How Dangerous Is Skydiving?

When you think of skydiving, you probably think about a surge of adrenaline, images of breathtaking views, and the ultimate sense of freedom. Perhaps you also think about a frequently asked question: How dangerous is skydiving? Understanding the risks involved is crucial for any prospective skydiver, but it’s equally important to keep things in perspective. 

In this article, we’ll explore the realities of skydiving safety. While skydiving is an extreme sport with inherent risk, advancements in technology, rigorous training, and strict safety protocols have significantly reduced the risk of accident, injury, or death. 

We want you to feel extra assured in your decision to jump, and that starts with education. Let’s dive into the facts to better understand the true risks of taking the leap!

What Are The Risks of Skydiving?

Rather … what are the risks of not skydiving … hmmm!? A Redditor made the comment: “There’s a difference between pushing yourself and being stupid and it can be a fine line.” And they couldn’t be more right. 

Just like walking across the street or falling down the stairs holds inherent risk, so does jumping from an airplane. But, similar to using a crosswalk or holding the handrail, being smart about a jump can make all the difference. 

Risks of skydiving include, but aren’t limited to, parachute malfunctions, hard landings, mid-air collisions, and medical concerns acting up during the jump. Perhaps the biggest risk of taking the leap is falling in love with the freedom of flight and never wanting to stop! 

How Are Skydiving Risks Mitigated?

Safety-oriented mindsets.

Beneath the adrenaline-fueled excitement of the jump lies an unwavering commitment to safety that is absolutely fundamental to the sport. A collective dedication to safety – through education, constant gear checks, maintenance and upkeep, and culture – ensures that skydiving remains enjoyable for generations to come. 

Our culture determines our safety. Our dropzone community encourages an environment of learning, growth, and safety! A comment on Reddit states: “… I would say [skydiving] is a dangerous activity that can be done safely,” FACTS!

Meticulously maintained gear.

From aircraft and facilities to harnesses, helmets, and skydiving rigs, ensuring gear upkeep is critical. Here’s a quick look at how safety standards in the sport are maintained: 

• Aircraft. Routine inspections are done on jump planes – these are comprehensive and completed by certified aviation mechanics. And, before every flight, pilots go through a pre-flight check to confirm everything is functioning properly. 

• Jump gear. Skydiving rigs are checked before putting them on, every single time. Then, they’re checked by another jumper after we put them on. “Gear checks” ensure the equipment is up to par and that proper packing techniques are used.

Ever-evolving technology.

What happens if your skydiving instructor passes out!? AHHH! Nope, no need to panic – we have something for that. All tandem skydiving rigs are equipped with RSLs and AADs:

• RSL: Reserve Static Lines act as a tripwire during a main parachute cutaway. The RSL is a lanyard that is attached to a piece of the main parachute. In the event that the main needs to be released from the skydiver(s), the RSL will deploy the back-up, reserve canopy! (Yep, we jump with two parachutes!)

• AAD: Automatic Activation Devices are small computers fastened in the rig. They calculate how high a skydiver is and how fast they’re falling. In the event that they’re going too fast and are too low, the AAD will fire and aid in deploying the reserve parachute. AADs save lives! 

The biggest way skydivers mitigate risk is through their mindset. Our outlook on the sport – that we respect its inherent risks – is crucial, and it’s something we’re proud of. 

Fun fact: Our owners – Bo and Alex – have a combined 25,000+ skydives – what a testament!

How Safe Is Skydiving For The First Time?

Skydiving for the first time can be anxiety-inducing! Considering skydiving safety statistics can help you soothe your nerves. Here are some numbers: 

• In 2023, about 3.65 MILLION skydives were made – 10 of which were fatal. This indicates a fatality rate of about 0.27 out of 100,000 skydives. 

• What about tandem skydiving? For every 500,000 annual tandem skydives, there is an estimated one fatality. In 2023, there were zero tandem skydiving fatalities.

Skydiving is not just an individual experience; it’s a collective one. Every injury within our sky-fam is a punch to the gut, and it reinforces our commitment to maintaining the best safety standards – in our outlook, gear, and technology. The statistical likelihood of a fatal skydiving accident is extremely low, and skydiving for the first time while attached to a professional skydiving instructor decreases this even more. 

Have any other questions or concerns? Let us know! Your safety and comfort are our top priority – we can’t wait to jump with you! Blue skies!