Skydiving For Beginners: Not For The Faint Hearted

[I:1:J]In recent years, skydiving has become an immensely popular sport for daredevils and trend-followers alike. Some may want to try it at least once in their lives just to say they did; others may thoroughly enjoy their first time and decide to make it a regular activity. Of course, like any death-defying activity, facts must be learned and precautionary measures must be taken.

How fast do you go?

The speed by which a diver drops from the sky is approximately 200 kilometers per hour, only slowing down slightly when his parachute opens. So if you can handle this fast drop, then you'd enjoy the jump.

From how high do you jump?

Skydivers are taken by plane at least 13,000 feet above the ground. Some acrophobics may be able to handle this, as long as they mentally condition themselves for it. But if looking down from the plane makes you queasy, it's not too late to back out from the leap.

What should you wear?

You have to don a skydiving suit that fits you to a T. Don't leave any room in your suit for air to rush in, as this will hamper your drop. The best type of material for your suit is spandex or polyester, since it's light and formfitting.

When should you do it?

The best time to go skydiving is in the morning. That's when the weather and the wind are at their most moderate. Before jumping, take a very light breakfast. Don't eat anything too rich or oily, as you don't want your breakfast to be spewing out of your mouth and into the air!

Can anyone just do it?

Before you decide to skydive, it's best to get a clean bill of health from your doctor first. You'd need to present a health and fitness certificate to the skydiving instructor before you're given the go-signal.

It's a high-maintenance sport

Like most extreme sports, skydiving is expensive. You'd have to rent the equipment, the parachutes, the plane, the pilot, and pay the tandem instructor. Average cost per dive is $25. Shelling out a big amount for a one-time skydiver won't be too hard on the wallet. But if you fall in love with the thrill and decide to take it up as a regular activity, you'd have to have more than enough spare cash to burn.

Have there been any casualties?

Fatalities cannot be avoided as far as death-defying sports are concerned. The good news is the numbers are few and far between. There are approximately 1 in every 100,000 skydive deaths. These are mostly due to circumstances, such as weather conditions, rather than equipment malfunction. Parachute riggers, who are tasked to prepare and set up the equipment, ensure that all equipment is safe to use before the jump. So you're surely in good hands with them.

Do I still dare try it?

That's something you should ask yourself after reading the facts and absorbing the precautions. If you're suddenly balking at the thought, then maybe it's not the right time to do it-yet. But if reading the facts still sends the adrenaline pumping through your veins, then skydiving is definitely for a thrill-seeker like you! It can definitely be considered a feather in one's cap.