Gold Coast Skydivers has one of the most experienced staffs in the skydiving industry. Our senior staff members include four world record holders, two former U.S. Army Parachute Team members (Golden Knights) and a 3-time world champion. They average over 25 years experience. Meet some of the most talented instructors in the area:

Mike Igo
Drop Zone Owner, AFF Instructor, Tandem Instructor

Mike made his first jump when he joined the U.S. Marines in 1969. He opened Gold Coast Skydivers in April of 1993 "We care about our jumpers regardless of experience level. We give excellent service to everyone. Our job is to teach new students how to skydive and we take that seriously. We also cater to the experienced skydiver. We are very proud of Gold Coast Skydivers." Mike has a D license, he is a world record holder for the largest vertical CRW stack (23-way) in 1985, and still standing.

Leanne Igo
Drop Zone Manager, Freefall Coach, Manifest

Leanne started jumping in 1998  and has made over 400 jumps. She is a C license holder and is currently working on her coach rating and her D license. She was in the Air Force 10 years but got stationed in Mississippi and fell in love with the people at Gold Coast and decided to call it home. Leanne says "the thing she likes most about Gold Coast is the people are like her family and no one is a stranger. No matter how many jumps you have or what your skydiving preference is, you are welcome just the same."

Lynette Botha
AFF Instructor, Videographer, Freefall Coach

Lynette Botha, originally from South Africa, began jumping 6 years ago. She is a "D" license jumper with over 960 jumps to her credit. Lynette began working as a videographer about a year ago and has provided first time jumpers the thrill of seeing themselves in freefall. Lynette loves working with students and providing them with footage of their "thrill of a lifetime". The thing she likes about Gold Coast..."the friendly, laid back atmosphere and lots of work!"

J. Michael Brown “Mike”
Senior Rigger, Gear Sales

Mike caters to all the needs of the skydiver: both new and used equipment, and rigging services as well. An experienced skydiver as well, Mike also began the AFF program at Gold Coast Skydivers in 1995. " Our staff is USPA qualified and caters to your needs. Good camaraderie and a great aircraft bring our jumpers back time and time again. I can take care of all your skydiving needs and have exceptionally good prices on all my equipment."

Bryan Buechler
Head AFF Instructor, Tandem Master, USPA Coach, Military Freefall Instructor, Videographer, Safety and Training Advisor

Bryan started jumping in 1989 and now has over 6,000 jumps. He is one of the leading canopy pilots in the sport of skydiving and truly enjoys passing his knowledge and expertise on to up and coming jumpers. Bryan states "I enjoy the camaraderie and family feel at Gold Coast Skydivers."

Joe Courtney
AFF Instructor, Videographer, Freefall Coach

 

Joe began skydiving with Gold Coast Skydivers in April 2005. Joe is a true Jack of All Trades who enjoys a challenge which is why he started skydiving.  He said, "I start something new, become proficient at it, and then move on to new things.  Skydiving seems to be just what I needed to break that trend because the learning curve is so long that I may just never make it to the point of moving on." 

 

What does Joe say about Gold Coast Skydivers? "I couldn’t ask for a better place or group of people to pursue my new interests with."

Paul Cozic
AFF Instructor, Tandem Instructor, USPA Coach Course Director, Parachute Rigger

Paul has been skydiving for 11 years and has made over 2400 jumps.  Of those 2400 jumps, 1200 have been as a Tandem Instructor and 300 as an AFF Instructor.  He holds high altitude records in both Mississippi and Tennessee and has acquired his Pro rating to go along with his Instructor ratings.  Paul's experience ensures every student's questions are addressed and his or her fear of the unknown is put at ease.  "Skydiving is easy!  It's all about relaxing, smiling and having fun.  Fear is usually of the unknown.  Once you teach a student all that is going to happen, their fear goes away and is replaced by exhiliration."  The things Paul likes most about Gold Coast is "the professionalism of the staff and their safety consciousness".

Travis "Ace" Creel
Chief Pilot

Travis has been skydiving for more than 28 years, and has 3,200 + jumps to his credit. He is a World Record holder for the largest vertical CRW stack (23-way) in 1985. Travis has been with Gold Coast since 1996. Travis says, "We are a drop zone that is safety oriented. We have great facilities, good aircraft, and a great staff. Not to mention Gold Coast has the best Pilot on the coast. We welcome all."

