Visitors on Sombrero Beach in Marathon November 5-8 will be surprised when they get a little extra color at sunset, as brightly hued canopies dot the sky, and participants in the Keys Boogie Skydiving Weekend skim across the ocean, drifting down for a sandy landing. </p><p>After a two-year hiatus, this popular aerial show will return for its 10th year. In 2006, it drew over 350 skydiving enthusiasts from the US, Canada, South America and Europe.</p><p>"The view is remarkable," said Ansar Mohammed from Sebastian, Florida who has participated in the past three Keys Boogies. "Skydiving itself is an extraordinary thing wherever you do it, but jumping out surrounded by both the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and these extremely small beautiful islands just tops it off."</p><p>After the 2006 event, Marathon Airport officials notified Skydive Sebastian, which coordinates the weekend, they would not be granted access the next year due to an expected increased in commercial air traffic, as well as an incident where one of their skydivers landed in some power lines.</p><p>Skydive Sebastian owner, James Iannaccone, did not give up hope to someday return and this year lobbied the Marathon Chamber of Commerce for their help in restoring the event.</p><p>"Marathon's airport is centrally located in the Florida Keys, making it an ideal skydiving destination," he said. "Plus, there are very few skydives in the world as beautiful as the vista you experience when you are in freefall a few miles above the Florida Keys."</p><p>Daniel Samess, CEO of the Chamber, said that he immediately recognized the positive economic impact the event could have for the local businesses during the off-season. He ran the numbers by County Commissioner Mario Di Gennaro and Monroe County Mayor George Neugent, Both were quickly on board coordinating with Marathon City Councilman Dick Ramsey, the city's liaison with the county on airport matters.</p><p>"Just expecting 300 participants for the three days paying an average $386 a day, which is the amount the TDC estimates visitors spend, that's over a quarter million dollars," Samess said. "That's why every one of these events is important, and it's our job as the Chamber to advocate for each one to benefit our businesses."</p><p>Once the airport director, Peter Horton, and manager, Reggie Parros, gave the "go-ahead" for the event to return, Iannaccone said that the response in the skydiving community has been overwhelmingly positive.</p><p>"I doubt there's a skydiver in the country who doesn't know the Keys Boogie is on again," he said. "We received our authorization a bit late in the 'planning calendar' this year, but we are optimistic about our turn-out for the event."</p><p>Although participation in the Keys Boogie is limited to those with a current USPA C (200 jumps) or D (500 jumps) license, anyone can come out and do a tandem skydive where the beginner is strapped to a professional jumpmaster who controls all aspects of the jump.</p><p>"There's really no margin for error in this location," Mohammed said. "It's such a small area to land, and there's so much ocean around. Of course, that also makes it once-in-lifetime experience for people to do their first tandem skydive. You get to see something most other people won't ever get to see."</p><p>Iannaccone said that it only takes 15 minutes of instruction from the jumpmaster before a novice can go up for a tandem jump, and he encouraged people to come out and mingle with the instructors and experienced skydivers to learn more.</p><p>"The vast majority of people who try it -- 99.7 percent -- have enjoyed it," he said. "I've rarely had someone come back and say they were bored."</p><p>Samess said that Skydive Sebastian has offered to take him up, so he is thinking about making that first leap himself.</p><p>"But it's one of those things like Clint Eastwood said--why should I jump out of a perfectly good airplane?" he said. "On the other hand, it's an experience, and you only live once. I've been told that Commissioner Di Gennaro is going to do it. If he does, then I think I have to do it too."</p><p>Also, anyone who wants to come out and watch at either drop zone at the airport or on the beach is welcome. The participants will be performing group skydives throughout each day involving all of the skydiving disciplines.</p><p>"It's a lot of fun to watch, and once people get over the whole shock and awe, they start lining up to do a tandem," Mohammed said.</p><p>Unlike an air show or other structured event, the Keys Boogie is sunrise to sunset activity with the times and types of jumps decided by the participants as each day progresses. The two Super Twin Otter planes start flying from Marathon airport at 9 a.m., and those interested in doing a tandem jump can either contact Skydive Sebastian for a reservation or just stop by the airport. </p><p>"It's casual," Iannaccone said. "If somebody is interested they can just drop in. It might be an hour or two before they can go, but they'll get an eyeful of all the canopies in the sky."</p><p>Registration for the event is $45 for skydivers, with individual jump tickets available for purchase. Tandem jumps cost $225, and videos of the jump can be purchased for $95. For more information contact Skydive Sebastian at 772-388-5672 or at info@skydiveseb.com or visit the website at www.skydiveseb.com.