GET YOUR SKYDIVE LICENCE TO JUMP SOLO
AFF SKYDIVING
COURSE IN CAIRNS
Get your licence to skydive solo jumping over the Tropics at one of the most beautiful dropzones in Australia. We have been training skydivers for over 30 years and our instructors are some of the most experienced in the country. Complete your AFF course in Cairns at your own pace and get official certification under the Australian Parachute Federation.
Starting at $495 for AFF1 - Complete the course at your own pace
SKYDIVE LICENCE IN AUSTRALIA EXPLAINED
HOW DO YOU GET YOUR LICENCE TO SKYDIVE SOLO?
The AFF skydiving course consists of one full day of theory on the ground and 9 jumps or AFF stages. Once you complete AFF Stage 1 you can do AFF stages 2 to 9 at your own pace, with no upfront payment for the whole course required.
1. GROUND THEORY
We start with a full day of ground training. You will learn the basics around skydiving gear, freefall, deploying and steering a parachute, and performing emergency procedures. Everything you need to know to safely complete your first skydive, AFF stage 1.
We also have interactive online training to get you prepared for the practical ground course. This is a great first step to become familiar with the different aspects of AFF. That way you won’t find the ground theory as overwhelming, especially if you have never experienced freefall with Tandem Skydiving before.
2. AFF STAGES 1 to 9
2 highly experienced instructors will brief you again and run through the drills to do AFF stage 1. They will keep you stable in freefall but you will wear and fly your own parachute back to the ground. If you don’t feel completely confident you can opt to do a tandem for your very first jump, performing some of the drills, which will count as AFF 1.
Then there are another 8 levels from AFF stage 2 to 9. In each stage you will learn new skills to control your body in freefall, do turns, move away and towards your intructors…all the way to stage 9 when you do your first skydive completely by yourself with no instructor assistance.
3. "A LICENCE" COURSE
Once AFF is completed you are still considered a student, but no longer requiring assistance from instructors in freefall. You can start doing solo jumps and start the B-rel table, a number of skydives designed to teach you how to safely skydive with other fun jumpers, in groups of 2, 3, and 4 people.
The A Licence course is the last step before you can get your first licence. It is a half a day program with a questionnaire at the end to demonstrate all the skills and theory learned over your full training. Once completed you have earned your very first rating, your A license, leaving the “student” status and officially becoming a skydiver. Time to ring the bell!
CONQUER THE SKIES
Sign up online or contact us to request more information and discuss your individual situation. You should consider the time and financial commintment required if you are serious about getting your skydiving licence.
START YOUR SKYDIVE LICENCE IN CAIRNS
AFF STAGE 1 IN CAIRNS
$495
All you need to kick-start your skydiving certifications
APF student membership
Pre-course online training
Full day ground training
AFF Skydive 1 with 2 instructors
Full gear hire
First jump certificate
STAGES TO GET YOUR SKYDIVING LICENCE IN AUSTRALIA
AFF STAGES 1 to 9 EXPLAINED
As you make progress through the AFF course new skills and drills are performed in each new stage: freefall rate, turns, moving backwards and forwards, tracking…all the way to AFF Stage 9 when you will be low altitude “hop and pop” by yourself without the supervision of your skydiving instructors in freefall or under parachute.
STAGE 1
AFF STAGE 1
Basic orientation and first solo skydive from up to 14,000ft with two instructors holding onto you. Deploy and fly your own parachute.
STAGE 2
AFF STAGE 2
Skydive from up to 14,000ft with two instructors. Fly forwards, demonstrate turns, deploy your parachute and fly back to the landing area.
STAGE 3
AFF STAGE 3
Skydive from up to 14,000ft with two instructors. fly solo and demonstrate heading and hover control, deploy your parachute solo and fly back to the landing area.
STAGE 4
AFF STAGE 4
Skydive from up to 14,000ft with one instructor. fly solo and demonstrate heading and hover control, deploy your parachute solo and fly back to the landing area.
STAGE 5
AFF STAGE 5
Skydive from up to 14,000ft with one instructor. fly solo and demonstrate heading, hover and 360 turns, deploy your parachute solo and fly back to the landing area.
STAGE 6
AFF STAGE 6
Skydive from up to 14,000ft with one instructor. fly solo and demonstrate heading, hover and 360 turns, 180 wave off and deploy your parachute solo and fly back to the landing area.
STAGE 7
AFF STAGE 7
Skydive from up to 14,000ft with one instructor. Back flips and high speed tracking ! Deploy your parachute and fly back to the landing area.
STAGE 8
AFF STAGE 8
Skydive from up to 14,000ft with one instructor. dive exit, turns, tracking, fall rate control its all happening on stage 8 !
