Instructor Rhys Cobden-Cox showing Lina Landgren a great view. Photo supplied: Amy Schaverian
The skies above Airlie Beach were busier than usual this Saturday, as dozens of first-time skydivers helped chase a world record, turning World Skydiving Day into one of the local drop zone's biggest days of the year.
The Skydive Australia drop zone in Airlie Beach had a standout day, recording the second most jumps across the company's eight drop zones with 66 tandem skydives, compared to its usual daily average of 30 to 35.
"We had free food, free drinks and a fancy dress competition going on throughout the day," said Skydive Australia spokesperson and Airlie Beach drop zone manager Amy Schaverian.
"It was a really good day."
The increased activity formed part of World Skydiving Day, held on the second Saturday of July, which brings people together from around the world with the shared goal of getting as many people to jump out of a plane as possible.
Australia has become one of the event's strongest contributors, with local jumpers among the first in the world to take part as the day begins. Last year, Australia recorded 2,594 skydives, including 715 first-time tandem jumps, the second-highest national contribution behind the United States.