Tandem skydiving in Pattaya

Skydiving depends on the weather. Jumps are not set for an exact time but go in turn, first come first served, so the return time is an estimate. If the weather turns after you arrive, jumping is postponed or cancelled. According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the cool season in the country is November to February, and the rainy season runs roughly from May to October.

The whole experience, from hotel pickup to drop-off, takes about five hours. The return to Pattaya is usually around 13:00 or 16:00, depending on your pickup time, and sometimes earlier, depending on the weather.

The center provides goggles for every jumper. There are also goggles designed to fit over prescription glasses, as long as the glasses are not too wide. Before the jump the staff make sure the goggles fit.

A jumpsuit can be provided by the center. Anyone without closed shoes can borrow an old pair. Sandals and bare feet are not allowed.

Someone who dived on a beginner course to a depth of 12 meters or less can jump the next day. An experienced diver must wait at least 18 hours.

A participant suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs will not be allowed to jump.

Your weight should be proportional to your height and build. If you have doubts about your fitness, you can contact the center, which will refer you to a doctor who can advise you.

According to the center, its team includes certified instructors of the United States Parachute Association (USPA) and commercial pilots. The center operates seven days a week.

The jump takes place at the Thai Sky Adventures drop zone, about 25 km north of Pattaya. There you meet your instructor, get a short briefing and board the plane.

Freefall lasts between 55 seconds and a minute, at about 200 km/h. The parachute opens at about 5,000 feet, and from there you glide slowly down to the ground. Your instructor explains what is happening at every stage of the descent.

On the day of the jump you arrive at the skydiving center's office and register. You are then escorted to the flight manifest window, where your place on a flight is set. The center explains that it cannot promise an exact time for each jumper, because the schedule depends on the weather, air traffic and instructor availability.

While you wait you may be given a small device that flashes and buzzes when it is time to get ready. It works within 800 meters of the center's office. Upstairs there is a coffee shop and restaurant, from which you can watch the activity on the drop zone.

Before boarding, the instructor gives a briefing of 5 to 10 minutes. The plane then climbs for about 20 minutes to a height of up to 13,000 feet, and you sit next to your instructor. When the door opens, you exit the aircraft.

Under the parachute you look out over the Gulf of Thailand, with Pattaya to the south and the Bangkok metropolis far to the north. Your instructor lets you help steer the parachute down to the landing on the drop zone.