Colin
Taylor and Andy Hunter set up the tandem skydive
operation in 1991 following the success of the
Tully Parachute Centre, which they began in
1985. Back in those days, thrill-seekers undertook
freefall courses before jumping using a static
line rather than being attached to an instructor.
They began the tandem operation as a two-man
show with Colin performing the tandem jumps
and Andy videotaping adrenaline junkies. By
1994, skydiving had developed into a hugely
popular extreme sport and today, along with
Todd Gerard as the third partner, they employ
between fifteen and twenty staff.
Jump
The Beach marketing manager Meri Eyles says
more than 3000 people took the plunge last year
and 5000 are expected to have jumped by the
end of this year. Combined with its sister company
Skydive Cairns, Jump The Beach is the largest
tandem skydiving operation in the country.
