Tandem Skydive

Skydive Geronimo takes you up for a tandem jump above Wadjemup, with 2.5 hours set aside for the whole experience. Reviews put it at 4.9 from 265 travellers. Jumps start from A$499 per person with free cancellation, though your ferry crossing to the island is booked apart.

Overview

Skydive Geronimo runs a tandem skydive over Rottnest Island, with the whole experience lasting about 2.5 hours from the airfield at Brand Way. You are paired with a professional tandem instructor, climb to altitude, and freefall above the island before your parachute opens and you drift down onto the beach itself.

The jump suits anyone who meets the age, weight and health requirements. No experience is needed, the instructor controls the exit and the canopy, and reviewers repeatedly describe the staff as calm, friendly and good at distracting nervous jumpers. Several travellers mention the view as the standout: turquoise water, white sand and the island's pink and blue lakes laid out below during freefall and the canopy ride.

APF membership is included, along with the instructor and the landing. Photos and video from a hand cam are not, and can be purchased on jump day. Transport to and from the island is also your own arrangement, so you need to book a ferry that gets you there in time for your slot. The minimum age is 16, with a parent or guardian present for anyone under 18.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Make your way to the islandTransport to Rottnest Island is not included. You arrange your own ferry and allow time to reach the airfield.
2. Arrive at Rottnest Island AirportThe meeting point is Brand Way, Rottnest Island WA 6161, roughly a 10-15 minute walk from the Ferry Jetty or Main Settlement.
3. Check in and briefingThe listing does not give a detailed schedule for this stage. Reviewers describe the process as well guided and reassuring.
4. The skydiveYou exit the plane attached to your instructor, freefall over the island, then fly the parachute down.
5. Beach landingThe jump ends with a landing on the beach. The activity finishes back at the meeting point.
6. Optional photo and video packageA hand cam video and photo package is available to purchase on jump day. It is not included in the base price.

What To Expect From The Tour

Here is what to sort out before you book, based on the listing and what recent jumpers have said.

• Getting there. Ferry transport is not included, so your day starts with your own crossing. The airfield is a short walk from the Ferry Jetty and Main Settlement, which makes timing straightforward once you land.
• Weather check. Skydiving depends on the weather. The listing asks you to phone the operator and select option 1 for a weather check at least an hour before your ferry departs on jump day, so build that call into your morning.
• Photos and video. The hand cam package is sold separately on the day. One reviewer found it expensive but felt unable to pass it up, so decide in advance whether you want it.
• Nerves and staff. Several travellers said the instructors kept them calm and well informed, including one who nearly backed out at the plane door. Expect a crew that talks you through each step.
• Fitness and health. A moderate level of physical fitness is expected. The jump is not permitted for people with seizures or heart conditions, and it is not recommended for pregnant travellers or those with back problems.
• Group size. The activity runs with a maximum of 10 travellers. One reviewer jumped as part of a group of six and described the instructors making everyone feel comfortable.

Common issues. The main downsides are practical ones. Weather can cancel the jump, in which case the operator offers a different date or a full refund, and the same applies if minimum numbers are not met. The photo and video package costs extra, and one reviewer felt priced into buying it. There is a firm 95 kg weight limit, with pre-approval needed for anyone between 95 and 110 kg. Transport to the island is not included, and the experience is not wheelchair accessible.

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