What Makes The Tandem Skydiving Experience Comfortable?

Skydiving is the quintessential extreme sport, but that doesn’t mean it has to be extremely uncomfortable. Jumping out of an airplane for the first time is a thrilling, exhilarating, and challenging experience – and it’s also a very precise and measured thing to do. In fact, an entire skydiving discipline was invented to make the sport even more accessible to newcomers: tandem skydiving. What is tandem skydiving, you ask? 

A tandem skydive is when a novice student and a professional instructor are securely harnessed together and use a parachute specially designed to hold two people. The student goes on the front, and the instructor on the back – piggy-back style – and the harness is clipped together at each shoulder and each hip. 

Considering you’re jumping from a perfectly good airplane a couple of miles up, tandem skydiving is pretty comfortable physically. Look at the miles of smiles across our guests’ faces and you can see that tandem skydiving isn’t painful. In this article, we’re jumping into what makes tandem skydiving mentally, emotionally, and even financially comfortable. Let’s go! 

What Does “Tandem Skydive” Mean?

The word “tandem” literally means having two things arranged one in front of the other, and that’s exactly how it applies to skydiving. The student is attached to the front of the instructor, and the instructor has complete control over every aspect of the skydive. 

So, as a first-time jumper, you can skydive after a brief, same-day training session because your highly-experienced instructor manages all of the technical aspects of a successful jump while you, essentially, enjoy the ride. It’s the perfect way for beginners and thrill-seekers to experience the joy and excitement of skydiving without a lot of responsibility.

Tandem skydiving offers an accessible and sophisticated window into the amazing sport of skydiving. For some, it’s a one-and-done bucket list activity, and others go on to become licensed skydivers! 

Factors Contributing to Mental & Emotional Comfort

There’s no denying that skydiving is an intense experience meant to push you outside of your comfort zone. But there are ways to preserve certain comforts that will help you manage the anxiety associated with abandoning others. If the thought of jumping out of an airplane makes you uncomfortable, soothe your soul with the knowledge of these cornerstones of the sport:

Skydiving Safety Measures

The sport of skydiving has been around for decades and, contrary to what the media would have you believe, it’s highly regulated by both the Federal Aviation Administration and the United States Parachute Association (USPA). The USPA is our industry’s governing body that sets out the standards and regulations that member dropzones must follow. It’s a highly active organization that monitors the sport closely and rolls out updates and requirements as the industry evolves.

The specialty equipment we use is also the subject of constant research and development. Skydivers are a creative bunch who like to push limits – to go faster, slower, higher, lower, further, longer. Gear manufacturers are dedicated to producing high quality, state-of-the-art technology for skydivers of all disciplines to use.

Instructors and pilots are also held to the highest standards of excellence, completing intense certifications and ongoing training to keep them up to date and qualified to serve.

These are all factors that are very much in our control, and the knowledge that we take safety seriously is a great drop in the comfort bucket for first-timers.

Professional Guidance

We certainly don’t throw you out of the airplane without preparation! Our highly experienced instructors are skilled at training new jumpers, and you’ll learn everything you need to know before you step foot in the airplane.

Your instructor will give you the full rundown on the gear you’ll use, the plane ride to altitude, the exit and freefall experience, the parachute ride, and how you’ll land together. Don’t hesitate to ask any questions you might have if they don’t cover everything you’re curious about! Your instructor’s goal is to give you the best experience possible, and that includes showing you the ropes and helping you feel comfortable and confident.

Expectations

Managing expectations and doing research ahead of time are imperative to maintaining physical and emotional comfort during the skydive. Reading reviews and watching videos online can help with understanding what the skydiving process looks like and prepare you for what’s ahead.

Weather and other factors may require you to be at the dropzone for a while on the day of your jump, so plan to bring snacks, water, and sunblock. And dress for success! Fitted, athletic clothing appropriate for the season will go a long way to ensuring you’ll be comfy cozy throughout your jump.

Fun fact: You won’t experience the stomach-drop-butterflies during your skydive. Most people describe the sensation of freefall as a windy floating. 

We want you to walk away from your jump feeling fulfilled and challenged in the best way. That means your needs have to be taken care of so that you can focus on enjoying the skydive the way it’s meant to be experienced – a carefully-orchestrated leap out of your comfort zone!

Tandem Skydiving Cost

Financial comfort is important too! We know the cost of tandem skydiving can make some people feel uncomfortable, so it’s important to understand why skydiving costs a pretty penny.

As we’ve detailed, there’s a lot that goes into tandem skydiving possible. Instructors, pilots, parachute packers, and dropzone staff need consistent training and certifications, as well as fair salaries. Airplanes and skydiving gear require routine maintenance and upkeep. And, well, we can’t fly the airplane without fuel! 

The cost of every skydive goes directly toward maintaining the high level of satisfaction we promise and contributes to the continued operations of the dropzone so that we can keep offering life-changing experiences! (If you find a bargain-basement price on skydiving, beware. Cut costs may indicate cut corners.)

The good news? There are ways to save some dough! Book with a group for discounted prices, or keep an eye out for seasonal sales. Don’t skip on adding a video package, though – you only make your first jump once!
Have questions that are keeping you from feeling comfortable? Check out our FAQs or get in touch! Feeling good about joining us in the sky? Come jump with us! We can’t wait for you to experience the freedom of human flight!