FAQS ABOUT JOINING OUR CLUB

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Is the club an official UF club?

It sure is! We abide by SGA rules and receive funding every year.

 

Is this a new club?

No at all. We’ve been around for more than 30 years.

 

Where do you skydive?

Skydive Palatka is our home dropzone. It is one hour from UF campus. The address is:

Palatka-Kay Larkin Airport

4015 Reid St, Palatka, FL 32177

Hours:

Friday: 10 am to 9pm

Saturday: 8am to 9pm

Sunday: 8am to 9pm

Phone: (386) 328-0606

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How do I contact the Falling Gators?

The easiest way will be via our Instagram: @falling.gators. You may also email us directly: gatorfalling@gmail.com. We have a GroupMe for communication, but that is only given out at meetings to help prevent spam. If you can't do any of those, just come to the DZ and ask around! Someone will be there who can get in touch. 

 

Why would anyone choose to jump out of a perfectly good airplane?

There aren't any perfectly good airplanes. Plus, it's fun.

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How many jumps do I have to do to be a club member?

Officially only one jump, it can be a tandem or a solo. However, all our active members jump regularly and are actively involved with the club.

 

How often you meet?

Informally we meet almost every weekend when we go to the dropzone to jump. Formally, we aim for once a month or so.

 

Is meeting attendance for the club mandatory?

No.

 

How much does it cost to join the Falling Gators club?

Hang on to your hat, because there's no fee!!!

 

I understand there are no club fees, but what are the costs per jump?

We do NOT pay to join the club, we DO pay for the skydives. You must pay for your jumps, your coaching (if and when you get it) and your gear (if and when you get it). With that said, there are a ton of ways to save money when you get involved. Note that these are not "hidden club fees". This is just the cost of skydiving that everyone pays. For example, if you want to buy your own altimeter, that's on you. Once you're licensed, if you want to skydive, you pay for the jump. If you want to do a tandem the first time you skydive, you pay for it.

 

See our tandem FAQs and our Licensing FAQs for more details.

 

How much does a tandem jump cost at Skydive Palatka?

See our tandem FAQs for a lot more detail.

 

When is your next meeting?

Stay tuned to our Instagram page and GroupMe for the next official meeting dates. Come out to Skydive Palatka any time and you will almost certainly run into a club member or alumni. A lot of staff are club alumni!

 

Do you do tandems or are you licensed skydivers?

Most members are either licensed or going through the licensing process. We introduce tandems as a great way to get into the sport, but we ultimately are here to encourage people to become licensed sport jumpers.

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Who can join?

UF undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff.

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Can student spouses, alumni, pets, or my stuffed animal join?

No. But anyone that wants to be involved can help. Waivers are available upon request for stuffed animals. Everyone is welcome at the dropzone, but not everyone is eligible to be a Falling Gator.

 

What are the financial benefits of joining?

Skydiving is an expensive sport. We used to offer free rental gear to members, but over time the rental gear became too expensive to maintain. We make it easier to find groups for discounts on tandem jumps, and sharing rides with members may save on gas/mileage.

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What do I have to do once I’ve joined?

Help your fellow club members and stay involved.

 

Are there rides to the dropzone?

Strictly, no. As a club we do not organize rides to dropzone. However, once you become involved and make friends it’s easy to find a ride.

 

What is the Falling Gators annual boogie?

This is a special skydiving event organized by the club. A Boogie is an all weekend event so we typically jump all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday and hangout or camp in the airport grounds at night. Typically, on the Saturday night of the event we host a party with raffles and prizes.  We typically promote it ahead of time and invite prominent coaches, jumpers and bring novelty aircraft such as helicopters.

You’ve been to parties before, but you haven’t been to a boogie yet!

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I want to skydive! How can I start jumping?

Great! Your first jump can be a tandem skydive but it doesn’t have to. If you choose to do a tandem you will be strapped to the front of an experienced instructor who will guide you through the entire jump, canopy ride, and landing. You can get in touch with us or contact Skydive Palatka directly.

 

Afterwards, you can enroll in the First Jump Course – a six-hour ground training course – to kick off the Accelerated Free Fall (AFF) training progression towards your solo skydiving license.

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Where do I sign up to become part of the club?

There is nothing to sign! Get in touch, start jumping, and get involved with club activities. That’s what makes you a member.