Skydiving – All you need to know for your 1st Jump!
For those who live their life to the full, the sky is the limit!
Maybe it is the sense of freedom, the adrenaline rush and the blasting wind of 120 miles per hour; that provides the unbeatable thrill of skydiving.
One thing is for sure; once you’ve tried it, there’s no coming back.
Leonardo Da Vinci could not have described it better when he wrote “once you have tasted flight, you will walk the Earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return”.
In this article, we look at tandem skydiving and indoor skydiving; getting you read for your first jump!
Tandem Skydiving
Tandem Skydiving is ideal for beginners.
With no experience necessary, you are harnessed to your instructor throughout the jump, from moment you open the plane door, all the way to the ground.
Another way to describe this is a freefall where you ‘wear’ your instructor as a backpack!
After an initial briefing session on the ground, where they will guide you through the basic principles of skydiving, the jump and the positions you need to adopt during the fall; you’ll get kitted up and in the plane.
Your instructor will repeat the instructions as the airplane reaches an altitude of 10-14,000 ft. You’ll feel in safe hands!
The experienced instructor wears a large parachute that is designed to hold two persons.
Experience needed
None.
You simply follow a few rules and then just relax and enjoy the ride, leaving everything else to the experts.
Requirements
In most places, there is an age restriction which prevents individuals under 18 years old from jumping. However this varies depending on the country.
You have to sign a bunch of papers (waivers) in which you declare that you are putting your life in danger and that you accept the risk, so don’t forget your ID card!
There is a maximum weight requirement. These vary and it is often decided by the instructor based on the parachute manufacturers instructions for proper function. Check this with your local skydive centre but it’s usually 15-16 stone.
As for your physical condition, there is no specific rule here, but the skydiving sites mention “the fitter the better” for a more comfortable and enjoyable dive.
Clothing
Trainers and comfortable clothes suitable for the weather conditions of that particular day would be the ideal choice.
Don’t worry about it being cold up high. The atmosphere might be a lot cooler, but the adrenaline will mean you notice no difference.
The Jump
Tandem skydiving consists of two parts: the freefall, which lasts roughly 1 minute (depending on your jump height), and then the remaining 4-8 minutes which start counting from the moment the parachute opens up until the landing.
The duration of the second part depends on your mood and the instructor’s character. For the most, this is the best part of skydiving, where you can enjoy the breathtaking views or even a majestic sunset in a way you could only imagine.
Whilst the jump lasts nearly 10 minutes all-told, you need to devote up to half a day for your skydiving experience.
Feel free to ask more information about the procedure before your event day.
How much it costs
Roughly £150.00 – with an additional fee if you want to have pictures or videos.
Indoor Skydiving
With the breakthrough idea of indoor skydiving, a simulation of a skydive using a wind-tunnel, nearly everyone, even those who have a fear of heights, can have do their 1st ‘jump’.
Indoor skydiving is a simulation of freefall conditions with large fans producing windspeeds of up to 165mph!! To put it simply, it is an air column that enables you to fly.
You might want to choose indoor skydiving instead of the tandem skydiving if:
- You are under 18 years old
Indoor skydiving is much safer than regular skydiving, thus there is no age limit. Even little children as young as three years old can experience indoor skydiving, so it could be a good preparation until they are old enough for the real thing!
- You are afraid of heights
Does the idea of skydiving makes you tremble with fear? Indoor skydiving is a compromising solution, where everyone can have a laugh!
- You want to improve your skills in skydiving
Indoor skydiving is used for training instructors and certified skydivers. It is much more affordable than skydiving and with a less complicated procedure.
Requirements
The weight limit is again present here, but it is not unbreakable under certain circumstances. Check with your local operator.
It is important to be healthy in general and have a good medical history with no shoulder, back or neck problems.
Pregnant women are not allowed to skydive, for obvious reasons.
Take a look
Check out some of the moves you can learn…all controlled by small movements of the body.
Clothing
Comfortable clothes and tennis shoes are a must.
The staff will provide you a uniform to wear over your clothes, as well as a helmet and goggles.
How much will it cost?
There are various packages available, but prices start as low as £35 per person.