What To Know Before Booking A Skydive

Tandem skydiving is something you’ve always wanted to do, but how do you know where you should go? If you’ve never jumped before, you don’t know what you don’t know and we hope to shed some light on what to consider when selecting the right dropzone (the place where you skydive). 

Choosing Your Skydive Center

Pick a reputable drop zone as not all skydiving centers are the same. Having a great experience is more than just exiting a plane.

Your first step in selecting the right skydiving center is to determine whether the facility is a member of the United States Parachute Association (USPA). These DZ’s are mandated to follow the basic safety requirements as set forth by the USPA. If the skydiving center is not a USPA member, then essentially, they can create and follow their own rules… not always the best idea when it comes to this activity.

Aside from the actual experience of tandem skydiving, customer service can make or break the enjoyment of your first skydive and USPA affiliation doesn’t promise this. The last thing you want to do is to spend money and be paired with an instructor who isn’t passionate about what he/she is doing. Be sure to check out Yelp and Google reviews for guidance.

Another consideration to factor is the aircraft type and the altitude a skydiving center jumps from. There is a considerable variance in exit altitudes based on the aircraft type being used. Remember altitude is your friend! The higher the tandem skydive, the longer the free fall! Often, if you see prices for skydiving that seem abnormally low, question the exit altitude. Often, altitude is compromised when lower prices are advertised.

Planning Your Tandem Skydive

Once you’ve chosen where you’d like to skydive, you need to choose when.

In some states, skydiving is seasonal, so check this out on your center’s website. SoCal is skydive-friendly all seasons. At Skydive Perris we are lucky enough to jump year round. We recommend booking your jump early in the morning, if possible. Weather is typically better for skydiving in the morning, making for a better experience and prettier pictures.

Sharing your tandem skydiving experience only increases the fun! So, encourage friends to book tandem skydives too and take to the skies together in the same aircraft. If your friends/family don’t want to skydive, take them anyway! Spectators are always welcome and a cheering crowd as you land will make you feel on top of the world (again).

Making Your Tandem Skydive

On the day, wear comfortable clothes such as a t-shirt and shorts and sensible footwear like sneakers. Make sure to eat as you would normally and don’t skip a meal. This avoids low blood sugar (that can make you feel unwell with the adrenaline). Don’t be on a tight schedule. Commit the day to your tandem skydive, even if you have booked early. Weather delays can occasionally occur. Even with no delays, it’s best to take your time on the drop zone and make the most of it.

Chat to regular skydivers – you’ll hear some great stories. Watch people landing, even better, whilst enjoying a post-jump celebratory beer.

Skydiving Los Angeles

Wherever you decide to go tandem skydiving, these tips will help to ensure you have the best experience possible. If you are looking to tandem skydive in SoCal, we think we’re a pretty great place to do it, here’s 7 reasons why skydiving is great at Skydive Perris.