Safety & Accessibility
Safety you can Trust
With over 25 years of experience, BIGWAVE Skydive offers one of the best places to go skydiving, whilst also prioritising the safety of all our customers and staff. We pride ourselves in our 100% safety record. We achieve this through adhering to strict safety guidelines, using highly qualified and experienced Skydive Instructors, maintaining our aircraft and equipment to the highest standards, and using the latest technology in skydive equipment available. You can rest assured that your skydive is as safe as possible with our team.
Member of the Australian Parachute Federation
We are a member of the governing body of skydiving in Australia – The Australian Parachute Federation. Compliance with all relevant regulations is mandatory, with the APF regularly conducting safety audits.
Skydiving is for Everyone
We believe special accessibility needs should never be a barrier to experiencing the most exhilarating adventure of your life. Our trained instructors, specialised equipment, and individual assessment process exist to make that possible.
- Individual Assessment for Every Guest
- Specialised Adapted Equipment
- Wheelchair Accessible Facilities
- APF-Certified Instructors
- 12,000+ Jumps Per Instructor
Our Commitment - Access, Safety and Dignity
BIGWAVE Skydive takes a considered, case-by-case approach to accessibility. We don’t apply a blanket response — instead, our experienced team works directly with each individual to understand their specific needs and design a safe, enjoyable experience around them. We’ve accommodated hundreds of guests with varying accessibility requirements. 1 in 5 Australians identify as having either a non-visible or visible disability making accessibility coupled with safety our highest priority. You can download a copy of our accessibility guide here.
Every guest with special accessibility requirements receives a personal consultation with one of our Senior Instructors. We assess each situation on its own merits.
We maintain adapted harness systems and equipment designed to safely accommodate a range of physical conditions, ensuring both security and comfort throughout the jump.
Our instructors hold Australian Parachute Federation certification and have extensive experience conducting tandems jumps with guests with diverse sensory, non-visible and physical needs.
Our Shellharbour drop zone features accessible parking, accessible bathrooms, and ground level check in and safety briefing area to ensure a comfortable accessible experience from arrival to landing.
How we cater for your Accessibility Requirements
Below is a guide to how we approach different types of accessibility requirements. Every requirement is unique — if yours isn’t listed here, please contact us directly and we will work through it with you personally.
Wheelchair Users & Limited Mobility
We individually assess all guests who use wheelchairs or have significant mobility limitations. Our instructors are experienced in modified boarding procedures and adapted harness fitting to ensure a safe, secure attachment throughout the jump.
- Individual pre-booking assessment with a senior instructor
- Adapted harness and securing equipment
- Modified aircraft boarding assistance
- Accessible drop zone facilities and parking
Limb Differences and Amputations
Guests with limb differences or amputations are assessed individually. In many cases we are able to accommodate these guests with modified harness configurations. The nature and extent of the limb difference will inform the approach we take.
- Personalised harness fitting and configuration
- Pre-jump briefing adapted to individual requirements
- Experienced instructor pairing for the jump
Chronic Conditions and Muscular Disorders
Guests with conditions such as cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, or muscular dystrophy are assessed on a case-by-case basis. We consider the nature of the condition, level of function, and any specialist medical advice provided.
- Medical documentation review prior to booking confirmation
- Collaboration with guest’s medical team where required
- Adapted procedures to minimise physical exertion by the guest
Vision Impairment & Blindness
Skydiving is a profoundly sensory experience beyond sight alone — the rush of freefall, wind, altitude, and landing are equally extraordinary for guests who are blind or have low vision. We provide fully verbal and tactile briefings and orientation for all guests with vision impairment.
- Fully verbal briefing and orientation procedures
- Tactile familiarisation with equipment prior to jump
- Dedicated instructor verbal guidance throughout
- Support person welcome to assist on the ground
Hearing Loss & Deafness
We accommodate guests who are deaf or hard of hearing through visual and written briefings, sign language interpretation support (with advance notice), and visual cue-based instruction during the jump experience.
- Written and visual briefing materials
- Sign language interpreter support with advance notice
- Visual and tactile signals used during the jump
- Support person or interpreter welcome
Autism & Sensory Processing Conditions
We understand that new environments and unexpected stimuli can be challenging. We offer pre-visit familiarisation, quiet check-in where possible, and detailed advance information about every stage of the experience so guests can prepare thoroughly.
- Detailed pre-visit information pack on request
- Quiet, low-stimulation check-in option where available
- Consistent instructor from briefing through to landing
- Support person welcome throughout
Cognitive & Intellectual Disabilities
Our team is experienced in delivering clear, simple briefings adapted to the communication needs of each guest. We work closely with support persons or carers and take as much time as needed to ensure every guest fully understands the experience.
- Simplified briefing materials available on request
- Carer or support person involvement in all stages
- Extended briefing time as required
- Consent and capacity assessed sensitively and carefully
Anxiety, PTSD & Mental Health Conditions
Skydiving can be a profoundly transformative experience for many people living with mental health conditions. We take individual circumstances seriously and ask that guests inform us in advance so we can tailor the experience and ensure appropriate support is in place.
- Confidential pre-booking discussion with our team
- Flexible, unhurried briefing pace
- Option to bring a support person on the day
- Right to withdraw at any point without pressure
Temporary Injuries & Post-Surgical Recovery
Guests recovering from surgery or managing a temporary injury are assessed individually. We may request medical clearance from a treating doctor and will recommend rescheduling if the risk to the guest’s recovery is significant.
- Medical clearance process with your treating doctor
- Flexible rescheduling at no charge on medical grounds
- Individual risk assessment with our senior instructor
Still not sure or have any questions?
If your condition or situation isn’t described above, please contact us directly. We have never taken a one-size-fits-all approach and we will always take the time to discuss your individual circumstances before making any assessment.
- Call or DM us on 0432 715 031
- All enquiries treated with complete confidentiality
- No obligation — just a conversation
The Process - How it works
Our accessibility assessment process is straightforward, confidential, and designed to get you in the air as safely and smoothly as possible.
Our Credentials - Safety you can Trust
Our accessibility program is built on the same foundation as our overall operation — over two decades of experience, an unblemished safety record, and instructors who are among the most experienced in Australia.
20+ years of Operation
BIGWAVE Skydive has been operating since 2004 with a 100% safety record across thousands of jumps.
12K+ Jumps per Instructor
Every one of our instructors has completed over 12,000 jumps — experience that matters when it counts.
900+ 5-Star Reviews
Sydney’s highest-rated skydive with a perfect 5.0 — reflecting the quality of every single experience we deliver.
APF Certified Operation
Fully certified and regulated by the Australian Parachute Federation — Australia’s governing body for skydiving safety.
Our Equipment
BIGWAVE Skydive uses UPT Micro Sigma with Icarus TX2 parachuting systems. These systems are considered to be the safest skydive technology in the worldwide market. Our qualified Skydive Instructors inspect the condition of the gear after every jump while our qualified parachute riggers perform scheduled safety checks and maintenance. All of our Tandem Skydive systems are equipped with the latest in back-up automatic opening systems.
Our Plane
With our Cessna 206 you’ll enjoy a scenic flight up to altitude. With your own large window to take in the spectacular views of Shellharbour, the coastline and surrounds. We maintain our aircraft to charter standard, under strict regulation by the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).
Our Jump Pilot Team are all qualified and fully licensed Skydiving Pilots.
Our Experience
Our crew not only loves what they do, they’re fully qualified and highly experienced. Everyone from the ground crew to the senior instructors and jump pilots are passionate about creating a memorable experience for each and every guest.