First-Time Skydiving: A Complete Guide to Dos, Don’ts & What to Expect

Key Takeaways
First-time skydiving is designed to be beginner-friendly, with tandem instructors guiding you through every step of the experience. Preparing properly by dressing comfortably, eating normally, arriving early, and staying flexible with weather, can help reduce stress and improve your day. Nervousness is completely normal, but trusting your instructor and focusing on the excitement can make the experience a lot less anxiety-inducing. From the exciting plane ride and the exhilarating freefall to the peaceful parachute descent, skydiving is an unforgettable adventure that many people find life-changing.

Skydiving for the first time can bring up a myriad of questions, and understanding the process can help calm some of the anxiety associated with the experience. Most first-time skydivers do a tandem jump paired with a professional instructor, which typically takes two to four hours on weekdays or four to six hours on busy weekends. 

Some first-time skydiving tips include: wear comfortable athletic clothing, eat a normal meal, and mentally prepare for 45 to 60 seconds of freefall. Book the earliest slot available on your day of choice for the smoothest conditions and least waiting time, and get ready to have the time of your life!

Let’s dig into the details of what to know before skydiving! 

Skydiving for Beginners: What to Know Before You Go

First-time skydivers represent an entire subset of the skydiving culture. Dropzone owners and team members are committed to providing an excellent experience for brand new jumpers, because we want you to love the sport as much as we do! 

We know that sometimes great adventures come with high levels of uncertainty, so here are some tandem skydiving tips to get you ready for your big day. 

First-Time Skydiving Dos

• Book Early
  Morning appointments are best to avoid long wait times and potential weather delays. Plus, that leaves you plenty of time to celebrate after you land!
  
  
• Get Ahead of the Nerves
  It is normal to feel nervous. Focus on breathing and trust the process. Do whatever helps you feel calm before the jump. Be sure to research the dropzone ahead of time.
  
  
• Dress Comfortably
  Wear athletic clothing, such as close-fitting athletic pants or shorts and a T-shirt and sneakers. Avoid clothes with strings or restrictive items, or anything baggy. Shoes should have flat soles, be closed-toe, and not have any hooks or other snag hazards on them. Pay attention to the weather when planning our outfit!
  
  
• Eat Normally
  Eat a normal meal and stay hydrated, and make sure to avoid alcohol for 24 hours prior. Your body will thank you once your adrenaline starts pumping!
  
  
• Trust Your Instructor
  You will be securely harnessed to a professional who has trained extensively to handle the mechanics, logistics, and equipment of skydiving, so follow their instructions carefully.
  
  
• Get Video/Photos
  You’ll want to remember this! Consider purchasing a photo/video package to capture your experience. Adrenaline can make it hard to recall the details of your experience! It’s an add-on, but it’s SO worth it!
  
  
• Be Flexible
  Skydiving is an outdoor sport, and that means we’re at the mercy of Mother Nature. There may be weather delays, so plan for possible wait times or reschedules. We want your jump to be the best it can possibly be!

First-Time Skydiving Don’ts

• Don’t Come Empty Handed
  Bring your valid, government-issued photo ID for check in – no ID, no jump (no kidding)! Bring water and snacks as well, and layers in case the weather changes.
  
  
• Don’t Show Up Hungover or Under the Influence
  Under no circumstances should you drink alcohol before skydiving. Alcohol dulls your reflexes and negatively affects your response time. If we suspect that you have been drinking before your jump, you will not be allowed to skydive.
  
  
• Don’t Panic About Breathing in Freefall
  To combat any chance of hyperventilating, take long measured breaths in through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Another thing that you can do is to yell to kickstart your breathing cycle if you’re feeling stuck! Remember – you can breathe, but your adrenaline may cause you to instinctively hold your breath!
  
  
• Don’t Assume You Can Wing It
  Even though your instructor is in charge and on top of everything, you play an active role in a successful jump. You’re not just a passenger; you’re a participant. Make sure you pay attention to what your instructor says about the gear, your body position, and the landing so you can participate!
  
  
• Don’t Forget to Smile
  We’d honestly be a little concerned if you didn’t have some nerves going into it. Part of the beauty of skydiving is learning that you are capable of incredible things – including tackling those jitters and jumping anyway, so smile and enjoy the transformation!

What to Expect on Jump Day

Knowing what your day will look like can help with the nerves and let you focus on the jump itself. Here’s a quick rundown of what your days with us will look like:

• Check-In & Waiver
  You will arrive and fill out some quick paperwork before being introduced to your instructor.
  
  
• Training
  A short training session with your instructor covers jump procedures, body positioning, landing techniques. This is the time to ask any questions you might have!
  
  
• The Climb
  You will enjoy a scenic flight up to jump altitude with other tandem skydivers, and maybe some students learning how to skydive solo or earning ratings, or jumping for fun. You’ll get a real glimpse into the mindset and culture of skydiving during your time in the airplane.
  
  
• Freefall
  You’ll freefall for 45 to 60 seconds at roughly 120 mph. Don’t worry if you don’t like the butterflies-in-the-stomach feeling you get on a roller coaster – you won’t get that during your jump! It’ll feel much more like windy floating, and it might just be the best minute of your life!
  
  
• Parachute Ride & Landing
  After the parachute opens, you’ll enjoy a serene three to five minute parachute ride back to the landing area. During this time, you can actually speak to your instructor and enjoy the view together. When it’s time to land, your instructor will talk you through the landing process as you touch down right back where you started!

Feeling afraid is completely normal. You’re doing something you’ve never done before, and that humans technically aren’t made to do! Jumping out of an airplane isn’t exactly natural, which means that your fear absolutely is. 

First-Time Skydiving FAQs

• How long does a skydive last?
  A typical skydive, from takeoff to landing, usually takes around 20-30 minutes. But the whole process can take several hours, which includes check-in, safety training, gearing up, the ride to altitude, freefall, canopy flight, and landing.
  
  
• How long does it take to fall 10,000 feet?
  The terminal velocity of a human in freefall is typically 120 mph. It takes five to six seconds to fall about 1,000 feet, so it takes about 50 to 60 seconds to fall 10,000 feet. 
  

• How many skydiving jumps to go solo?
  Learning how to skydive solo at Wisconsin Skydiving Center means enrolling in our modified Accelerated Freefall (AFF) program. After successfully completing the required curriculum and a minimum of 25 jumps, you can earn your USPA A License and start flying solo!
  
  
• What’s the hardest part of skydiving?
  This can be different for each person, but generally speaking, overcoming your own mental block is usually the hardest part!
  
  
• What if you faint while skydiving?
  Passing out while skydiving is uncommon. But if you do faint, your tandem skydive instructor will handle the jump and landing. If you have any health concerns, be sure to talk with your doctor ahead of booking your jump and talk with your instructor on jump day.

Ready to make your first jump? Wisconsin Skydiving Center has been helping first-time jumpers experience the joy and freedom of human flight for nearly 30 years! We would love to share our passion for our incredible sport and our commitment to excellence with you – book your jump today! Blue skies!