Our students have had great success all over New Zealand and the world, in a wide variety of roles. Here are just a few:
Paddy Wyllie
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 Mcintosh
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 O'Neil
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.
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. I am currently working full-time at Skydive Auckland as a free-fall camera flyer and parachute packer. I am working towards my tandem rating and once I have enough experience, I would like to travel and jump around the world.
Owen Teggin
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 Jeune
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. In 2016 I was given the opportunity to become Course Director of the school and I'm passionate about helping students achieve their skydiving dreams and progress in the commercial skydiving industry.
Averil Peace
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 insturctor in December 2016. I now have over 1000 jumps and i'm still loving my job!
Josh Bode
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 2500 jumps. I am also a test pilot for NZ Aerosports and a coach for the school.
Rueben Magdy Mohssen
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 in Queenstown, spending his days jumping with the spectacular views of The Remarkables in the background.
Daniel McKimm
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.
Noell Thorington
NZSS - October 2012
Current employment: Camera Flyer @ NZone Queenstown
After completing my work placement at NZone, I worked as a packer and then became a part-time camera flyer. Once the summer season kicked in, I was put on camera full-time, which sees me doing about 100 jumps per month in summer and 70 per month during winter. The most work jumps i've done in one day is 13!
Other achievements: I was recently cast in the Samsung Galaxy s5 phone advert, as a skydiving bride.
Joe Dyson
NZSS - April 2011
Current employment: Tandem Master / Camera Flyer @ Skydive Taupo
After completing my work experience at Skydive Taupo, I was offered a job and have worked for the company ever since. During winter this year I am doing a season at Skydive Vancouver as an AFF Instructor, Camera Flyer and Tandem Master and will return to New Zealand in the summer.
Favourite discipline: Canopy Piloting
Other hobbies: Speedflying (Member of the Swing Speedfly Team)
Mason Holden
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.
Kelly Cameron
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!
Chris Stewart
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.
Mick Pemberton
NZSS - April 2007
Current employment: Tandem Master / AFF Instructor / Camera Flyer @ Skydive Auckland
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 and then took a position as camera flyer and tandem master at Skydive Taupo until I moved to Skydive Auckland.
Hobbies: Base jumping in Europe
Colin Aitchison
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.
