How To Prepare For Your First Skydive

Knowing how to prepare for your first skydive will make it less stressful. The main goal of a skydive is to have fun while remaining safe. These steps can help you to prepare for your first skydive.

1. Check out the dive center. Review their safety record and the credentials of the instructors. One organization to check with is the United States Parachute Association who issues different levels of licenses and whose members adhere to strict safety rules.
2. Choose the kind of first skydive you want to do. A tandem freefall skydive is when you are strapped to an experienced instructor who takes care of pulling the cord. During an accelerated freefall the instructors hang onto the skydiver until the parachute is deployed and then let go. On a static line jump the cord is pulled when you exit the aircraft.
3. Get your rest. Be sure you have a full night’s sleep the night before your first skydive so that you are alert during the training and you feel physically strong to make the jump.
4. Eat before the jump. Eat about two hours before the jump, but avoid a heavy meal. If your jump is later in the day then eat breakfast and time your next meal to be two hours before your first skydive.
5. Get mentally prepared. Even if you will be doing a tandem freefall during your first skydive if you understand what will happen and have seen some videos or read about the experience it will help you to relax and enjoy the experience.
6. Get physically prepared. Being physically fit can help you through the training. Consult your doctor to get his approval if you have any heart problems or medical conditions that could affect the jump.
7. Attend the training class. A tandem jump may require only an hour or so of training. If you want to do an accelerate free fall for your first skydive, you will need more extensive training, usually four to six hours.