Here's the short answer: at The Skydive School, the recommended path to your skydiving licence costs from $5,610. If you need a few extra jumps on top, they're $105 each, including gear hire. Here's exactly where the money goes, no fine print.
Skydiving prices can be confusing. Some places quote a headline number that leaves out accommodation, gear or membership, and nobody likes finding out about those on day one. So let's lay it all out, step by step.
First, what actually is a "skydiving licence"?
In Australia, your first licence is the APF A-Licence (Certificate A), issued to the Australian Parachute Federation standard. It's your ticket to jump without an instructor, and because the APF is a member of the FAI, it's recognised at dropzones around the world.
Here's the part most people don't realise: you can't just buy a licence. It's performance-based. You complete all 10 stages of Accelerated Freefall (AFF), then pass 10 accuracy landings, a canopy handling course and a written exam, all assessed to the APF standard. That's why nobody can honestly promise a fixed price or a fixed number of jumps.
1Learn to fly solo: the AFF course, $3,635
This is the big one, and it's where you go from zero experience to jumping on your own. It runs over 5 days, Wednesday to Sunday, with a maximum of 4 students per course. Here's everything the $3,635 covers:
- Ground school: about 8 hours of hands-on training, plus the online course
- All 10 AFF jumps: two instructors beside you for stages 1–3, one for stages 4–8, solo for 9–10
- Student gear hire: you don't need to buy anything
- APF student membership
- Parachute packing lessons
- Logbook, goggles and skydive jersey
- Free on-site accommodation: no hotel bill for the week
And if the weather stops you finishing your stages, we schedule the remaining jumps with you at no additional cost.
2Build the skills: Fly With Friends, from $5,610
Finishing AFF means you can skydive solo, but you're not licensed yet. The next step is building experience, and this is the package we recommend. Fly With Friends includes the full AFF course (so it's not $5,610 on top), plus:
- 5 B-Rel jumps with an instructor: the skills you need before you're allowed to fly with other people
- 5 solo jumps to consolidate what you've learned
- 20 jumps in total: 15 of them with an instructor helping and supporting you
We see the best results from students who take this path. It's the most direct route to meeting the A-Licence standard.
Is the package actually worth it? Bought separately, the same 20 jumps would cost $5,910: the $3,635 AFF course, plus 5 instructor B-Rel jumps at $350 and 5 solo jumps at $105. Fly With Friends is $5,610, so you save $300.
Prefer to pay as you go? Solo jumps are $105 each, including gear hire. B-Rel jumps with an instructor are $350.
3If you need a few more jumps
Most of our students reach their A-Licence within 20–25 jumps. Some get there sooner, some take a little longer: it depends on how you progress, and that's completely normal. If you need extra jumps to meet the standard, they're $105 each, including gear hire. So even if you need 5 extra jumps to reach 25, that's $525 on top, no surprises.
The real cost, all in one place
| Step | What you get | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Optional | Tandem AFF (Stage 1): a full-day Wednesday taster that counts toward your AFF training | $949 |
| Learn | 10-stage AFF course: 10 jumps over 5 days, ground school, gear, APF student membership, accommodation | $3,635 |
| Recommended | Fly With Friends: the AFF course plus 5 instructor B-Rel and 5 solo jumps: 20 jumps, 15 with an instructor ($300 less than buying them separately) | from $5,610 |
| If needed | Extra jumps to meet the APF's A-Licence standard, including gear hire (most students need 20–25 in total) | $105 each |
| Pay as you go | B-Rel jump: with an instructor $350; coached $260 for TSS students (all B-Rels $350 if you trained elsewhere) | $260–$350 |
Realistic budget for most students: $5,610–$6,135: Fly With Friends, plus up to 5 extra jumps at $105 each if you need them.
What's not included: the no-BS part
- The licence itself. You earn it by meeting the APF standard: no package can guarantee it, and anyone who promises otherwise isn't being straight with you.
- Extra jumps beyond your package, if you need them: $105 each, including gear hire.
- Getting to Darkan. Hillman Farm is about 2 hours from Perth and 1 hour from Bunbury. The good news: course students stay free on site, so there's no accommodation bill.
- Your own gear. You don't need it: student gear hire is included. Buying your own rig is something licensed skydivers choose to do later.
How to keep the cost down
- Do the course in one block. Five days in a row keeps your skills fresh. Big gaps between jumps usually mean extra refresher time.
- Train inland. Our inland location means fewer weather holds than coastal dropzones: less waiting, fewer wasted trips.
- Use the free bunkhouse instead of paying for hotels.
- Learn to pack your own parachute: the lessons are included in your course.
Comparing schools? Ask these questions
A cheaper headline price isn't always cheaper. Before you book anywhere, ask:
- Is accommodation included, and if not, what will it cost for the week?
- Are gear hire, APF membership and parachute packing lessons included?
- What happens if the weather stops a jump, do I pay again?
- How many students are on each course?
- Is the school open all year, or will I be waiting months to finish?
Ready to start your licence?
Courses start every Wednesday at 9am, year-round, with a maximum of 4 students. Tell us which path suits you and we'll check dates.
AFF course $3,635 · Fly With Friends from $5,610
Rather talk it through? Call 0415 486 422
Skydiving licence costs: quick answers
How much does it cost to get a skydiving licence in WA?
At The Skydive School, the recommended path to an APF A-Licence costs from $5,610 with the Fly With Friends package: the full 10-stage AFF course plus 5 instructor B-Rel and 5 solo jumps: 20 jumps, 15 of them with an instructor, and $300 less than buying them separately. The AFF course on its own is $3,635. Because the A-Licence is performance-based, some students need a few extra jumps on top, at $105 each including gear hire.
Is the A-Licence included in the AFF course?
No. The $3,635 AFF course teaches you to skydive solo, but the A-Licence is a separate, performance-based qualification set by the Australian Parachute Federation (APF). After all 10 AFF stages you complete 10 accuracy landings, a canopy handling course and a written exam, assessed to the APF standard.
How many jumps do I need to get my A-Licence?
There's no fixed number: it's based on performance. Most of our students reach their A-Licence within 20–25 jumps; some get there sooner and some take a little longer. Extra jumps are $105 each, including gear hire.
What's included in the $3,635 AFF course?
About 8 hours of ground school plus the online course, all 10 AFF jumps, student gear hire, APF student membership, parachute packing lessons, a logbook, goggles, a skydive jersey and free on-site accommodation for the 5-day course. If weather stops you finishing your stages, the remaining jumps are scheduled at no additional cost.
How much does a skydive cost after I finish the AFF course?
Solo jumps are $105 each, including gear hire. B-Rel jumps (the training you need before you can fly with other skydivers) are $350 with an instructor, or $260 for a coached B-Rel if you're a TSS student. If you learned to skydive elsewhere, all B-Rel jumps are $350.
How long does it take to get a skydiving licence?
The AFF course takes 5 days (Wednesday to Sunday, weather depending), and courses start every Wednesday, year-round. Most students then reach their A-Licence within 20–25 jumps in total, how quickly depends on how often you jump and how you progress.