Everything You Need To Know Before Going Skydiving

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It’s skydiving time — yep, time to check the big one off the bucket list. It’s a plan. You’re literally going to jump out of a plane. But before you take that massive leap, whether you’re fearlessly eager or have some lingering worries, here are some answers to your skydiving questions.

How does it work?

Your first jump will most likely be a tandem jump. That means you’ll be strapped to a professional who knows all the ins and outs of hurtling through the sky and is an expert at working a parachute.

Before your jump, you’ll do some ground training. Your tandem jump instructor will walk you through the rules and safety tips to make sure you know what’s up when you take to the skies. In the plane, you’ll sit with your partner before the two of you do the damn thing (harnessed together). Get excited. This is going down. After you jump out of the plane, you’ll experience a freefall before your partner opens the parachute and you drift to the ground. (If you want to try a solo jump, it’ll take a little more training before you can fly alone.)

Should your family be worried?

I mean, you are jumping out of a plane. You can’t tell them not to be a little concerned. However, you can share some safety stats with them before taking off. And maybe don’t tell them about the waiver you’ll have to sign saying they won’t sue if you die until after you’re safely on the ground.

Unsplash/Kamil Pietrzak

How safe is it really?

In 2016, there were only 21 fatal skydiving accidents for solo divers. That’s 21 out of 3.2 million. Tandem skydiving is even safer. According to the United States Parachute Association, you’re actually more likely to die from a bee sting or die from a lightning strike. Yes, you read that correctly. You have a higher chance of not only being struck by lightning, but also dying from that lightning bolt than you do of dying in a tandem jump. Clearly, the odds are in favor of a tandem skydive.

Where should I go?

There are skydiving schools all around the world, but for the ultimate views during your freefall, we’re loving the look of:

• Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Queenstown, New Zealand
• Interlaken, Switzerland
• Moab, Utah, U.S.
• Great Barrier Reef, Australia

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