Tandem Skydiving

The Choice for Skydiving the Western Cape & Garden Route

Experience Tandem Skydiving in Mossel Bay, South Africa

Home of the Highest Tandem Skydive in Africa

Tandem Skydiving in Mossel Bay, South Africa is an experience that will stay with you for a lifetime! Not only will you enjoy the exhilarating freefall of your very first skydive, but you will also experience an exciting scenic flight over the Mossel Bay area with an eagle’s view of the Indian Ocean, Outeniqua mountains and beautiful Garden Route beaches between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth! It’s the most scenic place to go tandem skydiving in South Africa.

We have two landing areas, one at the Mossel Bay airfield and one at Diaz Beach (limited availability). Thanks to the nature of the tandem skydive, the formal training required can be kept to a minimum as your personal tandem master will control the free fall and the parachute descent. However there is some information and rules that you need to be familiar with to ensure safety. By educating you about what to expect in the aeroplane, how to position your body during free-fall and what to expect when the parachute opens, your fears will be eased and your fun maximised.

When the door finally opens and you exit the aircraft most of our skydivers say their fears stay in the plane. Since you are weightless in free fall, you won’t even notice that the Tandem Instructor is there. Jumping from 10,000 ft, 14,000 ft or 16,000ft AGL (Above Ground Level), you’ll free fall at 200 – 240 kph for as long as 35-60 seconds. While you “Body Surf” the wind, the Tandem Instructor can do controlled turns, speed diving, and burn up the sky.

All too quickly you will find the parachute opening and your adrenaline-charged free-fall transitions into a quiet peaceful parachute descent, where you and your instructor can talk and share the moment. During the 5-7 minutes it takes to reach the ground your instructor can provide either a gentle ride to the ground or a more extreme roller coaster experience with spins and as they skillfully pilot you to our landing area.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is tandem skydiving?

A skydive from 10,000, 14,000, or 16,000 feet with a tandem instructor. You are attached to the tandem instructor by a special harness and jump out of the plane together. The instructor wears the specially designed tandem parachute on their back and controls the exit, freefall and parachute ride. You can just relax and enjoy the views while they do all the work.

Is it safe?

Although it seems very scary, over the years tandem skydiving in South Africa has evolved and developed leaps and bounds, making it safer than ever before. Advances and additions to equipment like an automatic activation device (AAD) help to make it even safer. Before a skydiver can become a tandem instructor, they must have a minimum of 800 skydives and undergo extensive training and evaluation approved by the Parachute Association of South Africa. Our instructors have been skydiving for many years with thousands of skydives under their belts so you are in safe hands.

How long does it take?

Plan to be with us for about two & a half hours. Once you have completed the registration form and payment, the instructor will brief you on the safety rules, what to expect in the aeroplane, how to hold your body during free fall and what to expect when the parachute opens. Your flight to 10,000 feet is about 20 minutes in our Cessna 182 or about 8 minutes in the super-fast King Air. You’ll freefall for up to 50 seconds and the parachute ride is about 5-7 minutes.

Can I jump with my friends?

Each of you will have his or her own tandem instructor. Your friend can join you on the same flight but you will exit the aircraft separately a few seconds apart so there is a safe distance between you in freefall and under the parachute.

Will I be afraid?

It is likely, but fear is a natural feeling for someone skydiving for the first time. A bit of nerves are to be expected. Even experienced sport jumpers feel a little afraid just before they exit the plane. It’s part of the adrenaline rush of adventure sports. You will also be excited, delighted, and thrilled.

Can I breathe during a free fall?

YES! It’s similar to sticking your head out of the car while driving fast. You can scream, laugh or sing. No need to hold your breath, just relax. Once the parachute has opened, you’ll be able to talk with the instructor and have a good look around at the beautiful Mossel Bay area.

What if the parachute does not open?

The tandem instructor jumps with two parachutes. If the main parachute doesn’t open, the instructor will deploy the reserve parachute. The reserve parachute is the backup. In the unlikely event that the instructor can’t deploy the reserve, there is a smart computer in the equipment known as an automatic activation device (AAD) that will open the reserve parachute.

