Some Commonly Asked Skydiving Questions
There is no question that skydiving is an extreme sport. After all, you are jumping from a high altitude and there is a possibility that you could drop to your death. However there are actually measures to prevent that from happening and this is just one of the many questions people ask about this activity.
The first and most oft asked question: is skydiving safe?
Skydiving is considered to be safe when there is only around 35 fatalities or less per year. When you consider there are more than 3 million jumps made a year that is an extremely modest amount. The cause of most of the fatalities is carelessness on the part of the jumper rather than faulty equipment. This is why the equipment used must be checked and rechecked before a jump is made.
Is there a minimum age limit for skydiving?
In America, you must be at least eighteen years of age. While it can be lower in other countries. There is no maximum age you can jump providing you’re in good physical condition’
Do skydiving centres enforce a weight limit?
The answer is no. Any individual can make the jump however some centres may have restrictions or extra charges if a person is over a certain weight.
Is there special equipment you need to go skydiving?
There are actually five basic things you need to go skydiving. These are namely the backpack, jumpsuit, helmet, altimeter and parachute. All of these should be in excellent working condition so that you won’t experience any complications when you make the jump.
What happens if the parachute does not open?
Fortunately, all skydivers carry a second parachute in their backpack. Once they pull the cord, this will deploy so you will descend safely into the ground.
How often might you need to use the second parachute?
The good news is that this is very uncommon particularly for beginners as the equipment that you rent is inspected by a certified FAA or Federal Aviation Administration rigger.
Do bad landings happen often in skydiving?
The answer is no, but they do happen. This is the reason you’re taught on the ground first to teach you how to land safely. However from time to time the wind or carelessness on the part of the jumper may cause bad landings to occur.
Skydiving is a safe extreme sport. The skydiving centers are committed to making this experience a safe and memorable one so you can do it again. If you’re not sure but still want to give it a try you can sign up at one of the centres for a tandem jump. This means you’ll be with an instructor the whole time so you can sit back and enjoy the view.
The rates to dive will vary from centre to centre so take the time to look around before taking the plunge.
