Learn To Skydive Solo near Perth, Bunbury & Albany
Western Australia's only year-round, APF-accredited skydiving school. Complete your 10-stage Accelerated Freefall (AFF) course in 5 days at Hillman Farm Airport, Darkan — 2 hours from Perth. Maximum 4 students per course. International A-License from $3,635.
What is Accelerated Freefall (AFF)?
Accelerated Freefall (AFF) is a 10 stage solo skydiving program and the prerequisite for earning your APF A-License. In Western Australia, The Skydive School runs AFF as a 5 day residential program at Hillman Farm Airport, Darkan - 2 hours south of Perth and 1 hour from Bunbury. Unlike a tandem jump where you are attached to an instructor, AFF equips you with your own parachute from jump one. Two professional instructors jump beside you in freefall, holding your harness to keep you stable while you deploy your own parachute, steer your own canopy, and land yourself using radio guidance from the ground.
How the Progression Works:
- Ground School: 8 hours of hands-on safety, gear, and flight training.
- Stages 1 to 3 (The Basics): You jump from 14,000ft with two instructors holding your harness. You learn altitude awareness, basic body position, and how to deploy your parachute.
- Stages 4 to 8 (Building Skills): You drop down to one instructor. You learn turns, forward movement, and instability recovery (backflips). By the end, we let go, and you fly entirely unassisted.
- Stages 9 & 10 (Graduation): Solo exits from lower altitudes and advanced canopy skills. You are now cleared to jump completely solo!
Stop being a passenger. The ultimate introduction to flying solo. On this training tandem, you will execute the exact same freefall and deployment sequence as an AFF Stage 1 jump, giving you hands-on experience with the security of being strapped to an instructor.
- Active Freefall Stability Training
- Guided Parachute Checks
- Guided Canopy Navigation
Jumps with Two Instructors. The first three stages of the Learn to Skydive course. For those who want to try skydiving without committing to the full course.
- Ground School
- Stages 1, 2, and 3 of AFF
- Radio Assisted Parachute Landings
- Logbook & APF Membership
1st steps to obtaining an Internationally Recognised Skydiving License. The AFF Program is the most effective way to become a solo skydiver and can be completed in only 5 days or less (weather depending).
- 10-Stages of AFF
- Online Course & Ground School
- APF Student Membership
- FREE onsite accommodation
- Parachute packing
- Logbook, Googles, Skydive Jersey
Skydiving near Perth, Western Australia
Hillman Farm Airport in Darkan is the closest full-training solo skydiving dropzone to Perth, located approximately 210km south-east of the city via Albany Highway. The drive takes around 2 hours and 20 minutes, passing through Armadale and the Darling Scarp before opening into the agricultural landscape of the South West.
Perth students make up the majority of our AFF intake. We take a maximum of 4 students per course, so Perth residents are encouraged to book several weeks in advance.
Book Your AFF CourseAFF Skydiving Course — Western Australia
No previous tandem skydives required. Courses run Wednesday to Sunday at The Skydive School, Hillman Farm Airport, Darkan WA. Maximum weight 95kg.
Hillman Farm Basecamp
Stay on-site at WA's premier sport skydiving centre. Shared bunkhouse available for students - BYO Bedding (Pillows and Balnkets) or enjoy our camp grounds.
The 5-Day Intensive
Our Wednesday to Sunday schedule fits perfectly into FIFO rosters, annual leave, or university breaks. Booking in advance is essential as we only take on 4 students per week. No big courses, so we can ensure you get the attention you paid for.
Ground School
Our ground training starts Wednesdays at 9am sharp. It equips you with everything you need to be ready for your AFF Stage 1. Learn about the equipment operation, safety checks, Freefall body position & sequence, Canopy piloting & landing patterns, Emergency procedures and more.
The Progression
10 Stages of Accelerated Freefall (AFF) with personalised instruction and HD video debriefs. You will be guided to the ground by experienced instructors via radio control and backup signals if the radio fails. This is the most efficient path to becoming a solo skydiver and working towards your internationally recognised skydiving A license.
