A week of skydiving over Diani Beach brought together flyers from around the world for big jumps, warm skies, and a relaxed, unforgettable atmosphere
After a week of skydiving under the beautiful skies of Kenya, I am now on my way home to Amsterdam.
For over 20 years, I have traveled with my friend and longtime roommate, Edwin Lebrun, to attend skydiving events around the world. This was country number 32 for me, many of them in tropical locations like Diani Beach.
Location and Setup
The location was perfectly chosen. We stayed at the Diamond Leisure hotel, with the dropzone right in front of it, set along an incredible white sand beach. Diani Airport was only a few minutes away.
Matt and Lesley Yount arranged a Cessna Caravan for jumps from 12,000 feet. It was not a typical skydiving setup, with no steps or bars, and we were able to load up to 13 skydivers. For this event, it worked very well.
Getting Started
Edwin and I arrived two days early to adjust to the heat, as it is still winter in the Netherlands, and to get a few jumps in before the event began. Heavy rain during those first days meant we managed only one jump before things officially started.
Going through security at an international airport like Diani is always part of the experience. The reactions from regular passengers seeing skydivers with parachutes in the terminal never gets old. Telling people that wearing a parachute is the bare minimum to board a plane led to some great interactions.
The Boogie Atmosphere
After the welcome dinner, which included a safety briefing and procedures from Matt and his team, we started jumping on Monday.
The smiles in the plane, in freefall, and after landing told the whole story. “Pole pole” (relax) and “hakuna matata” (no worries) truly defined the atmosphere of the week.
Meeting skydivers from all over the world is always special. Jumping with Alethia Austin was a highlight. She was incredibly fast. I was happy to leave the plane as one of the last divers, but she was simply unbeatable that week. Her energy carried through both in the air and on the ground, including an early morning yoga session on the beach.
Photo by Nadia de Baère
Special Jumps
A boogie without in-hops is no longer a proper boogie. On the final day, we jumped at Vipingo Beach, north of Mombasa.
Our next jump was over the PGA-rated Vipingo Ridge golf course, which also has its own private airport. After a great lunch, we returned to our home dropzone and built what is now the largest FS star in Kenya, an 11-way. Every country has its own records.
High Altitude Highlight
Matt also brought high-altitude equipment, which allowed eight of us to jump from 21,000 feet.
During that jump, an Insta camera was knocked off Greg’s helmet. Incredibly, it was found later that same day by a scuba diver. The odds of that happening are almost impossible to comprehend, but it is a true story.
I would like to thank Matt, Lesley, Alethia, and all the skydivers who came from around the world to create such a memorable event. Relaxed, joyful, and full of connection, this week in Kenya delivered exactly what skydiving at its best should be.