Craig Crosier
AFF Instructor, Freefall Coach

Ben Crowell
Tandem Instructor, Vector Tandem Course Director, Master Parachute Rigger, Safety and Training Advisor, Freefall Coach

Ben is currently entering his 20th year as a skydiver and has accumulated over 2500 jumps during that time.  He has over 1300 tandem jumps, 30 night jumps and 25 CRW jumps to his credit.  He also holds the record for the highest tandem jump, 30,000 feet, as well as the high altitude record in Tennessee and the POPS high altitude record in Mississippi.  Ben is a Senior Chief in the USCG and carries that professionalism over to dealing with students on the weekends at Gold Coast Skydivers.  The things Ben likes most about Gold Coast is " being able to work side by side with my wife, Malinda.  She gets to video me while I'm jumping tandem with a student.  This place is so friendly to jumpers of all disciplines and the facilities are outstanding."

Paul "Chopper" Cruz
Tandem Instructor, Freefall Coach

JC Fallo
Owner of Video Concession, Videographer, Packer, Resource Protection Manager

David Fortner
Master Packing Instructor

David has been with Gold Coast since 1998. He has over 360 jumps and way over 18,000 pack jobs. What David says he likes most about Gold Coast is, "How great the staff is with everybody".

Dee Fortner
Packing Instructor

Dee has been with Gold Coast since 2000 and has 9 tandems to her credit. The things she loves most about Gold Coast is, "How nice and friendly everybody is".

Rob Hansen
Tandem Instructor, Freefall Coach, Videographer

Rob has been skydiving since 2003 and has made over 800 skydives, accumulated over 210 minutes of wind tunnel flight, and earned his D license, coach, pro, and tandem instructor ratings.  He is also an instrument rated private pilot with over 200 flight hours.  He joined Gold Coast in March 2006.  He enjoys taking people for their first ever skydive and helping up and coming jumpers. 

Rob says, "I like the small family connection between the people at Gold Coast." 

Luis Hawkins
AFF Instructor, Freefall Coach

Luis started jumping in 1998 and has over 1500 jumps. He is an active participant in the National Skydiving League and was a three time gold medal winner with Team Apogee during the 2002 Florida Skydiving League. He was also a gold medal winner in the Georgia Skydiving League. "I love the family atmosphere and the tight bond the skydivers have at Gold Coast. Seeing the same smiling faces in the air is an awesome experience every time I jump".

Kevin Kaminski
Tandem Instructor, AFF Instructor, USPA Coach, Senior Rigger

Kevin has been skydiving for 13 years now and has over 6000 skydives. Approximate numbers are 4500 tandems, 400 AFF, 500 video jumps many many coaching jumps and some CRW.  He is a muff brother (M#2322) and CSF member #20.  His ambitions are to one day become a  pink mafia sister (you never know). 

Kevin says, " I love my job and there's nothing else I'd rather do then teach skydiving and open peoples eyes as to " why would you jump out of a perfectly good airplane".  The "fun" jumps that I do make are, for the most part, done with low time jumpers to help them improve their skills."

Bill Klutz
Freefall Coach

Bill is a Chemical Engineer who started skydiving in 2002 and has over 400 skydives. Bill currently holds a C-license.

Andre Lee
Chief Instructor, Videographer, Freefall Coach

Andre has been jumping for over 8 years and is a "D" license holder. He has worked at Gold Coast Skydivers for the past 7 years. Ask Andre about Gold Coast and he'll tell you "it's the safest, best and friendliest skydiving operation in the world".

Jason Martin
Tandem Instructor, Videographer, Freefall Coach

Gary started skydiving in 2004 and has over 1,200 jumps. Gary holds a D-license, has his Pro Rating, Gold Wings, 12-hr Freefall Badge, SCR, Coach, and SCS Awards.

Gary said that he "started skydiving at Gold Coast and continues to skydive at Gold Coast because of the people. NO one is left out and made to skydive alone. I love to work with the new jumpers and watch them progress."

Jason started jumping in early 2007 and has nearly 200 jumps, an SCR award and a USPA Coach rating. He is currently working on his C-License, Videographer Skills, and plans to become a USPA AFF Instructor.  Jason is a Captain in the Air Force and serves as a USAF Instructor teaching Air Traffic Control at Keesler AFB, MS. What Jason loves most about Gold Coast is "The cultural, social, and ethnic diversity that comes together in such a fun and friendly atmosphere."

 

Wendy Price
Owner/Operator of The Downwind Diner

Martin Swords
Chief Tandem Instructor, Safety and Training Advisor, Freefall Coach

Martin has been teaching students at Gold Coast Skydivers for over five years. In addition he also works with novice jumpers and teaches them basic freefall maneuvers to prepare them for relative work. Martin has been skydiving since 1991, he holds a D-license, an Eagle Award, a Falcon Award, and a Starcrest Award.

Scott Williams
Packer

Brian
Packer