Past students | Where are they now | Successes

Past Students

Our students have had great success all over New Zealand and the world, in a wide variety of roles. Here are just a few:

Past Student

Sean

NZSS - July 2023
Sean completed his work experience placement in Skydive Spaceland San Marco in Texas and is now employed there as a full time Camera Flyer getting paid to jump and film tandem customers.
Past Student

Dale

NZSS - January 2023
Dale is a Tunnel Instructor at iFly in Manchester. He completed his work experience in Franz Josef and then worked as a Camera Flyer and Ground Crew before heading to the UK.
Defence Force Careers

Ants

NZSS - July 2019
Ants completed his work experience placement at Skydive Auckland and then worked full time as ground crew. He then got a job as a Parachute Jump Instructor for the Air Force and is enjoying his new career!
Camera Flyer

Matt G

NZSS - January 2022
Matt completed his work experience placement at Skydive Auckland and graduated in September 2022. After being employed as ground crew at Skydive Auckland he became a Camera Flyer in January 2023.

Angus

NZSS - July 2021
Angus completed his work experience at Skydive 12 Apostles in Australia and then graduated in April 2022. By November 2022 he was already working on gaining his tandem rating. He is now a tandem master at Skydive Torquay.

Tim

NZSS - April 2017
Currently a Tandem Master and Camera Flyer in Queenstown. Tim did his work experience placement in Costa Rica and then and graduated in January 2018. He then moved to Queenstown and has worked as a Parachute Packer, Camera Flyer before getting his tandem rating.
Skydiving Qualifications Success

Bailey

NZSS - January 2022
Bailey completed his work experience placement at Skydive Oslo which resulted in a full time role as a Camera Flyer. He is working a summer season at Skydive Franz Josef before returning to Norway for their summer season.
Past student

Harry

NZSS - April 2018
Harry completed his work experience placement in California and continued working in the US where he became an AFF Instructor. He then worked full time as a Tandem Master in Auckland taking customers for their once in a lifetime experience.
Past student

Jacob

NZSS - January 2021
Jacob joined the January 2021 intake and completed his work experience placement at Skydive Auckland as ground crew. He is a now a Tandem Master, Camera Flyer and also a Jumpmaster helping others achieve their skydiving dream.

Matt

NZSS - October 2019
Matt became a Tandem Master, Jump Master and Camera Flyer for Skydive Auckland before heading over to Skydive Oslo to work their summer season. Now he chases summers working between the two dropzones in Auckland and Europe. He loves taking customers for their experience of a lifetime, and also helping students progress.

Jamie

NZSS - April 2016
"Skydiving has taken me all across the world and has given me the opportunity to jump in some mega places and meet some awesome people." Jamie did his work placement in Taupo and has jumped all over the world, in New Zealand, Australia, Germany, Portugal, Mexico, and is currently a tandem master in Dubai and has done over 5,500 jumps."

Godwin

NZSS - January 2018
Godwin was working as a tradee and wanted a job with more excitement so decided on skydiving. After completing his work placement at Skydive Auckland, Godwin continued working in Auckland as a Camera Flyer, Parachute Packer and Video Editor then was a Tandem Master at Wisconsin Skydive.

Laura

NZSS - April 2017
I'm loving it. Since the course it's been fun learning even more skills while working. I look forward to travelling to more dropzone locations after gaining more experience here in Cairns.

Shirley

NZSS - October 2019
Shirley is living the dream being a Camera Flyer in China. She did her work placement at Skydive Auckland and has done over 500 jumps.
Past Students

Daisy

NZSS - April 2014
"I joined the New Zealand Skydiving School in April 2014 and after graduating I travelled to several countries working in the skydiving industry. I have been in every possible role at a dropzone - from Ground Crew to Parachute Packer, then Camera Flyer. I got my tandem instructor rating in 2017 and became a Tandem Master and AFF Instructor. This year, I became Safety & Training Advisor for China Skydivers in Luoding which I am in charge of daily skydiving safety and teaching fellow skydivers. I love the sport and the people in the sport. Skydiving brings people happiness, it reminds us the treasure the small joy in life."

Chris

NZSS - January 2018
Chris completed his work placement in Taupo and is currently a Tandem Master and Camera Flyer at Skydive Hibaldstow in the UK which he absolutely loves!

Gus

NZSS - October 2017
"The best part of the job for me is the connection we get to make with other people and seeing the students learn and thrive." He joined the NZ Skydiving School in October 2017, did his work placement in Denmark, then worked at dropzones in Taupo and Bay of Islands. He then went on to being a Tandem Master and Jumpmaster in Auckland. Prior to joining the school, Gus worked in the security industry for 9 years and decided he needed a career change.

Shaun

NZSS - October 2019
Shaun has reached 1400 jumps which is equivalent to 17 hours of freefall. He is a full time Tandem Master, Camera Flyer and Coach at Skydive Auckland.

Paddy

NZSS - January 2016
Paddy completed his work placement in Sydney, Australia and after graduating secured a full-time job. He is now a tandem master and AFF instructor.

Emma

NZSS - July 2015
In 2015 Emma signed up for 200 skydives without having done a single one before. She did her first skydive with us on the July 2015 course and never looked back. Following her work placement at Skydive Elsinore, Emma spent a year working in California, returning to New Zealand with 500 jumps and a passion for skydiving. She has done nearly every job on a dropzone from ground crew, manifest, harnessing, video editing, packing, coaching, camera flying and now has 1200 skydives and is a full time tandem master at Skydive Wanaka living the dream!