STAGE 9
AFF STAGE 9
A solo skydive with no instructor, dive exit from the aircraft at a lower altitude. Its graduation Day !
WHY CHOOSE CAIRNS SKYDIVERS TO LEARN TO SKYDIVE SOLO
LEARN TO SKYDIVE IN PARADISE
We have trained thousands of skydivers over the last few decades, building world class safety standards and extensive know-how.
You can rest assured your training will be run by highly experienced instructors with thousands of jumps and a real passion to teach new jumpers.
This truly is learning to skydive in paradise. Our beautiful tropical dropzone has great weather all year around.
The perfect environment to learn how to land your parachute safely. We have large, even, green landing areas.
We have the closest AFF skydiving school to Cairns, convenient if you are commuting from Cairns, it’s about one hour by car.
Discover why most skydivers rate “the people” as the number one reason to love the sport. You will meet plenty of great people.
There is no commitment to pay for the full course upfront, you can complete all AFF stages at your own pace.
FREQUENT QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LEARN TO SKYDIVE COURSE
FREQUENT QUESTIONS ABOUT THE AFF COURSE IN CAIRNS
If you have any other questions or you are unsure whether the AFF course is for you contact us for an individual assessment with no commitment.
Is there a minimum age to learn to skydive solo?
The legal minimum age in Australia is 16 years old. At Cairns Skydivers we normally require students to be 18 years of age. If an under 18 student is serious about doing the AFF skydiving course we are always happy to discuss it with parents or guardians.
What's the skydiving licence cost?
The cost to obtain your first Skydiving Licence under the Australian Parachute Federation (“A Licence”) is usually between $4,000 to $5,000. At Cairns Skydivers the total cost is $4,435, which includes all training, exams and a total of 29 skydives as follows:
- AFF Stage 1, ground course and first skydive: $495
- AFF Stages 2 – 8 @ $195 each
- 8 B-rel skydive with coach @ $195 each
- 10 skydives with gear hire $700
- A licence course $120
You are not required to pay upfront and can complete the course at your own pace. That way you can conveniently spread the cost, generally between 4 to 12 weeks.
Starting is relatively expensive but totally worth it! And it gets a lot more affordable. Once you are licensed and have your own gear jump tickets are between $30 to $50, depending on the dropzone and whether you buy in bulk or not.
Is learning to skydive safe?
At Cairns Skydivers we make learning to skydive as safe as possible. Our APF-certified and highly experienced instructors are among the most experienced in Australia, with thousands of skydives each. All of our student gear is regularly maintained and equipped with an AAD (Automatic Activation Device). In the unlikely event that you found yourself in freefall unable to deploy your parachute the AAD will automatically trigger the reserve parachute. During our ground training we rehearse over and over again the necessary drills and skills for your AFF skydives. Everyone in the course is required to proficiently perform and demonstrate these skills on the ground before our instructors clear you to board the plane. During the training we run through all scenarios and emergency situations, teaching our students how to solve each problem and make their skydive as safe as possible.
How long does it take to learn to skydive?
You can learn to skydive and complete the AFF course in as little as one week. You can do the course at your own pace but if possible you shouldn’t leave more than 2 weeks between skydives, it is very important to remain current with your training, muscle memory and proficiently performing emergency drills are crucial, especially when you are starting out.
Can you learn to skydive online?
We have an exclusive online theory program that we encourage new students to complete before coming to the first day of ground training. This helps you become familiar with the theory and terminology used in the course so you don’t find it as overwhelming. Although it is useful to get started all students are required to complete the ground course in person and get cleared by the instructors as capable to do AFF safely.
What equipment do I need for the AFF skydiving course?
Cairns Skydivers will provide all equipment and training materials needed during your AFF and A licence course. Once you complete your training and get your licence there is gear available for hire, until you decide to buy your own rig and canopies. Our instructors will help and guide you during your transition from student to fun jumper.
WHAT'S NEXT AFTER YOUR AFF COURSE
COME FOR THE CHALLENGE, STAY FOR THE FUN
Once you complete your A licence is where the fun starts! Generally you will start building up your “belly” skills. This is flying in a belly-to-earth position, jumping in groups and performing more advanced manouvres. As you progress in the sport you will realise the range of disciplines available. From freeflying to wingsuit flying, canopy piloting or big way formations.
YOUR SKYDIVE LICENCE INSTRUCTORS
MEET YOUR AFF COURSE INSTRUCTORS IN CAIRNS
Rauno
Tandem Instructor, AFF Instructor
Eddie
AFF Instructor
Tats
Tandem Instructor, AFF Instructor
Ben
Tandem Instructor, AFF Instructor, DZSO
GOT MORE QUESTIONS?
Feel free to give us a call to discuss your individual situation before you learn to skydive solo, our instructors evaluate enrolments on a case by case basis.
