Like A Bird

Diana Bick’s idea of ‘unwinding’ isn’t for the fainthearted.

She loves to jump out of planes.

But up until two years ago, the Traralgon resident had preferred two feet firmly on the ground.

It was a random idea to go skydiving on her thirty-first birthday that led her to the incredibly transformative experience, and she has since clocked up more than 350 jumps with the Commando Skydivers Club.

Commandos is a not-for-profit skydiving club that has been operating since 1961. They operate from the  Latrobe Regional Airport on weekends and most public holidays—weather permitting.

Now an avid member and a board secretary with the club, Diana spends nearly every weekend with fellow skydivers, doing what she loves most.

She told us about the ins and out, ups and down of being a skydiver and how it has changed her life for the better.

Firstly, how do you unwind?

I unwind by doing things that keep me moving and engaged. I like skydiving and surfing; they are both activities that require a lot of presence of focus, where everything else on the ground or onshore fades away. I also like cooking and playing a little piano.

Would you classify yourself as an ‘adrenaline-junkie’?

No, I think that’s a common misconception people have about adventure sports. The first few skydives are certainly full of adrenaline, and whenever you are trying something new on a skydive or if you encounter a problem, there will be adrenaline. Most of the time, however, it’s all quite calm and focused. It’s a feeling of being fully present—that’s what I think most skydivers are “addicted” to.

When and why did you decide to do your first sky-dive?

I decided to try a tandem skydive for my 31^st birthday. I had never thought about skydiving before, and I still don’t really know where the idea came from—it just popped into my head! Before that, I wouldn’t even go on theme park rides. The only ride I can remember going on was the scenic railway at Luna Park, and I screamed so much that a little boy sitting in front of me turned around to frown at me!

Where did you do your first sky-dive, and can you describe to me how it felt?

I did a tandem skydive in Torquay in January 2023. It was one of the most transformative experiences of my life!

Once the plane door opened and people started disappearing though it, it was like my frontal lobe switched off, and only the primitive part of my brain was working. Even though you know you’re doing a skydive, and you agreed to do it, every part of you is still screaming “emergency! You’re going to die!” It was a visceral, intense feeling of fear. But the amazing thing is, instead of running away from the fear, you move towards it, until you’re right inside of it hanging your legs out of the door of the plane, and then you fall through it.

It was the most mind-bending experience—there was a moment of pure terror and awe, like watching my own death, and then it became the most present state I have ever experienced. I had no thoughts. It felt like there was no before or after—it just felt like eternity, staring down at the beautiful pattern of sand and ocean, feeling weightless and free. And then the canopy opened, and it was over—and I was still alive!

I used to have dreams as a child that I could fly over the landscape like a bird, and being under that canopy was like living those dreams. It was incredible.

I never did another tandem. By the time my feet touched the ground after the first one, I had decided the next jump was going to be a solo.

When did you get  your skydiving license and what did it entail?

I did my license course in April 2023. There are two ways to get your skydiving license in Australia. The most popular one is the Accelerated Freefall Course (known as ‘AFF’), which is what I did. It involves a day of ground school, where you will learn everything, you need to know to skydive with your own parachute, and then nine assessment stages.

For the first stage you jump out at a high altitude with two instructors holding onto you—kind of like human training wheels—until it is time to deploy your parachute. Then you land the parachute with the help of someone guiding you over a radio attached to your helmet. As you progress through the stages, you work down to just one instructor, and they won’t be holding on to you—just watching you as you demonstrate different skills in freefall.

The last stage involves a completely solo jump from a lower altitude where you deploy your parachute after a brief freefall—called a ‘hop and pop.’

The other way to get your license is doing the Instructor Assisted Deployment (or ‘IAD’) course. It is sort of the opposite of AFF in that you begin with a low altitude jump with the instructor deploying your parachute as you leave the plane (so there is essentially no freefall). After that, you work your way up to higher altitude jumps with freefall components.

There are different benefits to each way of learning, including the cost, but ultimately, they will both get you your solo license. Commando Skydivers in Gippsland offers both options.

How does skydiving fit into your life now?

I am a little behind on my logbook entries, but I am at 360-something jumps. I go to Commandos pretty much every weekend—it really has become such a huge part of my life!

Commandos has hosted quite a few competitions, including state and national championships, and I have competed in those just for fun. That is one of the great things about skydiving—there are always opportunities even for newer skydivers to have a go in state and national competitions. 

I have also travelled interstate to jump at different Drop Zones, which is a great experience.

What is the craziest or most memorable skydiving story you have?

There are so many amazing memories I have from my short time in the sport so far that it is difficult to pick one.

One of the most magical was the First Night Jump course run by Commando Skydivers last year. In order to preserve our night vision, all the lights were switched off inside the plane. Looking out the windows on the way up, we could see the mass of lights of Traralgon below and the little veins of illuminated streets and highways leading into it. When we reached the right altitude, the door was opened, and we jumped out one at a time, alone, into the darkness beyond.

Once under canopy, we each turned on a torch that was taped to one wrist to illuminate our canopies. Looking out at the night sky you could see the glimmer of canopies floating like lanterns amongst the stars. It was an absolutely thrilling and beautiful experience.

Have you suffered any injuries or close calls?

There have been so many advancements in the equipment, safety protocols and training, that injuries and close calls in skydiving are a lot rarer than most people might imagine. That said, it is an extreme sport and accidents do happen. Personally, I haven’t had any serious injuries or incidents, but I have had a fair few bruises and a couple of scrapes.

How you benefited from skydiving?

Skydiving has completely changed my life! It’s a journey that changes over time.

In the beginning, it is all about learning new skills and overcoming fear. It instils a new sense of confidence in yourself and your ability to make good decisions under pressure. There is also a real sense of presence and freedom during freefall. But I think the biggest long-term benefit actually comes from the social aspect of being part of a club.

It’s a wonderful opportunity to make friends with interesting people who you may never have crossed paths with if not for skydiving. I really feel like I am a part of a community at Commandos in a way that I don’t think I have experienced anywhere else, and that is a wonderful thing to have in an increasingly atomised world.

What would you tell people who are considering going skydiving for the first time?

Just do it! Even if you just do one tandem skydive, it could really change your life. If you were looking for a sign to try it, this is that sign!

To learn more about the club, visit commandoskydivers.com.au.

Photos: Varun Jani