Parachute Packing
Learn to pack your own main canopy. Included in the course at no extra cost. No nasty hidden fees to learn to pack.
The Sky-Fam
Communal BBQs, Parties and fireside stories. You don't just leave with been able to skydive; you join a community, a family, a tribe of like minded individuals who just enjoy life. It's hard to explain, but wait till you see. You aren't just a customer, you will be part of the family.
Skydiving near Bunbury, Western Australia
Hillman Farm Airport in Darkan is approximately 115km north-east of Bunbury, around 1 hour and 20 minutes via Coalfields Highway. It is the closest dedicated solo skydiving training facility to the South West's largest city.
Bunbury students frequently arrive Wednesday morning and return Sunday afternoon, making the AFF course a natural fit for a long weekend or a week's annual leave. The short drive and on-site bunkhouse accommodation mean there's no need for hotels or long travel days.
Book Your AFF Course
International
Skydiving License
Don't just jump - get certified. Our International Skydiving License programs at Hillman Farm Skydiving club are the gold standard in Western Australia. Your official APF ticket is valid at any dropzone on the planet.
CERTIFICATE A
- Global Entry: Jump solo anywhere.
- Expert Prep: All 10 Accelerated Freefall (AFF) stages plus 10 additional skydives.
- Accredited: APF & FAI approved.
Your foundational skydiving ticket. This is the official start of your journey as a sport skydiver.
View PackagesCERTIFICATE B
- B-Rel: Jump with your mates.
- Jump Anywhere: With Confidence.
- Internationally Recognised: Go Anywhere.
The most popular international skydive license for travelers and South West locals.
Enquire NowCERTIFICATE C & D
- Wingsuiting: Unlock bird flight.
- Camera: Fly high-end media.
- Displays: Land at public events.
The pro-tier skydiving ticket. For those who want to make the sky their office.
Go Pro Level
HILLMAN FARM
WA ACADEMY BASE
Located at Hillman Farm Airport, Darkan WA — Western Australia's only year-round, full-training skydiving facility. Our private inland airfield means fewer weather holds, more jumps per day, and faster student progression than any coastal dropzone in the state.
Learn To Skydive
FAQ
Everything you need to know about earning your International Skydiving License and residential life at Hillman Farm.
Located in Darkan, just 2 hours from Perth and 1 hour from Bunbury, our inland dropzone avoids the constant coastal weather delays. We are a dedicated training school, not a tourist tandem factory. You get a consistent training environment, a fast Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft, and a genuine club atmosphere. We also teach you to pack your own parachute at no additional cost.
Yes. We train you to the strict Australian Parachute Federation (APF) standard. Because the APF is a member of the FAI, your license is recognised globally. You can take your "A" License to dropzones in the USA, Europe, and beyond.
Yes, we operate as a residential skydiving camp. We have a shared bunkhouse, with separate boys and girls bunks. Or if you are more into camping or have an RV, we have ample camping space available onsite.
You must be at least 16 years old (under 18s require guardian consent). To ensure safety margins on our specialised student parachutes, the maximum weight limit is 95kg. If you are close to this limit, please contact our Head Instructor.
Your instructors are in freefall right next to you to assist. Additionally, all student skydiving rigs are equipped with an Automatic Activation Device (AAD) which acts as a backup computer to automatically deploy your parachute at a safe altitude if you don't do it yourself.
At The Skydive School, the full 10-stage AFF course — the prerequisite for your APF A-License — is priced at $3,635 AUD. This includes all 10 AFF skydives, ground school, parachute packing tuition, student gear hire, logbook, goggles, skydive jersey, and on-site bunkhouse accommodation for the 5-day residential course. There are no hidden extras.
