How Old Do You Have to Be to Skydive?

We firmly believe everyone should give skydiving a go, and the good news is it is never too late to try!

Participation in skydiving requires a few key things. You must be in relatively good health; have the cognitive ability required to understand what you will be doing, and likewise, make your own decision to skydive; have the physical strength to get onto the aircraft as well as exit the aircraft; have moderate flexibility for a stable freefall; and, also, be able to lift your legs for landing. 

If you meet the above requirements, skydiving may be in your future!

At what age can you go skydiving?

Because the minimum tandem skydiving age varies from country to country, the age that you can go skydiving will depend on where you are located geographically.

Believe it or not, tandem skydivers can be as young as 12 in Dubai and Australia, and in New Zealand, there is no minimum tandem skydiving age limit at all! In South Africa, the United Kingdom, Canada, and France, the minimum skydiving age requirement is 16 with parental consent. Now, while there is no “law” in the United States regarding the minimum age to skydive, there is a general consensus. 

In the case of skydiving, because individuals must sign a waiver of liability, they are required to be the age of majority (essentially the age at which you are considered an adult by the legal system). In the United States, this age is 18.

Likewise, in the U.S., the United States Parachute Association (USPA) has mandated that the minimum skydiving age is 18. Furthermore, U.S. tandem equipment manufacturers and parachute manufacturers both maintain a minimum age of 18 for the use of their gear. 

To complete a skydive under the age of 18 at a USPA group member dropzone requires a waiver. Though it does not occur often, the minimum skydiving age has been waived in special circumstances and in cases of terminally ill individuals through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. 

What is the maximum age for skydiving?

While there is a minimum age requirement for skydiving, there is no maximum tandem skydiving age limit. In fact, centenarian and Guinness World Record holder Alfred Blaschke proved just that by completing his second—you read that right—tandem skydive at the age of 103! In 2023, 104-year-old skydiver Dorothy Hoffner set out to beat the Guinness World Record held by Rut Linnéa Ingegärd Larsson – another 103-year-old jumper!

With regard to licensed skydivers, it is common for many skydivers to continue jumping well into their 70s and 80s, and there are even skydiving clubs entirely composed of older members — JOS (Jumpers Over Seventy), JOES (Jumpers Over Eighty Society), and even a JONS (Jumpers Over Ninety Society), respectively.

We want to stress that older individuals do not need to be deterred from skydiving because of their age. The true determining factors for one’s ability to skydive come down to the health and fitness level of the potential jumper. 

What are some alternatives to outdoor skydiving?

If you’re not quite old enough to skydive or if you’d like to test the waters a bit before hucking yourself out of a “perfectly good airplane,” we’re pleased to say we have another option for you: indoor skydiving!

Indoor skydiving simulates the freefall portion of the skydiving experience within a vertical chamber. Using four 541 horsepower fans, air is blown into the tunnel from below creating a column of air for individuals to “fly” on. 

While outdoor skydiving has a minimum age requirement of 18, at our indoor skydiving facility, we can accept flyers as young as three years old. Truth be told, it’s a ton of fun for the whole family!

What are you waiting for?

Time flies. Whether you’re 18 or 81, call or click to spread your wings with Skydive Paraclete XP today.