5 Reasons to Skydive Once In Your Life

On my backpacking adventure around the world, I visited a country I’ve always wanted to go to: New Zealand.

The land of blue lakes, high mountains, hobbits, and most of all adrenaline.

Home for junkies craving adventure, you can pretty much do any crazy activity you can think of on that island.

Bungy jumping, canyoning, coasteering, glacier hiking, skiing, snowboarding, surfing, and the best one in my opinion: skydiving!

There are many places all over the world that you can skydive in. But New Zealand has to be the best.

I mean, what’s better than jumping out of a plane over Mount Doom?

Skydiving in Lake Taupo

This town is famous for this extreme activity, and it is by far the cheapest place to do it.

It cost around $250, but the experience is something you will never forget, and I had to tick it off my bucket list.

What’s more, I knew I would get fantastic views of the lake, mountains and Hobbit country.

I was picked up in a limo, with a few of the others who were backpacking, and we made our way over to the air shelter.

As I shakily signed the waiver, with contact details of who they should tell if something were to happen to me.

I felt like I was indeed signing my life away. Sorry Mum.

I boarded the plane, and we ascended up in the sky for the dive. Then…we jumped!

It was the most incredible and the most liberating thing. As you fall through the air from 15,000 ft.

It doesn’t feel like you’re falling for long, and when that parachute went up, I wanted to go again.

I think everyone should skydive at least once in their life. These are some of the reasons to convince you.

1. It’s amazing

Okay, this is a pretty obvious one, but it does pretty much trump them all.

Skydiving is one of the most amazing things you will do in your life. You fall out of a plane, from 15,000ft. and can live to tell the tale.

Naturally, you will have someone on your back with you unless you’re qualified.

But you’re still falling through the sky at what feels like a million miles an hour. You’re pretty much flying.

I can’t really describe the feeling as you fall, but imagine you’re on a really high roller coaster and then times that by a million.

The mix of your butterflies with excitement, and that’s kind of it. But you’ll have to find out yourself. It’s really a feeling like no other.

2. It’s bucket list

So, the idea of flying through the sky isn’t what you’d like to do every weekend? Good, as you only have to do it once (if you choose).

I saw my dive as a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and if I didn’t like it – I wouldn’t do it again.

But, after I did, I wanted to do it all over again.. It all depends on how you feel.

3. It will be over before you know it

The whole experience lasts around 15 minutes from boarding the plane to landing, so it’s not a long process.

That’s good so you’re not waiting around and letting those nerves get you.

The time you fall through the air is around 60 seconds. Which isn’t very long at all if you think about it.

Before you know it, the chute will go up, and you can enjoy circling back down to Earth.

Your skydiving professional can take care of the landing – just lift your legs.

4. Spectacular views

This was probably my favourite part. As you catapult back down to ground, the views are stunning.

I skydived in Lake Taupo, and the scenery was spectacular. The lake, mountains, it was just out of this world.

As a Lord of the Rings fan, seeing Mount Doom from this high up was incredible.

No matter where you dive, the birds-eye views will be great.

5. You can brag about it

So you’ve skydived. That’s a pretty amazing bucket list tick off, and you can get some photos to show all your friends and family.

I remember not telling my Mum as I didn’t want to worry her, and she woke up to see pictures of me jumping out of a plane.

As you can imagine, she didn’t appreciate it!

Depending on what package you go for, you can get pictures taken from the side.

Or, have a photographer jump out of the plane before you and document your journey as you go down.

Skydive Taupo was brilliant as they put together a little video of you as your own little skydive movie.

Laugh at the ridiculous faces you pull with the g-force pulling back your cheeks.

Don’t miss out on skydiving

If you are in two minds, take this as your sign to do it.

It does feel unnatural, as jumping from a great height is something the body naturally protests, but you won’t regret a thing.

Plus, it only takes around 5 minutes so it will be over in no time –and you’ll want to go back again.

The best part is the fact that someone else jumps for you so you just have to enjoy it.

There are places all over the world where you can enjoy skydiving, and I would take the chance if given one.

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