No — a tandem jump is not required before starting the AFF course. AFF is designed to take complete beginners straight into solo skydiving from jump one, with two instructors jumping alongside you in freefall. Many of our students come to us with zero skydiving experience and complete the full course within a single week.
Our inland location at Darkan gives us significantly more jumpable days than coastal dropzones, which are frequently affected by sea breezes. If a weather delay prevents you from completing your course stages, we will work with you to schedule the remaining jumps at no additional cost. We operate Wednesday to Sunday weekly, so getting the course completed and getting you started on your skydiving journey will be a breeze.
The APF A-License is performance based, not a fixed jump count. To qualify you must complete all 10 stages of AFF, then pass 10 accuracy landings, a canopy handling course, and a written exam — all assessed to APF standard. At The Skydive School we offer an A-License Fast-Track package which adds the 10 post-AFF consolidation skydives needed to meet the performance requirements, for an additional $1,400.
Yes. Skydiving in Western Australia is fully legal and regulated by the Australian Parachute Federation (APF), which operates under CASA (Civil Aviation Safety Authority) oversight. The Skydive School is an APF-accredited facility operating from a licensed private airfield at Hillman Farm Airport, Darkan WA. All our instructors hold current APF qualifications and our equipment meets the APF's mandatory safety standards.
Learn to Skydive in WA: The Premier AFF Training Centre
Looking for the best place to learn to skydive in Western Australia? The Skydive School at Hillman Farm (Darkan, WA) is a dedicated training facility specialising in Accelerated Freefall (AFF) courses. Our inland location offers reliable weather for consistent student progression, one-on-one coaching from dedicated APF-certified instructors, and a genuine club atmosphere focused on turning you into a licensed skydiver.
- The AFF Course: Comprehensive, progressive training designed to take you from your first jump to your solo skydiving license.
- Premium Aircraft: Fast, comfortable flights to 14,000ft in our Cessna 208 Caravan, maximizing your jump time.
- The Inland Advantage: Located just 2 hours from Perth & only 1 hour from Bunbury, our Darkan dropzone means fewer weather holds and more jumps per day.
- The Community: We aren't a tandem factory. We are a real skydiving school focused on safety, progression, and welcoming you into the sport.
WA SKYDIVING
TRAINING SEASONS
While other schools close for the summer, The Skydive Schools flies All-Year Round. Because we are based at Hillman Farm, we leverage unique inland weather patterns that provide world-class training conditions in every season.
Winter
The premium season for technical mastery. Crisp, stable, and rewarding.
- Unrivaled Stability: Cooler air density means a smoother, faster freefall.
- Superior Visibility: The highest level of atmosphere clarity for Perth.
- Optimal Learning: No heat haze allows for 100% mental focus during debriefs.
Spring & Autumn
The sweet spot of the calendar. A perfect harmony of comfort and consistency.
- Ideal Comfort: Mild temperatures—neither winter bite nor summer heat.
- Consistent Windows: Long stretches of stable, flyable high-pressure days.
- Vibrant Scenery: Watch the Wheatbelt landscape transform from the air.
Summer
Long days and vibrant energy. We utilize early starts for peak conditions.
- Morning Excellence: We launch early to catch the glass-smooth morning air.
- Vibrant Culture: Peak time for the communal "Hillman Hangar Life."
- Extended Hours: Maximum daylight provides more flexibility for jump stages.
SAFETY FIRST: All flight operations are subject to real-time weather assessments by our Chief Instructor at Hillman Farm base.
The Premier Hub for Skydiving Western Australia
Solo Skydive Training WA
If you are looking to learn to skydive in Western Australia, our facility at Hillman Farm Airport provides the only year round training environment in the state. Our inland location in Darkan offers stable air and clear skies, perfect for solo skydive courses and rapid AFF progression.
Hillman Farm Skydiving
Our Hillman Farm skydiving academy is built for students. From ground school to your A-License, we provide residential skydiving camps that include on-site accommodation, modern student gear, and expert instruction from WA's most experienced solo trainers.