Calling all thrill seekers! Are you searching for the ultimate adventure? Forget harnesses, ropes and safety nets, in Cambridgeshire you can take one small step out of a moving aeroplane let gravity do the rest. Though many are drawn to Cambridge and the surrounding area by the history, landscape and the heights of academic excellence of the world-famous university, there are few who are brave enough to ascend to even more dizzying heights - and parachute jump back down to Earth.

This region has a long history of aviation, the Duxford Aircraft Museum is located on one of the country’s most important World War Two air bases, and as such is the perfect place in the Southeast to do a skydive, with many airfields available as take-off points. What goes up must come down, and your descent will be made possible by a parachute under the guidance of instructors. But this doesn’t diminish the excitement of the jump, is sure to activate your fight or flight response - we recommend you choose the latter! A range of options are on the table for your experiences, and you’ll find the best prices here.

Where are the best places to skydive in Cambridgeshire?

• Peterborough: the second largest city Cambridgeshire, Peterborough has a historic Gothic cathedral, the area around which is being vamped up by a regeneration project. From an altitude of 13,000 feet, however, you’ll be able to see far beyond the local area. After jumping from the plane at this height you’ll experience almost a minute of complete, unrestricted free fall - reaching speeds of 120mph! In this time you’ll descend around 5000ft before the parachute opens and the rest of the journey, around 6 minutes, will give you the chance to enjoy views that stretch from the Northern fringes of London to the coasts of East Anglia.

• March: located in the Cambridgeshire Fenland, ancient wetlands, skydives from 10,000 feet are available in March. All jumps are made in the company of experienced instructors who love to show off their aerial acrobatics during the descent, all while ensuring your safety. The airfield is also home to a museum, which puts on air shows and demonstrations all year round.

• Chatteris: while the Chatteris airfield is a popular spot for microlighting and light aircraft flights, the preferred mode of transport for the most daring visitors is free fall skydiving. You’ll have the opportunity to experience the wind in your face in fully controlled conditions, just a couple of metres above sea level, in the wind tunnel located in the training centre. After that, you’ll be ready to try the real thing, a parachute jump from 15,000 feet.

Kinds of jumps available

- Tandem Jumps are the most common jumps for first-timer skydivers. You’ll be securely fastened to an experienced instructor for the duration of the jump, from leaving the aircraft to landing. They are responsible for opening the parachute at the correct time, for their own safety and yours! The best thing about tandem jumps is that the training session can be kept short, just like the aircraft's ascent to jumping altitude, which takes around 15-20 minutes. If you want to know about how to steer the parachute and land properly, your instructor can teach you in situ, as you travel down to the Cambridgeshire countryside. The whole experience of a tandem jump lasts half a day.

- Courses are offered for those who want to complete a solo skydive, or go on to become a regular skydiver - in Cambridgeshire you can make that dream a reality. A one-day AFF (Accelerated Free Fall) Course in Peterborough will give you a taste of what recreational or sport skydiving can be. Compared to the Tandem jump, more ground-based training is required, and you’ll have around 6 hours of interactive preparation before putting what you’ve learnt into practice. Your day will conclude with a jump, in which you will jump alone from the plane into thin air. Two instructors will guide you during the fall, giving instructions with hand signals that you’ve learnt earlier in the day.

If you’re serious about this sport and want to complete jumps by yourself all over the world, you’ll need an International Licence. Here, you can choose from an 8-jump package or an 18-jump package. In both options, every jump will be made with instructors who evaluate your performance and give you tips for your next jump. By the end of the course you’ll be a professional skydiver, and have the licence to prove it.

- Skydives and parachute jumps for charity are a fantastic way to get people’s attention and raise money for a good cause. Centres may offer discounts or special offers to those daredevils who want to give something back.

Requirements to do this activity

This activity is by its very nature an extreme sport, and for that reason there are regulations in place to ensure your safety and enjoyment. You’ll need to complete and sign a self-declaration medical certificate, a medical form signed by a doctor is not required for a Tandem jump. If you want to go skydiving in Cambridgeshire, you need to be over 16 years of age, and weigh below 15 stone 7 pounds or 99kg with clothes on. You don’t need to wear anything special - comfortable clothing, such as a track suit, and a pair of trainers are enough. You will be provided with safety equipment in the centres, including the parachute harness, headgear and goggles.

The best equipment is used in centres, while the instructors are all highly qualified and experienced. Parachutes have been calculated to have a 99.9% success rate, but if you don’t like the sound of that 0.01% there’s no need to worry because two parachutes are taken on every dive. Incorrect landing can result in minor injuries, this risk of receiving something like this has been calculated to be 1 in 2700. Listen carefully to your instructor and you should be fine! Finally, it's important to say that if you require a female instructor, let the centre know in advance and this can be arranged.

Jumping into the air and descending by the pull of gravity is a cathartic experience that you won’t find elsewhere. Now that you have all the information, come here and take a leap of faith!