There is almost nothing as exhilarating as jumping out a plane!
why you should skydive
You do not have to be an adrenaline junkie to want to jump out of plane. Perhaps, you’re even fearful of heights. There is nothing more powerful than over coming a fear and there is nothing more freeing than feeling the forces of this world with an incredibly beautiful view. After completing a jump you will feel invincible and like you can do anything. The energy that will coarse through your veins will be invigorating.
What I truly love about sky diving is that while you put your trust into your tandem diver and get to sit back and enjoy (or panic) but either way it is semi out of your hands. After signing your life away with waivers and learning briefly what to expect you are paired up with your trained professional. You get strapped in and before you know it you are in the plane. One by one each person goes to the edge of plane with their jumper and falls out. Your guide will lead you to the edge where you sit down, look up and then all the sudden you are out of plane feeling the incredible force of wind and smiling more than you ever have before. The second part of your journey down begins after the parachute is pulled. The world almost seems to slow down, and peace overcomes you. Your guide can also manipulate the parachute to have you spin and twist depending on your likes and the wind. Once you get back on the land you will never be the same.
why not to be scared
You can research the center you plan to jump at to ensure they have a strong maintenance program for the aircraft and skydiving equipment and read reviews prior to going. Statistics show that in 2020 0.39 fatalities per 100,000 jumps. Parachutes rarely fail but all jumps have a reserve parachute that can be utilized if the first parachute malfunctions. Your tandem guide is highly trained in general safety. You will also be debriefed on safety prior to your jump.
where you should do it
In all honesty it is such an exhilarating experience that anywhere you choose for your first jump will be out of this world.
Here are some top jumps on sky-diver bucket lists:
- Interlaken, Switzerland- tandem dive at 14,000 over the swiss alps
- Fox Glacier, New Zealand- tandem dive at 13,000 or 16,500 feet over a glacier
- The Palm Jumeriah, Dubai- awesome views of the palm from 13,000 feet
- Hawaii, United States- incredible vistas from various heights and locations.
- Santa Barbara, CA, United States- highest dive in the United States with incredible views of the coast
- Namibia Desert Africa- see the dunes from above
- Victoria Falls Africa- see this majestic waterfall from above
- Seville, Spain- highest altitude jump in Europe 15,000
- Mount Everest, Nepal- considered the most scenic skydive in the world it comes with a hefty price of around $30,000 and only four trips offered per year
are there restrictions
Many skydiving places have limits based on age and weight. Please check each individual dive center to verify this. You should avoid scuba diving 24 hours prior to sky diving due to dramatic pressure changes. You should avoid drugs and alcohol for at least 24 hours before you skydive. If you have certain medical conditions you may not be allowed to sky dive or may need medical clearance. You should not skydive if you are pregnant.
what you should wear
You should wear comfortable clothing such as athletic wear. Dress for the weather so if cool wear long sleeves and pants, if hot t-shirt/shorts. Clothing should not have hard buckles or studs. You should wear sneakers or sport shoes and avoid sandals, boots, heels.
Should you buy a video and photo package
Most places will over photo or video packages of your jump. Unfortunately, many places will not allow you to use your own camera/GoPro unless you are an experienced skydiver. The pros are you will have incredible pictures of your skydive and great memories. If you love looking back on those things it is very worth the cost. If you think you may only do skydiving once, then the time is now to capture it on film. Both times I did skydiving I opted not to get the pictures, but I have had several friends who have, and they highly recommend it. I have a strong feeling the next time I skydive; I will splurge on the video/photo package.