Is Skydiving Fun?

Is skydiving fun? With around 3.3 million skydives recorded each year, you better bet your bottom dollar that there’s a ton of fun to be had in the air! Admittedly, especially for adventure sports, the experience is a two-sided coin. On one side there is fun. On the other side, there is fear. For many of life’s rewarding activities, the two are inextricably linked and evolution is to blame.

The Science Behind Skydiving For Fun

Settle in for a science lesson!

When we encounter an unfamiliar situation, the stirrings of fear trigger a physiological symphony. It’s a marvelous production of the human body with notes plucked by chemical impulses and strings strummed all across the sympathetic nervous system.

Awash in this fear incited orchestration (also known as the fight or flight response) the body experiences a significant spike in adrenaline. As adrenaline is secreted from the adrenal glands, it, thus, primes the body to react.

The results of this fear induced boost of adrenaline are akin to temporary super powers: a hyper alert mental state, an increased concentration of glucose to provide ample energy, and a raised heart rate to deliver oxygenated blood to the muscles for increased stamina, speed, and strength. Physically these changes are designed to allow the body to respond efficiently to a perceived threat.

Aside from the physical manifestations of the fight or flight response, the spike in adrenaline also signals to your body to release a chemical cocktail of hormones and neurotransmitters including endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin. This feel-good mix causes sensations of euphoria and extreme happiness. This is, in part, why we say fear and fun are two sides of the same skydiving coin.

Is The Fun Worth The Risk?

Everyone has a different risk quotient, and we want to be up front: skydiving is not without risk. Although the risk of death or injury has continued to improve throughout the years, the fact is that, like many things in life, the risk cannot be completely eliminated.

Over the past decade, there has been an average of one tandem skydiving fatality per 500,000 jumps. That is a .0002% chance of dying while participating in tandem skydiving. While the odds are low, you should examine your motivations for making a skydive before taking the leap.

We truly believe that for your tandem skydive to be the most fun it can be, there needs to be a reason behind it. It is supremely important to make the decision to skydive because of an intrinsic desire rather than as the result of pressure from someone else or to make someone else happy.

Why Skydiving Is More Fun Than Scary

There’s no need to fear feeling afraid. The mind games we play are often the worst part, but the sense of accomplishment that comes from taking those fears head on is unrivaled. Skydiving is fun because of the mental hurdle the experience presents and the psychological reward that comes from overcoming the challenge. Conquering your fear instills an unshakeable confidence. Take it from us: you don’t know what you are capable of until you try.

Let’s face your fears and have some fun. Schedule your tandem skydive with Long Island Skydiving Center today!