Hi All, I'm a self employed Safety Professional and am an active skydiver in my free time. Out of interest, I was wondering if there are any other HSE skydivers. Best regards R

You won't regret it

Hi, I used to be an active skydiver and have clocked up 215 jumps. haven't jumped for 2 years now though as don't seem to get the time with my current job. I have my skydiving pics on the wall in my office and its always good to see the initial reaction. I often get the comment did you do a risk assessment before you jumped out of that plane.

Hi Chris, I agree, it is amusing when people become aware of this type of hobby, especially when it's 'the safety guy' who does it. Thought for the future... and as it's Friday. How about setting up a Formation Team??? Any thoughts on names for the team? How about The Falling from Heights Regulators? R

Yes I use too in the '80's and early '90's. Started off like many doing static line jumps, progressed. Then decided to go with AFF, which then was know also as buddy-jumping then!

Yes, I have skydived, not regularly but it's the best thing I've ever done. I also do Snow boarding too. Not shy of getting an injury or two but it's away from work and my choice of course - although I do check credentials first !

My wife and I tried it in the nude, great fun, I have the video her dive of course, she wasnt able to hold the camera with laughter so no pics of me!! wizard

I was in the Irish Army Air Corps for 6 years, never sky dived but jumped out of some perfectly good working helicopters from a height and into water. Also jumped off perfectly stable bridges into water. I did carry out a risk assessment on the way down though. ;)

Hi rasput1, I myself endevoured to learn to sky dive and on my 2nd static line jump, still buzzing from my 1st the day before had to fly a faster parachute than what I used before, but told this wouldn't be a problem. On this day I jumped out of plane after a rather nervous German fellow called Depensiepen (we laughed at his nervous attempts to exit the door 3 times and was gently pursuaded on the fourth) and as I jumped out my helmet caught a gust of wind and it was ripped from my head, along with the walkie talkie installed in it. Once I had revovered my senses and checked my parachute and lines, I thought,..okay, now use your training. As I looked around for the DZ, i decided to turn in that direction and as I did (this is where the faster parachute comes in) I must have turned too quickly and it deflated into a sack of washing. At this moment, my friends on the floor looked as I plumetted to the floor quicker than they could focus their binoculars, the parachute re-inflated with my harness in a bit of a mess as well as my cool. I managed to land the parachute slap bang on the DZ and clamly took the harness and chute off in the parachute club centre at Flookbrough, Cumbria. The even tried to charge me for the helmet and radio, but as it was they owner who put my helmet on for me, I told him that I wouldn't be doing that. Since then I haven't bothered, but would love to have a go again and free fall the crazy heights I wished all those years ago.

doobrifurkin, That story is scary and funny at the same time. I had a nasty spinning/upside down/head down and twists jump. Not quite a full deflation but it got the heart beating. The posting has gone better than expected. The next endeavour is a bungee jump.

Puts my first experience of jumping static line to shame. Went somehting like this: Jump (practiced position becomes a tangle of legs and arms in the wind) 1000, 2000 etc Check parachute (looks up) Repeats mantra: is it large is it........(swear word)...parachute's not opened properly Think - oh (swear word) n-cell closure (swear word, swear word, swear word) thinks - what do I do?? thinks - ah ha, flare!!! Flare flare flare... Parachute rights itself Thinks - phew!!! Thinks - this is fun!!!!

No bottle jumps for you then andy!

Why jump from a perfectly good aeroplane I ask. Those who jump from such perfectly sound craft are either impatient, in a hurry or simply don't trust the pilot's ability to land the thing safely. Never got interested so am glad to plead guilty on the grounds of utter cowardise

Grim72, try a bottle jump or BASE!

I used to jump, but after a particularly nasty landing that ultimately led to the end of my Military career, you won't get me jumping again for love or money. I did enjoy it and hats off to those that still do, but imo there's no point gaining experience if you aren't going to learn from it!