'Boredom' is the cause of this post coming today! Nothing on earth, but that experience itself can describe what I felt up there in my first ever tandem skydive! But I decide to write about it today, as I lie here on my bed, with nothing to do - enough of googling and ogling (!!!) has led me to reach this state; just decided to get back to some writing today!
After about two months of contemplating, complaining and convincing, the day finally came! Three of us room-mates could gather the courage to go ahead with the idea of jumping from 12000 feet up in the air - no strings attached! Yes, You heard it right! It was a jump from up there, from a Cessna aircraft that didn't even have a door!
We reached the Umm-Al-Quwain Aero Club, UAE (about a 45 minute drive from International City, Dubai where we reside!) at about 10:45 am, on the hot (@45 degrees Celcius) and sunny morning of 20th of August, a day before my birthday. We were there just over an hour before the slotted time for our jump. Ready to welcome us to the club was the receptionist, who didn't bother to react to our enthusiasm! It was as if only the three of us, Adi, JD and I were excited about the whole thing. Well, we spent the next hour or so filling out some forms, a few disclaimers, making the payments (I'll come to this part later) and clicking a few snaps of previous 'SUCCESSFUL' skydivers and the airplane models hanging from the ceiling. Believe me I was hungry, but for once, was scared to eat! I had no idea what it would feel like (inside the stomach) during a freefall from 12000 feet!
It was time for our jump when the man behind the counter led us to a door and directed us towards the training room, where we would be trained before the jump. We went through a high fenced area, something that looked like an ultra-high security region. After a few signatures, we passed a door that opened straight onto a small runway - probably where our aircraft wold be taking off from. A few clicks more, and we were inside the training room. Eugene (spelt Yevgeny - Russian origin, but bred in London) welcomed us who was sitting comfy on a couch watching a Mallu flick with his mate, Sujith, the souvenir shop caretaker. We were informed by Eugene that Steve, the videoman would be arriving only at 12.
Anxious to gear up and get out in the open, we got going with the training of each of us with Eugene, the tandem describing to us what to do when and at what indication from him. Man! You can bet anything on earth, I was listening to him when he said 'At 12000 feet, you won't be able to hear me! The only indication I will be giving you, will be a pat on the back and that's when you have to.....' And the instructions continued for a brief 15 minute minute rehearsal!
And then it happened! With JD going in first and then Adi, my turn came in last! Both of them had had a ball in the air! And they were back single piece! But for me it was 'my balls in the air' at that moment when Steve announced 'You're next'!
The jump...
In the small four seater plane, after ascending for about 10 minutes, I looked at Steve while he didn't seem bothered, kept playing with his photographic gadgets in his hand. I looked out, thinking that this must be close to about 10,ooo feet, so it must be about time for me to get ready with the parachutes. The adrenaline started rushing a li'l faster as I thought. But something changed that when I was told by Steve that it was only 3000 feet high! We had to go up by about 4-times the height before we jump! That, I tell you was the scariest moment mid-air! Didn't I dare look out of the window after that!
Well, it was time now. 12000 feet up in the air, The videoman, Steve hanging out on the wheel of the Cesna, ready to jump. I was made to sit at the doorstep with my tandem tied to me!
Three... Two... One... And Go-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o!!!!!
Wooooooo---haaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!! There I was!!! My life came to a standstill for those few seconds! Out of the aircraft, toppled for a second as if lying on my back in the heavens, I could see the aircraft go higher n higher as I descended. Then something turned me back to face the ground again. The skin of my (skinny) hands flapped like those in a Jackie Chan's classic! All I could hear was a continuous LOUD gush or air rush past me!
60 seconds of freefall till we reached a height of 4000 feet and then a joy-ride on the parachute opening!
I must say that anything I write now will be just under-stating the adventure!
See it to feel it, to believe it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iz2cSIr6T6c. This video brings the chills back even today!!! You can also watch this video at the side panel of my blog page!
You can check out the pics as well of the whole adventure at: http://picasaweb.google.com/Akshat.Dimri/Dubai_SkyDiving
1000 Dirhams for the jump including insurance plus 400 dirhams for the videoman to jump alongside, his skill of maintaining himself at the same height and taking the video and pics all along the way plus a few bucks here n there is what we spent! But believe me folks - every penny that we spent on it was worth it!
And what better a birthday gift could I give myself!
Speeds of upto 250 kilometers an hour mid-air, free fall for majority of the distance and a safe landing at a ground speed of 60 kms an hour left me speechless!
And now I can say; the weather up there was just fine :)
