Tandem Skydiving: What to Expect

Making Your First Skydive

Tandem skydiving is the perfect way to make your first skydive. At Skydive Paraclete, we will team you up with a highly experienced tandem skydiving instructor who will accompany you through your entire experience. Knowing that you are in good hands, you’ll be able to relax, enjoy the rush of freefall, and take in beautiful views during your canopy flight. You don’t need any qualifications or experience to tandem skydive, so it’s ideal for first-time jumpers.

We know there’s a lot to take in on the day of your jump, so we’ve put together this guide to let you know what you can expect when you tandem skydive with us. If you have additional questions, you can also contact us to speak with a member of our staff to find out more.

Getting to the Dropzone

You’ll likely have a time slot during which to arrive at the skydiving center (dropzone) on the day of your jump. Once here, you’ll complete registration with one of our friendly members of staff.

The dropzone is a really fun place to be. While you wait for the other jumpers in your group to complete registration, take the opportunity to watch parachutes coming in to land and see the plane take off. This will give you a good idea of what’s to come on your jump.

Tandem Skydive Brief

You don’t need any experience or extensive training to make your first skydive. We’ll get you in the air after a short brief which should last no more than 30 minutes.

During the brief, we’ll teach you the right body position to adopt when exiting the plane. We’ll talk to you about how the equipment works and what to expect on your jump, including safety considerations.

Your Jump

Your instructor will get you ready for your jump and provide you with a harness. You’ll then head out to the plane which will take you and your fellow jumpers to your exit altitude. If you’ve paid for a video/photo package, your camera person will hang on the outside of the plane to capture your face as you exit and get some nice shots of the plane in the background.

Have you ever wondered, “How fast do skydivers fall?” This is when you get to find out—the best part! You’ll be in freefall, traveling at speeds of around 120mph, for up to 60 seconds. Your instructor will deploy your parachute, which will be open between 4,000-6,000 feet. It takes around 3-5 minutes to make your descent back to the ground from here.

After Your Jump

Once you’ve landed, you’ll be invited to rejoin your friends and family, who will have watched you take off in the plane and come in to land under your parachute. At this point, you’re free to go or welcome to stay at the dropzone. We have a range of facilities including a cafe and a spectator area from which you can watch other skydivers.

We also have an indoor skydiving facility (wind tunnel) just a couple minutes down the road, where you can experience simulated freefall. Ages 3 and up are eligible to try indoor skydiving, so it’s ideal if you have younger people in your group who want to experience bodyflight without having to jump out of a plane.

Tandem skydiving is an incredible experience, difficult to explain, but impossible to forget! You can book your tandem skydive online today, or get in touch to speak to a member of our staff.