Skydiving is on plenty of bucket lists out there. If you’re thinking about it, go ahead and add it to your bucket list, too! If you’re over 18, you’re likely able to go skydiving. It’s not for folks with heart problems or pregnant women, but if you don’t fit into either of those exceptions, you’re probably ready to take that leap, pun intended!
Basic Terms You Should Know
Drop Zone – It probably looks like a large grassy field with a random airplane hangar in it, but this USPA-affiliated drop zone is where you will make your jump!
Jumpsuit – The full body suit that you wear over your clothes while skydiving. They can help control how fast you fall, and protect you from the wind.
Freefall – This will be the best part of your jump, and it’s just what it sounds like: free falling before the parachute opens.
Liability Release – This waiver outlines safety concerns and potential risks. You have to sign it before you jump.
A Good Place To Start
The first time you go skydiving, you’re more than likely going to be jumping tandem, which means you’re strapped to an instructor that opens the parachute and lands for both of you. There won’t be any physical preparations or coursework; all you have to do is enjoy the ride! It’s a good place to start. Without having to do the coursework and prep to get your own parachute, you get to just have fun without having too many responsibilities.
Skydiving With A View
Does it matter where you go skydiving? Well, kind of, yes! After you jump out of that plane, you’re going to be up in the air soaring around for a little while, and those few minutes will be spent taking in the view. So, when picking your drop zone, you might want to think about the surroundings that you’ll be looking at on your way down!
Is It Safe?
Just like with anything else in this world, there are some horror stories out there of dives gone bad. But once you start looking at actual statistics, you’ll realize that it’s actually very safe. In 2015, there were 21 fatalities out of 4.2 million jumps, and the rate of tandem fatalities is actually lower than that. If you think about it, the instructor that you’ll be jumping with does this for a living. They go through extensive training and certification, plus they do it all the time!
So, are you ready to make that jump? If you’re still thinking about it, it’s time to make a call and be able to cross this one off your bucket list!
Kat Sweet
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