If you’re ready to take the literal plunge into skydiving, a number of schools worldwide are ready to train you. First timers often tandem jump attached to an experienced skydiver, or take accelerated free fall (AFF) classes to eventually jump solo with an extended free fall, or diving without the chute deployed for a time. Static line courses teach the basics on the ground, followed by a solo jump. Unlike AFF, static line jumps deploy the chute two or three seconds after the jump. Here are 10 choice skydiving locations around the world.

Black Knights Parachute Centre
Hillam Lane
Cockerham, Lancashire
LA2 0DY
Telephone: 01524 791820 (Drop Zone)

Black Knights is located near the north east shore in Cockerham and is one of the country’s oldest skydiving outfits.

C.P.V. School of Parachutism
Via Francesco Baracca, 7
31040 Campo Di Pietra Di Salgareda
Padova, Italy
Telephone: 049 5841294

Jump over the beautiful countryside in northeast Italy at C.P.V. Taking off from Allegri Airport, you can take static line courses or learn accelerated free fall if you want to go solo.

Extreme Sports Cafe
Locations Worldwide

Extreme Sports Cafe is actually a network of skydiving providers around the world. If you want to parachute back into Vietnam, pop a chute over Bangkok or scream “Ricola” while diving into the Swiss Alps, the Cafe can set you up. Their Web site provides only general information, but additional details can be requested via e-mail. Be sure to check the qualifications of the local personnel you will work with.

Mile-Hi Skydiving Center
229 Airport Rd. Hangar 34G
Longmont CO, 80503
Telephone: (303) 759-3483

Jump among the Colorado Rockies, with one of the region’s biggest skydiving operations. They will record your jump on DVD so you can show your friends, unless you screamed like a girl.

Pacific Skydiving Center
68-760 Farrington Hwy.
Waialua, HI 96791
Telephone: (808) 637-7472

Don’t waste your time in Hawaii sipping fruity beverages and looking for the “Lost” set. Get an angel’s view of the island of Oahu with Hawaii’s most popular skydivers. From 14,000 feet, you can see the entire island, Pearl Harbor and your life flash before your eyes.

Skydive Burnaby
11531 Burnaby Rd.
Wainfleet, Ontario
L0S IV0
Telephone: (800) 693-5867

Skydive over the beaches of Lake Erie with southern Ontario’s best skydiving facility. Ten acres of landing zone await you, so you have plenty of room for error.

Skydive Cape Town
R27 West Coast Rd.
Cape Town, South Africa
Telephone: 27 82 800 6290

Skydive Cape Town is located on a dirt road and hard to find. You’ll have to print out a map on their Web site, but the views are worth it. Table Mountain and Robben Island off the Atlantic coast will be visible when you jump.

SkyKef Parachute Center
Sde - Timan Airstrip (Beer Sheva)
PO Box 902 Beer Sheva
Zip 84108
Telephone : 1 700-70-58-67
Fax : 08-6438180

Don’t worry; it’s perfectly safe to skydive in Israel, just don’t jump near the West Bank. SkyKef jumps in a very beautiful tourist area in Beer Sheva, and most of their staff is U.S. Parachute Association certified.

Taupo Tandem Skydiving
Taupo, New Zealand
Telephone: +64 - 7 - 3770428
0800-2-7593483

The land of “The Lord of the Rings” beckons. Taupo Skydiving offers a truly breathtaking view, with jumps near the shores of Lake Taupo onto the volcanic plateau of Tongariro National Park, with snow capped volcanoes as a backdrop.

Tokyo Skydiving School
#411 Honda Airport 53-1 Shimogo Ohazademaru
Kawajima-Machi Hiki-Gun Saitama-Pref.350-01 Japan
Telephone: +81-492-97-7198
Fax: +81-492-97-6012

There is actually room in Tokyo to skydive, and this school is home to the Japanese National Skydiving Team. Jumps from Cessna airplanes or helicopters are available.

When choosing a school, be sure to check for certification or qualifications to ensure you have found a quality outfit.

Submitted By: Victor Medina