The facility opened in 1989 and operates seven days a week between 07:00 and 18:00, weather permitting.
Each tandem jump pairs a civilian jumper with a certified instructor carrying dual parachute systems — the main canopy deploys at 5,000 feet after sixty seconds of freefall at terminal velocity. The sky diving in melbourne price structure reflects insurance, aircraft fuel, instructor certification, and equipment maintenance costs mandated by the Australian Parachute Federation.
Jump altitude determines freefall duration: a 15,000-foot exit yields approximately sixty seconds of unbraked descent before canopy deployment, while 10,000-foot jumps offer thirty-five seconds. Wind speed, cloud ceiling, and visibility thresholds govern daily operations — the morning window between 07:00 and 14:00 offers the calmest atmospheric conditions and longest daylight margin for scheduling. Aircraft ascent to jump altitude takes twelve to eighteen minutes depending on passenger load and atmospheric pressure.
Tandem skydive rates in Melbourne begin at 405 AUD per person and include third-party liability insurance, harness rental, and instructor fees. The Melbourne transfer option adds coach transport from the city to the Torquay facility, extending total trip duration to five hours. Group bookings for eight or more jumpers access discounted per-person rates, though pricing adjusts seasonally based on fuel costs and demand cycles. Video and photo packages documenting the jump are sold separately, with helmet-mounted cameras capturing exit, freefall, and canopy flight phases. The Connewarre facility processes approximately 12,000 tandem jumps annually, with peak volume occurring during Victoria's summer months when offshore winds stabilize and cloud cover thins.
Reservations require 72-hour advance notice to coordinate instructor schedules and aircraft availability. Weight restrictions cap tandem passengers at 95 kilograms due to parachute load ratings, and medical clearance is mandatory for participants over age 60 or those with cardiovascular conditions. The briefing period before boarding covers body position during exit, freefall posture, and landing procedures — legs must lift on touchdown to prevent ankle impact. Melbourne skydive options extend to indoor wind tunnel experiences at iFLY Essendon, where vertical aiflow simulates freefall without altitude risk, priced separately from open-air tandem jumps.
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