Hello everyone! Dreams are different, dreams are strange) My dream was to jump with a parachute, and I wish that the first jump was here, in Dubai and exactly over the Palm. How it was, how to prepare and what impressions remained, I will tell in my review.
I was going to make the jump. But after certain events, my trip was cancelled. Yes, it was better before: the ruble exchange rate was stronger, and as a consequence, the jump itself was cheaper, and it was easier to book a place. My jump took place in December 2023, so I will share information relevant for this period.
Finding information
In the search engine I entered simply: “skydiving over Dubai”. To this I was given the club’s official website and many intermediary websites. I started booking my jump through the Get experience website. I filled out a form in which I entered my details, and soon a manager contacted me via watsapp. I informed about the desired date of my adventure, I was told about the free time and sent the details for payment.
I do not have a special card of a foreign bank, so this option of payment through an intermediary suited me. I chose in the payment field, entered my card details and successfully paid for everything.
Was it scary? Yes, I was afraid to be deceived, to be scammed, because we were talking about 200$ in terms of the current exchange rate. Of course, I searched for information about Get experience, but still)
After payment, I received a voucher in the mail, a personal QR code, which had to be saved until the appointed date. Then there was a disclaimer and a form electronically that had to be signed, directly leaving my finger signature on the phone screen.
I booked a tandem jump with an instructor two and a half weeks in advance. Despite numerous reviews on the internet that you have to book almost months in advance. That’s a lie! I think it was possible to take my seat on the plane for a day-after-day jump.
There are several options for extreme lovers: jump with an instructor and on your own (for professionals), jump over Palma and over the desert, etc. I was interested in the safest tandem jump with an instructor. And the location: I needed a jump exactly over Palma.
On-site
Skydive Dubai is in an easily accessible location, easy to get to by taxi or on foot if you live on Jumeirah (for example, my return journey to the hotel took 30 minutes, it took me 15 minutes by taxi to get here).
My appointment was 9.00, but I arrived early, at 8.50.
At the entrance there are special machines for registration, in them you fill out the same thing that was sent by email (voucher, signature, etc). I didn’t understand why this step was necessary, but you have to, so you have to))) at the end of the registration process the following message appears on the screen:
After that I went to the employee behind the counter and continued the registration there. I was given a ribbon on my arm with my first and last name and a special gizmo that beeped to let me know that it was my turn. After checking in, I was told to go up to the first floor and wait there for an hour and a half for my turn.
On the first floor there is a cafe where you can have a coffee, grab some snacks and watch the plane take off and the lucky people who made the jump land.
After about 40 minutes my alarm beeped and vibrated, I went downstairs and approached a female employee. I was given a key to a box where I had to put all my things, including my phone, so not many photos))
Each participant was assigned his instructor. The only thing left to do was to wait for him. After the instructor and I found him, I was given special equipment and a briefing. The briefing is very rudimentary: in brief, all you have to do is mimic a “banana” and keep your head up when leaving the aircraft. Everything happens in English.
Besides the instructor, each participant is assigned a cameraman who takes photos and videos before, during and after the jump. Before and after, an interview is filmed with simple questions like “how’s your mood?”, “how are you doing?”, etc.
Jump
After each participant is briefed and interviewed, the whole group (which is 5 participants+each instructor and cameraman) drives to the plane.
After boarding the plane, everything is like a blur))) at a certain height, each participant has to sit on the lap of their instructor to attach themselves to him. Goggles are put on the face. By the way, any form of clothing (within reasonable limits), there is no special suit, no helmet. Well, next we take turns jumping out of the aeroplane.
This moment I don’t remember at all. In my memory only the very cold air, the instantly blocked ear and my screams of happiness and horror at the same time. Freefall lasts no more than 1-2 minutes, which seems like an eternity. During this time you are filmed by the operator flying nearby, and you have to wave happily at the camera))) photos and videos turned out Mega unsuccessful because of the cheeks, which because of the wind were blown to the ears.
I was very angry and indignant: why are the instructors wearing helmets and the participants just wearing ugly glasses? It’s simple: if the attached passenger is wearing a helmet, it will block the view and hit the instructor in the face.
After opening the parachute, the most enjoyable part begins! This is skydiving)))) you fly and enjoy the views, live this moment… I can’t tell you in words, but at this moment you feel time more acutely than ever, you feel life more acutely! I was given a bit of parachute flying))))
The landing was very soft: the instructor lands on his feet and you just pull yours forward. After that, the cameraman immediately comes running up and your interview continues with “how are you, how was the jump?” questions. I still look at my lost face with a smile))))
Video and photos are sent within 24 hours to the post office. You can rent a camera on site to take selfies and so on. I didn’t do that, I was satisfied with what was included in the price.
In conclusion
I’ll answer the question I posed in the title, whether it’s worth the jump. It is worth it! 100 per cent worth it! And I am very glad that I made my first skydive here in Dubai. And I don’t even regret the fact that I spent almost twice as much as I would have spent if the jump had been over the desert. It is an amazing feeling to see the island of Palma, the coastline flying with a parachute. Therefore, I consider the money spent as an investment in my impressions. And impressions, as we know, are priceless.
