Is Tandem Skydiving Safe?

How safe is skydiving? It’s one of the first questions you ask as a first-time tandem skydiver, and rightly so–after all, the idea of stepping out the door of a plane in the air is more than a little daunting. Will you really make it back to the ground in one (happy) piece? Here we address the underlying questions to give you a better idea of the safety of skydiving.

Is Skydiving Safe?

Fact: While there is a small risk of injury, or even death when skydiving, there is a greater statistical risk involved in your morning commute, it’s just a less dramatic example.

We take risks every day. Some are more pronounced than others, of course: riding a motorcycle, walking through a sketchy neighborhood alone at night, SCUBA diving, etc. Even more normalized activities–like the aforementioned morning commute–carries a risk. While jumping out of an airplane in flight might seem like a riskier thing to do, it’s not as great as you probably imagine.

Living a risk-free life is impossible. Attempting to live a risk-free life, at the expense of the experiences that enrich it, is stifling. Taking measured, calculated, intelligent, life-affirming risks is the goal, and tandem skydiving fits that goal brilliantly.

Is Skydiving Scary?

Fact: Yes, but that’s one of the best parts.

Tandem skydiving is scary. But guess what? That’s exactly why you should do it. Jumping out of a plane, high above the “normal” world that you’ve gotten so used to, is to step far outside your comfort zone. Tandem skydiving lets you stretch your perspective; lets you see what you’re truly capable of. It’s magical and alchemical and absolutely unique.

What do the skydiving safety statistics say about the safety of the sport?

Answer: Unequivocally, they say it’s way safer than you think it is.

When you feel your heart pounding and your adrenaline surging in the door of the airplane, you can be assured that it’s for your enjoyment only. It has no real scientific basis.

The United States Parachute Association, of which Skydive Perris is a proud member, has been carefully collecting statistics for many years–and can mathematically prove that the safety of skydiving is not only significantly better than most “extreme” activities, it’s only getting better with time. (If you don’t believe us, look at these safety statistics.)

You’ll note that, according to the National Safety Council, a person is much more likely to be killed getting struck by lightning than he or she is to be killed on a skydive. In fact, that statistic references actual skydiving athletes, many of whom make a hundred jumps or more per month. Tandem skydiving is even safer!

Do You Care About My Safety?

Answer: One hundred percent yes.

There’s a difference when you skydive at a family-owned and operated business–the personal touch. Skydive Perris was started 40 years ago by husband and wife, Diane and Bennie Conatser who bought an old airfield in Perris and cultivated it into the thriving skydiving community it is today. Back in the 70s, their motto was ‘The Fun, Friendly Drop Zone that Cares.” Forty years later, the team at Skydive Perris is just as passionate about the sport of skydiving–and about offering new skydivers a safe, fulfilling experience that they’ll joyfully remember for always.

Skydive Perris demonstrates our dedication to our guests safety through continuous maintenance of our aircraft, careful upkeep of our equipment and the employment of eminently qualified instructors.

If you have any questions about skydiving safety, ask! We’re all about transparency, and we delight in showing our guests the safety procedures and guidelines that we follow. Don’t be shy!