Mark Anderson, Author at downtownnixamarkanderson.com

The Best Worldwide Destinations for Skydiving

Skydiving is a well-established, adrenaline-pumping adventure sport available at almost any destination around the world. And while that free-fall feeling can happen anywhere, there’s no denying that some locations offer more breathtaking views than others.

Downtown Nixa Mark Anderson reports that locations from the US to Australia and various places in between, have been deemed the world’s best destinations for their aerial views.

Blue Hole in Belize

Blue Hole is a huge underwater sinkhole situated just off the coast of Belize — and skydiving here is something adrenaline junkies never forget.

Skydivers jump from a plane overlooking the clear turquoise tropical waters, eventually landing in the sea to continue basking in that weightless glow.

Those lucky enough to have already experienced this magical experience claim that it was unequivocally one of the best days of their lives.

Las Vegas in the USA

Tourists don’t normally tend to visit Las Vegas for its skydiving. After all, it’s famous for its casinos, slot machines, and theatrical shows. But the Mojave Desert boasts some of the best skydiving spots on the planet, much less the United States.

From the parachute, skydivers get a birds-eye view of the Red Rock National Park, the strip, and Mount Charleston as they descend toward the sands.

Lauterbrunnen in Switzerland

Switzerland is a haven for adrenaline seekers. The country has everything from glacier trekking to mountain climbing to, of course, skydiving.

Lauterbrunnen is a particularly beautiful spot to see from the sky. With deep gorges and cascading waterfalls, it’s a sight worth seeing – and the aerial view of the landscape is nothing short of breathtaking.

Palm Jumeirah in Dubai

Those who prefer expertly crafted architecture to tranquil waters or verdant valleys should head to Palm Jumeirah in Dubai to enjoy the parachuting experience of a lifetime.

The destination affords skydivers an aerial view of the artificial prodigy, ensuring they get the pleasure of experiencing the unique panoramic landscape of sea, sun, sand, and skyscrapers.

North Wollongong Beach in Sydney, Australia

Just an hour outside Sydney sits North Wollongong Beach, a truly outstanding location for skydivers hoping to witness dolphins and whales from the grand height of 14,000 feet.

Whether solo or tandem jumping, the beach is famous for its dream-worthy birds-eye views.

Pattaya in Thailand

Pattaya boasts one of the only skydiving locations in Southeast Asia, and it’s found 60 minutes outside of Bangkok.

And once adventurers have explored the destination from the skies, there are plenty of restaurants to satisfy their hunger after the adrenaline dies down.

Victoria Falls in Zambia, Africa

Skydiving at Victoria Falls presents jumpers with an unforgettable view of the majestic Zambezi River. As a border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, jumpers can feel its power from the sky as they descend nearby.

Those who don’t have this jaw-dropping destination on their bucket lists should certainly add it now.

Mount Everest in Nepal

Most people dream of climbing the famous mountain, but few realize they can skydive over it and see Mount Everest from all-new heights.

The world’s best destinations for skydiving are ready and waiting to welcome brand-new (or returning) thrill seekers.

The Canopy Formation Skydiving Team, Airspace Invaders, recently outlined the world record the team achieved in sequential canopy formation. It was the biggest formation the discipline had seen in over 15 years!

Downtown Nixa Mark Anderson explains that canopy formation, or CF for short, is the discipline of utilizing parachutes to create shapes in the sky. Anywhere from 2 to 100 canopy pilots group together and use various docks and stacks to craft the patterns.

As most people can appreciate, it’s a very exacting discipline, taking years of practice and dedication to pull off the movements. And that just makes the world record set by the canopy pilots even more impressive.

The 2-Point 54-Way Formation That Set the World Record

The crew was led by Marcus Muir-Smith and other canopy pilots which made a new CF sequential world record with a stunning two-point 54-way jump.

The team achieved the global record on the very first day of attempting it. The team built the 54-way diamond, broke apart, and reassembled on the same jump! It was said to be a testament to the load quality, support team, and organizers that they made two out of three formation attempts within one day.

Interestingly, the team had the final third point within reach. However, there were less-than-ideal weather conditions coming toward them, and a boatload of CReW dogs flew in numerous groups. Therefore, they decided to move on to the camp’s second goal.

The Camp’s Second Goal

Upon completing the outstanding 2-point 54-way jump and leaving the third point behind, the group decided to work on a larger formation experience. This included the broader team by rotating skydivers to fly five, one-point 65-way jumps.

Records were smashed, in that these were the biggest canopy formations seen since the 2007 world record, wherein the awarded group completed a 100-way jump.

Perhaps one of the most stunning jumps of the day was the 65-way formation at sunset. The fading light made for spectacular shots captured by Gustavo Cabana Imaging.

Almost everyone who attended the camp was able to take part in one of the massive canopy formations, which is an added bonus for all.

The Supporters That Made the World Record Possible

Naturally, the canopy formation discipline involves many people — not just those with the parachutes. So, in various write-ups about the amazing world record, there is no doubt these articles will be addressing the support staff and organizers, thanking them for their fantastic work, as well as the even more fantastic images captured.

Specifically, Joe Thompson, Max Holmes, and Andrew Draminski were part of the event support. They piloted groups of 16, alongside those tackling the more ambitious formations.

Brian Pangburn and Chris Gay were the organizing brains. They ensured the event was safe and fun, allowing Marcus Muir-Smith and his canopy pilot group to conquer the record attempt.

The Future of Canopy Formation Skydiving

The 2-point 54-way formation was a massive success. But it appears that the canopy pilots hope to fly even larger formations in the next few years.