safetydave

Jamaica is where it's at. This is build your own boogie. Must have a group of ten or more but what an adventure. Where was your last jump? safetydave

Quotethe KSU skydiving people are considering places to go over spring break too. but we wouldn't be able to get there until the 19th, so the boogie would be over?Quote If you had a group of ten you could go to Jamaica for your springbreak jumping adventure any date you wish. Less driving. Lots of fun. It's like your own private island. PM me or read the Jamaica thread if you really want to jump Jamaica Mon. safetydave

Man that sounds like a good time. I might have to try that if I ever get tired of Jamaica. Have a great time! safetydave

We have some good news. It is looking like the April trip will only cost about $1500.00 per person if we get enough to go. This may increase depending on where we decide to stay and how many decide to go. We would like to keep your total expenses below $2000.00 if we can. The decision where to stay is done in an effort to bring the entire group the best rates. You can not help with this decision. Because this is a group-rated-priced trip, your money is not refundable since we could loose the discount and everyone else would have to pay double the money. This price includes airfare out of Miami to Jamaica. This does not include airfare from your home to Miami. It also includes hotel/resort costs for 6 days and five nites. It also includes the cost of 8 jumps over two days. This does not include food or drinks. You can save $100.00 if you share a room. If you are with a skydiver and are not jumping this will be cheaper for you. This price is subject to change. This price may drop if we get a bigger turn out.

That is one serious 1000th jump story. I don't think I can top that. I heard the Prime Minister was having lunch when you all invaded. Man to see the look on his face would have been priceless.

We are looking into the cost of a helicopter for a jumpcraft. This would add cost but add fun as well. Just an update.

Abandoned? Yes he was. Felt less important than the gear? Yes. Thoughts: Has anyone thought about the "The Buddy System"? If there is even a question about it, go with the student. If you are worried about the gear, then land with the reserve so you can help the student keep the important parts of the gear safe. If you are concerned about the debrief, then land with the student as to gather all the things he says for the debrief. If you yourself land by the gear, then get bit by a snake, or sprain your ankle, or tear your canopy climbing over a fence, you might wish you had used the buddy system. A car is coming(with a driver) for the gear/you anyway. They don't need you. your student needs you, now more than ever. If the student had a harder landing than usual then he might have wanted you to explain why. I hope you gave him a 7-cell main so he was fully prepaired for the landing. It's not over til you land. Where were you? Oh yeah, chasing a ragged out main. Who is most important in our sport? I do not wish to sound harsh. I just wanted to give you my opinion. We the people, this is all about us, after the excitement is gone the question will come up. Hey where were you? The answer: with my student. Our sport needs people to ask for advice. YOU ARE A HERO. ON YOUR OWN YOU HAVE YOUR EXPERIENCE WICH IS YOUR BEST TEACHER. IF YOU ASK FOR ADVICE YOU WILL HAVE THOUSANDS OF YEARS OF EXPERIENCE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS. I hope you can sort through all the advice and apply what is best for you and your students. The student is looking to you for what is best. What is best? If you ride the fence 50/50, then go with the best(land with the student). You may not have stayed with this student, but you can stay with the rest. If I have a reserve ride please land with me, I may want you there more than the main. You knew from your gut feeling what was right. Listen to yourself, your students do. YOU ARE MY HERO because you asked for advice. YOU ARE THE MAN. Be safe, peace out, Safetydave

How about Jamaica?

Hey, I'm kinda out there. I'm not going to Japan, so no dinner for me. That's all. Have fun

Hey Psycoswooper, I heard you guys were lucky not to have been shot down. Thanks to the helicopter pilot for descending on top of you guys so no shots fired. That was some choice alternate landing area! I am glad you all made it out alive. Our plans are to jump in Negril from now on so no worries about them recognizing you. We also plan to help the newer jumpers with the spotting, since you know alternate landing areas are few and far between. We plan to make as many trips as possible, so perhaps in the future you could make a trip. safetydave

Sweet, That sounds like that must have been an interesting experience. Perhaps you can make another trip with us sometime.

Easy there, We don't want to get too excited. Where we jump is nothing like our big open grassy fields we are used to. This is down wind of a mountain right over a marsh just in front of the sea. What a surprise indeed to find out his accuracy is not as good as he hoped. They tell me there are no crocodiles in the marsh in Negril, but there are crocs on other parts of the island. We would not be surprised to see one as we all know crocs are attracted to big birds(parachutes).The winds change a lot also. There are too many romantic destinations to visit in one sitting or even one trip for that matter. There will be links on our website coming soon. There are caves waiting to be explored in Jamaica. Check out the websites(search Jamaica caving). As far as venturing off goes, do realize this is a third world county. Navigating the culture is easy if you know what you are doing. We need you to stay together for us to help you get your jumping in. After the jumping is done, please enjoy Jamaica. We want everyone to get off to the right start, so we hope this helps.