Dylan

NZSS - July 2015
Before joining the New Zealand Skydiving School, I was travelling around Australia and working in hospitality. I just wanted to learn how to skydive because I thought it would be a cool hobby. After completing my work placement at Skydive Wanaka, I was offered a full time job and I am now a tandem master with over 1200 skydives. My next goal is get my hand-cam rating and work in Europe.
Skydiver

Phoebe

NZSS - January 2015
After graduating in 2015 Phoebe went on to get her AFF rating with NZPIA & NZPO. She has reached 1000 jumps and chases summers by working between Skydive Kiwis in NZ and Skydive Voss in Norway. Phoebe is the chairperson of the NZ Parachute Federation and looks forward to organising more training camps and events. She aspires to work in a management role in the industry.

Kai Lun

NZSS - July 2015
"I always wanted a career in skydiving, which is why I travelled from China to join the Diploma in Commercial Skydiving." Kai Lun did her work placement at Skydive Auckland then was employed as a Parachute Packer and Camera Flyer until completing her tandem rating. Her dream to become a Tandem Master came true at Skydive Auckland and now she is back in China taking customers for their once in a lifetime experience."

Rueben

NZSS – January 2015
Current employment: Camera Flyer, NZone in Queenstown. After leaving his day job as a mechanic, Reuben started Skydiving School in January 2015. Less than a year later he is now a full time camera flyer and tandem master in Queenstown, spending his days jumping with the spectacular views of The Remarkables in the background.

Zach

NZSS - July 2014
Zach is currently working as a Tandem Master in Canada. After completing his course he worked as a Parachute Packer and Camera Flyer at Skydive Auckland which is where he got his tandem rating. After spending some time in Taupo as a full time Tandem Master, Zach returned to Skydive Auckland then went on to travel over to Canada.

Averil

NZSS - July 2014
"My older sister completed the Diploma in Commercial Skydiving in 2011 and from that point, I knew that skydiving was what I wanted to do to! As soon as the course started I knew I wanted to be an AFF instructor. I completed my work placement at Skydive Auckland and became an AFF instructor in December 2016.

Josh

NZSS - July 2014
The New Zealand Skydiving School was the best way to achieve a career in skydiving. After choosing Auckland to do my work placement I completed my tandem rating in December 2016 and now have over 3000 jumps.

Kelly

NZSS – January 2007
Current employment: Tandem master at Tauranga Tandem Skydiving. Now a full time tandem master at Tauranga Tandem Skydiving, Kelly did the course back in 2010. She’s been part of multiple Australian Record attempts, as well as gaining AFF Instructor rating in both Australia and NZ!

Daniel

NZSS - October 2012
Current employment: Camera Flyer, Tandem Master, AFF Instructor @ Skydive Abel Tasman After completing his work placement at NZone in Queenstown, working as a Camera Flyer, Dan also worked as an AFF Instructor for the New Zealand Skydiving School before moving to Skydive Abel Tasman where he enjoys being able to work in a variety of roles. He has over 6000 jumps in total.

Owen

NZSS - April 2011
I started my work placement in Skydive Taupo then relocated to Skydive Auckland when that dropzone opened in December 2011. I was employed full-time as ground crew and spent 2 years building up my jump numbers. In December 2013 I completed my tandem rating and I've been working as a full-time tandem master since May 2014.

Paul

NZSS - April 2008
My entire life was spent as a fitness trainer and coach and I decided to join the New Zealand Skydiving School to change my lifestyle. I moved to NZ from the UK and following graduation, worked at Taupo Tandem Skydiving for many years as a tandem master, AFF instructor and coach.

Mick

NZSS - April 2007
My work experience was at NZone Rotorua and once this was finished, they offered me employment as a camera flyer then as a tandem master, once I achieved my rating. I worked here for a few seasons and then took a job at Skydive Fiji as a camera flyer and a tandem master, to escape the NZ winter. Since then I have worked as a Tandem Master in Taupo, Auckland and Thailand.
Past Students at the school

Alex

NZSS - April 2014
Currently a Tandem Master at Skydive Melbourne, Alex is originally from England and has also worked at dropzones in Auckland, Taupo and England.
Past Students at the school

Mason

NZSS - April 2009
Current employment: AFF Instructor @ Skydive Dubai. After completing my work experience and advanced course, I worked as a camera flyer, AFF instructor and tandem master at SkydivingNZ. Following that I moved to Australia where I carried out the same roles for Skydive Nagambie and I also worked as a rigger, before moving to my current role at Skydive Dubai. I also compete in Canopy Piloting.
Past Students at the school

Chris

NZSS – April 2008
After starting off as a camera flyer in Byron Bay, Chris progressed to be one of New Zealand’s best canopy pilots, competing in the World Air Games in Dubai in 2015, as well as representing NZ in numerous other world class events.
Past Students at the school

Colin

NZSS – October 2007
Colin is now the General Manager and a Tandem Master at Skydive Fiji. After going to Queenstown for his work placement he progressed into camera flying and tandems, along the way receiving awards from NZ Tourism for skydiving photography, as well as gaining five current world records for skydiving wingsuiting within NZ.
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