mattthehat

http://qwksite.com/mystoreinfo/dropzone/ Was searching for another one as the dog just ate it!

Have a 10d. On af, camera has to refocus at each movement so it cant get a shot off when switch is continually pressed on. Leave lens at mf and decide how close the lens will let you get to your subject (or visa versa). have found eos to m42 (old screw in lens) converter. got 28mm lens for €8.... Same with film camera.

Just returned from 3 weeks of bliss in Venezuela this Jan. Amazing views, fantastic plane and some of the most talented staff working in skydiving. If you want to learn, you are in very safe hands. A group of 5 Irish traveled to Higuerote, we got a free airport ride but we didnt mind sitting in the back of a pickup truck as a previous reviewer seems to have objected to, most of the country seems to travel like this....free airport rides have now stopped as the main bridge from Caracas airport has collapsed, this is a major disaster, a 2 hour drive now takes 5. A new road wont be finished until sometime in 2007. If you are a group of 3-4 you can hire a plane for $300 as we did and fly into a major airport in a 206 with a 747 hot on your tail! Great views all up the coast as well. Taxi is about $120, phone or mail the DZ to organise someone to meet you, if you don't you are likely to be held up within 5 min of leaving the airport. Caracas airport is a minefield of trouble as is the city, paying a guide is the best way to make any potential problems disappear. We were expecting a field and a plane, what you get is a large packing area, cafe....great steak sandwich, lovely fresh fish, brand new bar, showers and toilets and bunkhouses on the way, a lot of progress in a very short space of time.....this place is going to be huge in the future. Things are slow and I mean everything, you have to relax and get into the pace of things, this is the Carribbean! 4 to 10 loads a day in shorts. There has been a lot of rain this year, the sea is brown because of the river that runs into it and was getting less and less brown every day as the rains lessened. Rain has been a major issue this year destroying the coffee crop, fuel was in short supply when the bridge collapsed due to landslides restricting operations.... Faced with the bad news of no jumping for a day we were offered the opportunity to visit a little bit of paradise so we flew to the tropical reef Island of Tortuga instead. The others got to jump it the following week, something I regret missing due to a minor injury. Basic hotel was $20 for a twin room, no pool, had air con and cleaned every day, we shared so it worked out v cheap. Loads of expensive places available. No hot water, power cuts and no running water at random times are all part of Venezeulan life no matter how much you pay. Food was expensive for a ''3rd'' world country, $20 a day seems right but you cannot fault the quality and freshness, $6 for a steak and salad, 80cent a beer. Prices vary wildly, shop around... Town has everythig you need, very quiet with not much going on. We didnt have much of a problem entertaining ourselves, but then again we are Irish..... The airport is only about a 15 min walk or $1.50 in a taxi. Venezuela has its hazards, it is a place of extreme poverty, if you advertise yourself as a walking wallet, you will mugged. Dress down, carry small amounts of money and find your way round the town during the day saving yourself a surprise at night. Be a little bit wise and you will have no problems....Americans and Germans beware, things do not run like clockwork and Venezuelans work to their own timetable, not yours. I highly recommend Skydive Venezuela to anyone who jumps and to those who don't. Travel is a wonderful experience and Venezuela has something for everyone. See you there next year.

Sporto, met you at Richmond, talked to you about your mind blowing footage, not sure if you knew where you were!! Please mail Mattthehat @dropzone. I have somebody who would like to see it with a view to a national broadcast.

I've been to a few places in the states and this dropzone kicks the proverbial behind. The weather tends to roll in v. quickly in this part of the world but the pilots and instructors called each situation impeccably. Staff members are super friendly and incredibly helpfull. V. large packing area, efficient riggers, massive landing area (which never mattered as every spot was bang on) and buckets of fun. Dropzone owner is a diamond too. Cant give the place enough praise, well worth the 3000 mile journey.