Hi riggerrob, We jump in Negril. It is a low, marshy, swamp area with tall vegetation and a little airstrip right next to the road outside the resorts. The famous seven mile beach is long and thin. We like to land at the airport(less sand) and consider the sunset beach landing for the accurate canopy pilots. Want to go yet? safetydave

Hi there, Gcoop October sounds GREAT! We will try to set a trip up for around the 6th or 7th til the 11th or 12th. The season changes around mid-December and becomes more expensive. That does not mean we will not go, it just means it will cost much more if we do go. April through November is most cost effective. This is the perfect time to start preparing for an October trip. We should mention hurricane season is June through October with September as the leading month for catching the action. Any one else want to join the October trip? We can not just plan a trip for anyone, but since we are new we must start somewhere. We are trying for April, June and October. If you have a group of 10(minimum) qualified jumpers, who can stay together/play together, we can take your group on the dates you wish. We suggest you plan your trip thursday to tuesday for the easiest traveling. See you in Jamaica!

We are working on a website to answer all questions and hope to have it ready soon. There are still slots open for the April trip.

Jason, These are not guided trips. We simply need to keep all the jumpers together as much as possible. In the past, collecting jumpers from Immigration, Customs, different resorts and other problems has proven to be too difficult. We just want your trip to be as cost effective as possible and for you to get in a few jumps. Hope this helps.

Hi What will it cost? We don't know yet. In the past, just the jumps were from $30.00 each to $1,000.00 each US. This is why we are trying to get better organized. We are working on a website with all the details of the April trip. By the January deadline, we hope to know how many are going. Then we will get the final costs together. What are your qualifications to jump near open water? We hope this info helps. Have a nice day.

Nice job Dave! Stick with what works for you. After all you were our best witness on that jump, so all is well that ends well.

Hi Jason How are you? We can only do this as a group. We must get together on the dates. First window of opportunity is mid to late April. We have to have groups larger than ten or they will not put this together. With a group established, we will decide on the final dates. You know how hard it is to get a group of jumpers on the same page, right? With a group of ten+ we will put the entire trip together. Our experienced travel agent (friend's wife) will get us a discount on everything. They know everyone in Jamaica. Ya mon! We have a 182 and two Islanders (10 place) available. We can choose to utilize our private tour bus (20 seats) with tour guide/historian/security guard if we like. It would be a shame not to see all of Jamaica. As much fun as an all inclusive resort can be, you don't get to experience the rest of JA. Our biggest challenge we may ever face as skydivers is getting a group together on something. Nobody has to go, and if they go they do not have to jump. Only the qualified can jump. If your group is smaller then ten, we just need to get our groups together on a set of dates and combine them. Do you want to know more? By the way, to get the best out of this opportunity, you will want to have no plans so we can plan the whole thing from the beginning. Our guys take care of everything. This gets and keeps our group together with the most cost effective plan. We get group discounts. Have a great day!

I'm sure that I have more to say than most people care to read. Jamaica is the coolest place I have ever been to jump. You can't just go and jump because there is no DZ. Our group can jump in Jamaica. Do you want to join the April trip?

That's good stuff. I have a lot to study.

I've gotto go, thanks for the chat, I'll check any response later. Goodbye.

That's good advice. I don't mean to subscribe to this path and no other. If I come off that way, maybe I'll try to be more diverse. Currently, I fly by the seet of my pants. A sixth sense if you will. I feel we all have a sixth sense like the animals that run before the storm comes. A subliminal awareness we feel. I feel like our society attempts to controll us, and block our emotional validity. I like what feels right. Do you have any suggestions on reading material?(other than the Bible) I feel like I came with instructions within me, and the Bible seems to be the blueprints that match.

One thing I do for myself is sort out what I consider misinformation/misinterpretation. I read it for myself. I do not agree with how most Chritians interpret the Bible. I read it and interpret it only in my eyes. I have not been to church hardly at all in my life, since that usually means another groups interpretation. I feel the less misinformation the less to have to sort out to find the sweet stuff. The stuff that means something to me.

Try to hear what I am trying to say. I do not mean to be derogatory. Please don't assume things about where a guy is coming from. I mean well. I believe all human beings are equal in value. I just think some have had more time to study. Like a first time jumper compared to an experienced one. To become a good skydiver a guy should study to the last drop and not knock the advanced stuff he does not understand yet. Just as a person who studies Christianity may not see the light til later in life. It may take a lifetime of effort to see it. I originally wanted to support the Christians. No harm done. I can agree to disagree. Peace. Have any of the equally valuable non-Christians out there studied the Bible? I would be careful not to knock skydiving until I had studied it for a lifetime. It is difficult to accept Chritianity because it is complicated. Good luck. God bless everyone.