Can I bring my camera or cell phone to the jump?

No. The Basic Safety Requirements of the Parachute Association of South Africa (PASA) stipulate that only Category II trained skydivers are permitted to carry a camera on a skydive. No phones are permitted on the plane.

What if I have a fear of heights?

We have taken many people with a fear of heights on a tandem skydive and have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. There is no depth perception. It’s more like looking at a Google Earth picture.

How quickly do we fall?

120mph or 200 km/ph with drogue fall. Under the parachute, you will gently glide down before landing. You can choose the Extreme Ride option if you prefer more of a rollercoaster ride when the instructor will do some spiral turns under the canopy.

What's the landing like?

The Tandem Instructor will control the landing and you will slide in on your backside. Sometimes, depending on the conditions, you can also have a stand-up landing on your feet. What’s important is to listen to the instructions your instructor gives you while under the parachute.

What does free fall feel like?

Fast and fun. The rush of the wind against you as you fall sounds loud and feels like nothing you’ve experienced before. It feels more like flying than falling.

Can my jump be recorded?

Yes. The Tandem Instructor wears a specially designed glove with a camera. We will capture the whole experience from getting into the plane, the flight up, freefall, the parachute ride and landing. We include a few short and fun interviews and music. You can also choose a GOLDCamera, where another skydiver follows you and the Tandem Instructor out of the plane and takes footage from a different perspective.

What should I wear and what can I take with me?

Wear anything comfortable. You will be given a jumpsuit to wear over your clothes. In the winter months, bring a warm fleece top and gloves. The best shoes are tie-up shoes like running shoes. Sandals and slip-on shoes will come off in freefall. Please leave jewellery, earrings and other trinkets at home.

What if I want to give up after the take-off?

It rarely happens but if you decide that you no longer want to skydive after the plane has taken off, you and the Tandem Instructor can land with the plane. You will not be refunded if you decide not to skydive after the plane has taken off.

What about weather conditions in skydiving?

Skydiving is weather-dependent. The best weather is mild winds and blue skies. If you made a reservation and the weather forecast is not good for skydiving, we’ll let you know. You can either reschedule or if this is not possible, you can cancel the booking. There is no cancellation fee.

What can be seen on the jump?

The scenery over Mossel Bay is beautiful. You can see our stunning coastline, the ocean and the Outeniqua mountains. Skydive Mossel Bay has one of the best views in South Africa. It is truly unforgettable.

Do I need a reservation?

Yes. It’s easy to make a booking. Just phone or Whatsapp us on +27 (0)82 824 8599 or email info@skydivemosselbay.com . We are open 7 days a week.

Are there any restrictions?

Max weight – 100 kg for men and 90kg for women
Min weight – 40kg
Min age – 12 years old
Min height – 135cm

Parachute systems have a maximum designed weight limit and take into account the total weight of the passenger, the equipment and the Tandem Instructor. The specially designed harness needs to be positioned anatomically correct for safety reasons, which is why height and weight are restricted.

I wear contact lenses or glasses, is that a problem?

You will be given a pair of flexi goggles to wear. Depending on the shape of your glasses, the goggles may fit over them. If not, you’ll have to leave the glasses behind.

How do I get to Skydive Mossel Bay?

Using Google Maps or the equivalent will be the best way to navigate your way to the airfield if you are unfamiliar with the area. Make sure you type 69 Rooikat Street into your search.

Can I bring friends or family in support?

Yes. Spectators are welcome. We love to hear your friends and family cheer you on as you walk to the plane and when you land. They encourage you and help ease your nerves, and they will probably want to skydive too once they see how much fun you had.

Do you have gift vouchers?

Yes, just choose the jump package, supply us with your email address and make the payment online and we email the voucher to you.

What type of payment do you accept?

We accept cash and cards. We only accept ZAR(South African Rands), and we do not accept American Express, Diners or dollars.