Morocco is known for its rock climbing and trekking, but when most people think of adventure activities in Morocco, skydiving doesn’t normally come to mind. But, for a place lush in beautiful scenery over the Central High Atlas, what better way to view the landscape than on a Morocco tour put together by experts that takes you thousands of feet up? Even though Morocco is lined with mountain peaks, it also has many wide-open spaces—making for a great drop-zone. Skydiving is a relatively new sport in the country, however, like many adventure sports, its popularity is picking up speed.
There are two major skydiving schools in Morocco to consider while making your travel plans. Located a short distance from Marrakech is the Beni Mellal Flying Club (PACMA), which offers a full-day experience for adventure seekers. Whether you’ve jumped many times or this will be your first experience, the PACMA team is ready to make your Moroccan skydiving experience memorable. Everyone that is interested in jumping must undergo a medical examination and then an introduction briefing.
The first jump takes place in tandem with an instructor—just to get your feet wet. For the next several hours there are several progression-accompanied jumps (PAC) to prepare you for your big solo jump. Lunch and a video of your jump can also be included.
Beni Mellal is a great city to spend a day or two in while you learn to skydive. There are two old kasbahs in the vicinity that are well worth a visit and a marketplace that is a melting pot of goods that range from fresh produce to handwoven blankets and rugs. The famous Ouzoud waterfall is not far away and makes for a wonderful day trip.
A little further south is the Air Mauss Parachute Adventure school. The company is located in Taroudant, about one hour from Agadir. Similar to PACMA, Air Mauss is a progression-oriented school, and guests jump a total of six times. Your first jump occurs in tandem with an instructor. In subsequent jumps, you are accompanied with an instructor. Time is then spent analyzing the jumps so that you can learn and correct any errors. If you choose to skydive with Air Mauss Parachute Adventure, you will need to bring a medical certificate stating you are healthy enough to participate.
Agadir is best known as a beach city and the climate is quite comfortable any time of the year. There are many adventure sports in the area. Surfing, quad and buggy experiences, camel and horseback treks, jet skiing and sport fishing are all popular.
Written by Amanda Mouttaki.
Photo by Guy James.
