Personally I love skydiving in nice, interesting and sunny, places and I usually build a few jumps into pretty much every vacation or business trip I take. Of course it’s a little easier for me because I’ve done a few thousand jumps and I’ve been around a while. However this guide is not about us experienced skydivers, who will come back with interesting tales of the things we’ve done on our foreign skydiving adventures and there are plenty of sites and fora sites to serve experienced skydivers very well indeed, unfortunately they are choc-full of jargon and internal politics which first time jumpers simply aren't interested in (so they tell me anyway). This is a guide for those who are thinking about making their first skydive and therefore I try tokeep this in mind most of the time.
So, as this section builds it’ll be updated it with new drop zone information and reviews from students who have actually trained and jumped in these places and some of it may start-off life from our blogs page. So if you have anything to add here, don't be shy! share the joy 
For now, I'll focus on three options. I’ll mention the only two places where you will find BPA affiliated drop zones outside of the UK and where you can be quality assured (by the BPA inspections and process) of a professional and yet fun approach to skydiving in the sun. I’ll also discuss the very realistic option of taking your own skydiving instructors with you to ‘the sun’. If you want to add to these then register on this site and submit your blogs, and please do note that these blogs are really for those who are either first timers, students or potential skydiver tales and they are not for blatant adverts from drop zones although I’m sure that DZ staff will want to respond to blogs. Our part will always be to air the issues, and ensure freedom of speech and level the playing field for the benefit of the new skydiver.
What follows is a summary of what we see as some of the best options for skydiving vacations, which balance the best of safety, weather and local cultural enjoyment. This list will grow, using your input, therefore – please blog your recommendations (hopefully our blog will be fully operational very soon).
Cyprus Parachute Centre
Is a well know and highly popular holiday location in the Mediterranean, just south of Turkey, has it has its own full time parachute center which is situated a few miles east of Larnaca. It pretty much closes completely for the whole of August when things get a little too hot for a piston engine aircraft (BN Islander) to climb to altitude quickly, although from time to time there are visiting aircraft for meets, competitions and expeditions. The centre also closes down each afternoon because the winds increase after lunch and it’s safer to jump only inn the mornings and use the afternoons for training courses and parachute packing/maintenance. So at Dhekelia (a 20 min taxi ride east of Larnaca) they usually jump between 7.00am and 13.00. That’s not really a bad thing, because you can get your 2/3 jumps in during the morning and then spend the afternoon sightseeing (or learning to pack parachutes). The full suite of skydiving courses are available in Cyprus including AFF, tandem skydiving and static line although it’s usually pretty well booked up and therefore advance booking is highly recommended. I also love the food and the wine and the girls and the sea and the sand. There is also some terrific diving and I recommend the Zenobia Ferry in Larnaca Harbour. Incidentally, make sure you talk to your diving instructor if you plan to go jumping and to your skydiving instructor if you’ve recently been diving.
Bad Lippspringe, Germany
RAPA, as its also known (stands for 'Rhine Army Parachute Association'); in Germany, near the picturesque village of Bad Lippspringe, not far from Paderborn you will find the only BPA drop zone in Mainland Europe. With two turbine aircraft, over a hundred and twenty parachute systems, this is a full time operation which is up there with the best of them. Although this place is primarily to support service personnel posted to Germany, civilians can also do tandem skydiving, AFF or static line parachuting and because it’s really busy, I advise you to book well in advance. This place is a real hidden gem! It’s a community all in itself and it’s quite easy to eat and drink and live at the DZ, camping or caravanning. Although that’s what I tend to do, I keep reminding myself to stay in the local guesthouses in Bad Lippspringe which are excellent value for money and which turn a skydiving trip into a combined family vacation.
These are the only two BPA affiliated drop zones outside of UK. Yes, I know that Jersey has a BPA affiliated drop zone although it’s not technically in UK (it’s GB) and I’ve already included that as part of the main list for UK drop zones.
What does a 'BPA affiliated drop zone' mean to you?
At one level its a quality assurance system and statistical reporting system so you can measure how efficient and effective the procedures are. If anything ever goes wrong at any UK based dropzone or affiliated DZ, the incident is investigated by an independent team of instructor/examiner sfrom the BPA. Lessons get learned, procedures get changed or adapted and equipment design can be ammended as a result. The BPA also has ‘teeth’ to take away ratings from individuals who have been investigated and found negligent. Therefore if you see a drop zone outside of these places that implies it comes under the BPA supervision, be sceptical! The BPA can’t take official action on any incident outside of these affiliated locations and the vacation operators know it.
Another option in considering a skydiving vacation is to take your own instructor abroad with you.
If you are thinking about going to more exotic places, use our six point check list to help you to stay safe and healthy.
If you've decided to treat yourself to that AFF course and you just want the cheapest deal, check this out.
