Skydiving – The Ultimate “Take The Leap”

Skydiving was one of the most exhilarating, scary and greatest experiences of my life. I knew when I embarked on my travels that I wanted to try some extreme sports and skydiving was in my top three. When I booked my first dive in Wanaka, the only emotion I felt was excitement. As they rigged me up and we sat in a tiny aeroplane rising to 15,000 ft above ground, the only emotion I felt was fear. Pure, stomach churning fear. I was gripping to my instructors thighs with all my might hopeful, that perhaps, I would scare him enough to not want to dive with me.

No such luck. I saw all my fellow divers fall out of the plane before me and as we shuffled towards the door I could feel the fear grasping at my throat. “Ready?” my instructor asked as he dangled me out of the door. “Erm” I replied as I heard “One, two…” “aaaahhhhhhhh!!!”

A free fall for 60 seconds reaching speeds of 200kph. I can’t even explain how many emotions I felt. Exhilarated. Contented. Excited. Invigorated. Calm. Charged. Overjoyed. Intoxicated. Blissful.

I wind flew past my face (giving me very flattering flabber chops!) and as we fell through a small cloud, tiny particles like minuscule hail gently pounded against my face.

Once the parachute was deployed, the scenery on the way down was breathtaking for both of my dives. Snow splattered mountains, deep blue lakes and green land as far as I could see. New Zealand is a beautiful country and I don’t think I could have picked better places than Taupo and Wanaka for my first experiences of skydiving. I felt slightly hysterical when I reached the ground and couldn’t stop grinning!

I felt inspired not only to do another sky dive the following day but to really make sure I lived life to the fullest – I took a risk and it paid off. Never had I felt as scared as I did that first dive and I conquered it. To say it truly changed my life wouldn’t be an exaggeration and I wouldn’t be surprised if it changes yours too… gather the courage and take the leap!