck, stay frosty and blue skies. Al