Have you ever dreamed of flying like a bird, swiftly and serenely through the air? In Suffolk we can promise you this feeling with a skydiving experience from a moving aeroplane. This is the only way that you can reach speeds of over 100mph without the help of a powerful engine so speed is guaranteed, but forget about the serenity - a skydive is guaranteed to boost your adrenaline levels to maximum.

Where to go skydiving in Suffolk?

In the picturesque Waveny Valley, Beccles airfield is a popular take-off point for parachute jumps. It’s located in the Broads wetlands, with the Suffolk Coast & Heaths and Dedham Vale - both nationally designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty - nearby. You’ll get spectacular views of the whole area if you’re flying high above them. This area also has some of the best weather in the British Isles which means that jumps can be completed throughout the year at various times of day, and you’re guaranteed value for money. With all that, you’ve got no excuse to put it off! Come on and make it happen.

What kinds of parachute jumps are available?

- Tandem Jumps: The most common jumps for first-timer skydivers, a tandem jump is completed by two people fastened together and supported by the same parachute. The other person in your tandem jump will be an expert instructor who will accompany you 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, less than half an hour. After that you’ll ascend to jumping height, before taking the leap of faith. If you’re curious to know how the experts control your descent, your instructor can teach you about opening and steering the parachute and landing in situ as you travel down to the Suffolk countryside. The experience of completing a single jump takes at least 2 hours, so make sure that you have half a day to spare.

- Courses: If you want to challenge yourself to jump alone, a course is the best option for you. You can sign up for a number of courses at the Beccles centre, the most popular being a taster one day course. This includes training on the ground which goes into much more detail than is included for a tandem jumper on theory, technique and safety. The culmination of the day is an unsupported skydive. This means that you’ll have your own parachute and step out of the plane into the void alone! Two instructors will jump with you and instruct you on the descent with hand signals that you’ve learnt during the day. For those who want to be able to do this sport around the world without the hassle of safety briefings and instructors, an 18 jump package is the right choice. These can be carried out in a week, or over several weekends depending on your availability, at the end of which you’ll have a globally recognised ticket to jump. The courses are known as AFF, which stands for Accelerated FreeFall, and are internationally recognised.

- Charity Jumps: When raising money for charity, it’s essential to get people’s attention and do something new. Because a parachute jump takes some guts, a charity jump will turn some heads and hopefully open some wallets too - one group of charity divers in the county recently raised over twenty two thousand pounds for a good cause! Centres offer discounts or special offers to those daredevils who want to give something back.

How can you enhance your experience?

+ Convert your freefall into a cinematic thriller with a photo and video package! Your skydive can be recorded with air to air filming - this means that an extra diver will jump just before you from the plane and start filming in mid air as you jump out of the plane and freefall down. They will control their speed and position relative to yours to film your jump from different angles, and they’ll open your parachute at the same time in order to document the whole journey on film. This is the perfect way to remember your experience, and prove to your family and friends that you’re braver than them.

+ It’s not necessary to go up to 15,000ft to feel the wind in your face, the experience can be simulated in an indoor wind tunnel. This is a chamber with a powerful fan below floor level that propels a powerful stream of air vertically. All you have to do is step forward and lean into a horizontal position to let the current of air support you, just as it would in mid air. The wind tunnel can be included as part of a training course.

Requirements to do this activity

As it’s an extreme sport by definition, is regulated to ensure everyone’s safety. Before a tandem jump you’ll need to complete a self declaration medical form, while a note from the doctor may be required before embarking on a training course. All divers must be over 16 years of age.

There are also weight limits in place. This is because the correct equipment is needed to break a freefall and ensure a safe landing back at Beccles airfield and this equipment has safe operating limits. You need to be below 15 stone 7 pounds, or 100kg and this includes the clothes you’re wearing.

Is it a safe sport?

Speeding towards the ground without a safety net doesn’t sound like a safe pastime, but skydiving enthusiasts have developed equipment and safe practices to reduce the risks substantially. The best equipment available is used here, including parachutes, ropes, and harnesses. You’ll be provided with personal safety equipment - a jumpsuit, headgear and goggles (essential if you wear glasses or contact lenses, optional if not). Other than that you can wear your own clothes, but make sure that they’re comfortable and allow for free movement.

Your instructor will be one of the expert team at the airfield, with hundreds or even thousands of jumps under their belt. Parachutes 99.9% success rate, but don’t worry if that’s not high enough for you - two parachutes are taken on every dive. There is a small risk of minor injuries resulting from incorrect landing, so we recommend that you pay attention in the safety briefing and do exactly as your instructor tells you. We’re sure you’ll be fine! If you’re a woman and would like to do a tandem jump with a a female instructor, let the centre know in advance and this can be arranged.

That’s everything you need to know about this activity, but you’ll have a whole lot more to tell us once you’ve done it!