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Diploma in Commercial Skydiving

Diploma Course Modules
Course Director
2009 Start Dates
Course Fees
Students Past & Present
Application Documents

32 Week Course Includes 200 Skydives Over 98% Employment Rate

New Zealand Skydiving School is the longest established skydiving organization in the country and the first and only training establishment to offer a formal skydiving qualification which aims to teach students all the skills required to make them highly employable in the international skydiving industry.

The 32 week full-time Diploma in Commercial Skydiving includes 200 skydives, teaches students the latest skydiving techniques and covers a vast range of subjects to give students the best start in the industry. The qualification is New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) approved and also recognized by New Zealand Parachute Industry Association (NZPIA).

The course is broken down into 5 modules (see course modules) and includes a 12 week organised work placement in a commercial dropzone. As a result of valuable industry experience to date 98.5% of graduates have been offered employment upon completion of the course.

Diploma Course Modules
The one year, full-time course consists of 200 skydives and the following five modules:

Module 1 – A License in Skydiving
Internationally recognized certificate that includes 25 skydives. This incorporates five relative work coaching jumps, designed to build your freefall skills.

Module 2 - Dropzone operations
This is a highly specialized field for which there had previously been no formal training available. This module will provide a good understanding towards coordinating dropzone activities. Skilled Manifestors and people familiar with all areas of dropzone operations are sought after throughout the world. The module includes Customer Services, Manifesting, Rule Familiarisation, First Aid, Sales Techniques and Office Skills.

Module 3 - Commercial Skydiving
This module offers in-depth training in skydiving with an emphasis on the commercial tourist industry. In addition to the practical skydiving this module includes specialist sections on freefall camera and video, spotting, accuracy, meteorology, relative work training, workforce promotion and self-management. On successful completion of this module you will receive the NZPIA “B certificate” - minimum requirement for freefall camera or video person in New Zealand.

Module 4 - Advanced Skydiving
This module includes more specialist areas of skydiving. Students will learn all methods of parachute packing and maintenance, video editing, giving radio assistance to student parachutists, extraordinary parachute descents and emergency situation action plans.

Module 5 - Work Placement
Students experience an organized 12 week work placement in a commercial dropzone applying everything they have learnt on the course. Work placements are throughout New Zealand or selected overseas dropzones. This invaluable experience has resulted in 98.5% of graduates being offered related employment upon completion of the course.

NB: Students who already have an FAI recognized A license will complete 175 skydives, rather than the 200 required for the full course. Licensed students also finish the course 4 weeks earlier unless they pay the full cost of the course and wish to stay to receive the full 200 jumps.

See what Diploma students (past and present) are doing at the moment on our News and Events Page.

Course Director
The Diploma Course Director, Mark Horning is a well known and highly respected figure in the international skydiving world and a fountain of knowledge for diploma course students. Mark  joined the industry back in the early 1990’s at home in South Africa, since then his skydiving portfolio reads well with over 8,500 skydives accumulated over half of which are AFF and coaching jumps. Mark has vast experience in areas including Accelerated Freefall, Tandem and Formation Skydiving. He has competed in the States and was on the 246 World Record at Skydive Chicago.

To assist Mark in student training we have a number of highly qualified internationally experienced instructors.

2008 - 2009 Course Dates:
Start - Finish:

  • 19 January 2009 - 18 September 2009
  • 20 April 2009 - 18 December 2009
  • 20 July 2009 - 26 March 2010
  • 05 October 2009 - 12 June 2010

Course Fees
Due to Ministry of Education approval the Diploma in Commercial Skydiving is partly Government funded for New Zealand and in some cases Australian students. Furthermore student Loans and Allowances are available through StudyLink for New Zealand students wishing to complete this course. Information relating to course fees varies for domestic and international students, please contact us with your details to receive the relevant information.

Visit Prospectus and Application Forms to download more information, or contact us and we will send you a copy.