If you went to the Sagitun/Yabra Football match at the MCC Garden yesterday, you might have seen skydivers bringing down the game ball. That's more or less the same show that San Pedro natives are getting everyday thanks to a skydiving expedition that has made San Pedro its home from February 10th to the 19th. I went to San Pedro yesterday to find out why skydiving in Belize is so special.
Alfonso Noble Reporting,
The view at 13,000 feet above San Pedro looks like this and jumping out of an airplane at this height feels like this.
Since last week Thursday 90 skydivers from around the world have come to Belize to jump. Organizer Rich Grim says that the jumps here are some of the best in the world because of the view coming down.
Rich Grimm,
"Skydivers we like to jump in different places so its fantastic and over the island here at 13,000 feet is one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen in my life with the aquablue water and the island its just fantastic. I think what makes it unique is that we have the island here and it's a narrow island so when you are in the airplane it feels like we are skydiving just over the ocean. And then we have a little narrow spot on the island which actually quite large but when you are flying your canopy and you're over the water it just feels fantastic and so beautiful and with the reef running the coast just makes it an added special thing. The photos and the videos are coming out fantastic."
But while it may be fantastic it certainly looks scary hurtling down to earth at 30 feet per second with the view of the earth rushing down into your face. Some might say that only adrenaline junkies would chase this rush, but for those brave enough to take the leap into the clear air, they say its just plain fun.
Diver #1,
"Nothing like it, there's nothing like it you got to try it. It is a beautiful thing to fly like a bird."
Alfonso Noble,
Are you can adrenaline junkie?
Diver #1,
"An adrenaline junkie, I may so but I think its more of a lifestyle than anything."
Diver #2,
"There's nothing better than doing this, this is more like being a bird than being a bird."
Alfonso Noble,
Are you an adrenaline junkie?
Diver #2,
"I don't whether I would say, I just like flying."
Alfonso Noble,
Is this a rush for you?
Diver #2,
"Everytime, every single time."
Rich Grimm,
"Its not like its a thrill seeking death-defying sport, it's a safe sport."
A safe sport that like any other has its risks. Grimm for instance has a couple of nicks.
Rich Grimm,
"This was I ran into someone's parachute just off a skydive, that was no problem, and this was a mishap upon landing; the only two bad things so far this week."
Alfonso Noble,
Doesn't this deter you?
Rich Grimm,
"No not at all, not at all. Its like if you had a fender driving your car you are still going to drive your car. It's absolutely an important sport."
And as these graceful landings show that is a fact, parachuting down from 13,000 feet can indeed be no problem at all.
Again, we thank our colleague Ron Sniffin from the San Pedro Sun for his technical assistance on that story. On a related note, organizer right grim today called us to ask for the community's assistance. When one of the jumpers were parachuting down in the MCC Garden yesterday, his primary parachute failed and he had to jettison it and deploy his reserve. His landing went fine, but his parachute blew away. When the team found the area where it had blown, someone had taken it. It's reusable, but not replaceable for the jumpers and grim is asking anyone who may have it to please bring it in to Channel 7's office no questions asked and with a $100 reward or those with information can call him at the Sun Breeze Hotel in San Pedro at 226-2191.
