Complete Guide to Skydive Solo

brrring! brrring! 

You hear that? It’s time to answer the call of the wild blue yonder. Flying amongst the clouds doesn’t have to merely be a childhood dream. With skydiving, it’s possible to soar solo! 

Some choose to get their first taste of flight with a tandem skydive. Others, sporting a much more adventurous appetite, find the idea of skydiving alone much more appealing. 
If you’re ready to take your skydiving adventure to the next level, it’s time to consider skydiving solo and learn how to skydive. Here’s what you need to know.

Top Requirements to Skydive Solo

There are a few skydiving requirements that must be met in order to skydive by yourself. 

Age: In order to skydive solo, individuals must be at least 18 years old. We require a valid, government-issued form of photo identification in order to verify age.

Weight: The maximum weight limit for skydiving solo is 240 lbs. Additionally, to ensure the equipment fits properly, participants must be height-weight proportionate. 

Health: In order to learn to skydive solo, a participant needs to be in generally good shape. For certain medical conditions and health issues, a doctor’s note may be required prior to jumping. Specifically at Skydive Perris, if you have a history of shoulder dislocations, you will need to obtain written permission from your doctor in order to skydive.
Additional Requirements: Because the course materials and instruction is done in English at Skydive Perris, participants need to have a good understanding of the English language (both written and spoken) in order to attend a skydive solo course and to complete a subsequent solo skydive.

How Many Jumps Do You Need to Skydive Alone?

Wondering how many tandem jumps are required before skydiving solo? Well, technically, none! At Skydive Perris, we do not require students to complete a tandem skydive before beginning your solo skydiving journey. After attending ground school, you can make your first solo skydive accompanied in-air by two licensed skydiving instructors.

While we allow you to go solo without first going tandem, we suggest you make a tandem first as it’s a great place to start. Completing a tandem skydive allows you to experience the sensations of freefall for the first time while attached to a professional skydiving instructor. This affords you the opportunity to get a feel for skydiving without all the added responsibility that comes with skydiving solo.

What Does A Skydive Solo Course Entail?

The Perris Skydiving Program (PSP) encompasses 18 levels of indoor and outdoor skydiving training in order to produce the best, most competent and confident skydivers.

Our program is much more comprehensive than the classic AFF (Accelerated Freefall) curriculum that you’ll find at most skydiving centers, and offers a minimum of 3 times more coached freefall time (36 minutes!). PSP graduates are equipped to serve as responsible members of the international skydiving community and to advance the sport of skydiving. 

PSP Level 1 is our first jump course. After completing a 4 to 6 hour ground school, you will begin to gain practical freefall and canopy experience. By the conclusion of Level 1, you will have learned all that you need to know to successfully complete your first solo skydive, including the hand signals we use to communicate in freefall; proper body position for exiting the aircraft and for a stable freefall; flying and landing the parachute; and proper emergency procedures.

From here, you will progress through 17 additional curricular levels and complete your packing class, before making a series of hop ’n pops and solo skydives. Then you are ready to apply for your USPA A License!

How to Become A Certified Skydiver

To become a certified skydiver and earn your USPA A License, you will need to have satisfied all the requirements on the A-license proficiency card, demonstrating your skill in both freefall and canopy flight, as well as displaying familiarity with all required safety competencies. You must also accrue a minimum of 25 jumps, learn to pack a parachute, and pass both a written and oral exam.

Cost to Learn How to Skydive

The cost of the first jump course including the Level 1 solo skydive is $379. If you are able to pre-purchase the Perris Skydiving Program package, the total cost to continue to learn to skydive and to earn your USPA A License is $4,031.90.

The package includes 15 single-instructor skydives, two 10-minute sessions in the indoor wind tunnel, 7 solo jumps and optional coaching free of charge, 2 low-altitude skydives, a packing class, and your USPA membership registration and license fees. 

A level-by-level cost breakdown if you pay as you go can be found in our PSP syllabus.

How Long Does it Take to Learn to Skydive?

The amount of time it takes to learn to skydive varies from person to person. Everyone’s journey is different. The rate at which you progress through the Perris Skydiving Program will depend upon your availability of time and resources, the weather, instructor capacity, and personal performance.

For some, PSP takes a matter of weeks; for others, more than a year. As long as you stay current by making a jump at least every 30 days, you can continue your progression.

The Freedom of a Skydiving A License

The USPA A License is proof that you are ready to skydive without supervision. Once you have an A License, you are allowed to skydive with other licensed skydivers. Skydiving solo is great, but just wait until you’re sharing smiles with your best buds in the air! Earning your USPA A License is the key you need to open the door on a whole new realm of possibility. What goal will you set your sights on next?

It’s time to go solo! Sign up for your PSP Level 1 today! Blue skies!

Related Article: 5 Reasons to Choose Skydive Perris