Skydive Tauranga — Attraction in North Island

I was looking to sky dive in NZ, after having skydive in fox glacier get cancelled twice due to weather, I was trying to get an opportunity on the North Island squeezing it in my schedule. Skydive Tauranga was just perfect in every which way. Unlike the big places which take 3hrs for the experience, this one all said and done in and hour and 15mins.

It's a small group with a personal touch, smaller plans to carry 1-2 divers. Tristan booked me the same day in the afternoon to let me drive from Rotorua. As soon as I reached there, Tristan greeted me, got the waivers done, Ben got me ready with the gear, very smooth and easy with the checks. I asked for the full package prompting Tristian to get ready as the aerial photographer which he promptly did. Mitch took us all up along with my tandem diver Gui whom I was strapped to. The ground instructions were clear, easy and comforting. It took no more than a few minutes along with my questions and confirmation.

Mitch made the flight up to 15000ft fun. Tritan was cool as a cucumber chewing on his gum while I wondered if it would fall off from his mouth 🤭. Gui kept checking on me, providing short, brief relevant instructions and information for the time to not confuse with much. No cause of nervousness yet, just a nice plane ride in a small blue Cessna. Tristan was taking shots and clips as we went up.

And then, the plane door was opened, the reality hit. Tristan climbed out hanging under the wing while Gui and I butt hopped to the edge and before any fright could get the best of me, he pushed off into freefall. The rest I leave to your imaginations. Tristan continued shooting along with Gui using the go pro hero 10 on his forearm. Both were equipped with back up cameras rolling simultaneously.

After a few fun maneuvers, Gui got us to land safely where Tristan was already waiting to take our landing shot. Mitch came back above us for a nice smooth landing as the boys headed back to rewind all the equipment with Ben waiting in the field to make sure everything went well and then to help unharness. All in a matter of about 1 hr.

The pictures and videos came thru via WeTransfer in a matter of a couple of hours. They process these then and there after the jump.

All in all, a lovely bunch of lads, thoroughly enjoying their jobs and it shows while pulling off the hard work as if it is so smooth. Absolutely loved the easy going, small business feel.

Lastly if you are worried about the scenery, it is beautiful, you get the blue ocean waters, hills on the backdrop inland, the shores of Tauranga.

If you find this place slightly expensive compared to the rest, its for a good reason. I'd support these lads any day and wish...

My 8-year-old took me Skydiving while we were in NZ for other reasons. He has been keen to do this for some time and has just hit the 30kg weight requirement. He loved the experience and now I am being asked when he can go again. I could not let him go on his own up in the plane as I needed to put on a brave face for him. It turned out the other way around and I needed him to jump first. The one fear I had before jumping that I wish I had been told beforehand was that the feeling you get when you first jump is not like being suddenly dropped. I can't stand that feeling that you get on amusement park rides and I imagined it being many times worse. As the plane is traveling at 120-130km/h when you jump out your body is already moving at quite a speed so when you fall you just end up changing direction without realising that you are being dropped. I found it quite peaceful and now after the fact wished that we dropped from 15 or 18000ft as it's all over quite quickly from 12000ft. Tristan and Kitch were great Tandem instructors. These guys could do this with their eyes closed and all of my fear and anxiety faded very quickly, knowing that they were in control have some serious experience behind them. Loved seeing a female pilot as part of the team. She was all over it.

Would recommend this to anyone looking for this type of experience. Thankyou, Thankyou, Thankyou!

PS. Why is there a rubber chicken in the cockpit? Keen to know the...

My experience with Skydiving in Tauranga during Covid

Had a skydive booked on my behalf as a 36th birthday present on the 5th March 2022. This was booked for the 6th March 2022 at 8am.

Received a call from Tristan at 1:12pm on the 5th March 2022 advising us that the pilot had tested positive for covid so the flight had to be cancelled; Poor fella!

This was rescheduled for 3pm as they had another pilot coming (this wasn’t a problem at all).

Received a call at 12:09pm to advise that this pilot has tested positive for Covid also.

Rescheduled for 12 March 2022 at 10am which due to the whole multiple rescheduling and Covid related dramas I must have missed adding this to my calendar.

Received a call this morning (10:10am) advising that I had missed the booking and that the Tristan was charging for the skydive even though we weren’t able to make the jump…

Sigh what an amazing birthday present and wasn’t even able to enjoy it! – Absolutely gutted about the whole situation and really don’t know what to do :’( what a waste of $400 essentially donated to the company.

Checked the Cancellation Policy and they are in breach of their own policy with respect to late notice. Be very aware and ensure you don't miss...