Your first parachute jump will almost certainly be a tandem skydive, where you’re harnessed to a licensed instructor who handles the equipment while you experience freefall at roughly 120 mph. A tandem jump requires minimal training and costs between $275 and $300 on average in the United States. If you want to eventually jump solo, you’ll follow a structured training path that starts with about six hours of ground school before you ever board a plane.
Two Ways to Make Your First Jump
There are two main entry points into skydiving: tandem jumping and Accelerated Freefall (AFF) training. They lead to very different experiences.
In a tandem jump, you share a parachute with an instructor. You’re attached to them via a harness, and they handle every critical task: directing freefall, deploying the parachute, and steering to the landing area. Your ground training is brief, often under an hour, because your job is mostly to enjoy the ride and follow a few simple body position cues. A professional videographer typically jumps alongside you to capture the experience.
AFF is for people who want to learn to skydive independently. You wear your own parachute rig and deploy it yourself, but two instructors freefall on either side of you, holding onto your harness to provide stability and intervene if needed. AFF students go through roughly six hours of ground school before their first jump. This covers body position, altitude awareness, emergency procedures, and canopy control. AFF is the beginning of a full certification path that eventually leads to solo, unsupervised jumping.
What You’re Wearing on Your Back
Every skydiving rig contains three key systems. The main parachute is what you (or your instructor, on a tandem) deploy at the planned altitude. It’s a rectangular, ram-air canopy that flies forward and can be steered with two control lines, one for each hand. This isn’t the round military surplus chute most people picture. Modern sport parachutes are closer to inflatable wings, giving the jumper precise control over speed and direction.
The reserve parachute is the backup, packed inside the same container. If the main canopy malfunctions, the jumper disconnects it by pulling a “cutaway” handle, then pulls a separate handle to deploy the reserve. Parachute malfunctions are rare, but the reserve is always there.
The third system is an Automatic Activation Device, or AAD. This is a small computer that monitors your altitude and speed. If you’re still falling at freefall speeds below a certain altitude, meaning you haven’t deployed either parachute, the AAD fires the reserve automatically. It exists for scenarios where a jumper is unconscious, injured, or otherwise unable to pull. It’s a last-resort safety net, and it has saved many lives since becoming standard equipment.
The Jump Sequence, Step by Step
A typical skydive follows a predictable sequence from aircraft to ground.
The ride up. The aircraft climbs to jump altitude, usually between 10,000 and 15,000 feet above ground level. This takes 15 to 20 minutes in most turboprop planes. During the climb, you’ll review your training mentally and your instructor (or instructors, for AFF) will give you final reminders.
Exit. When the plane reaches altitude, the door opens and jumpers exit in groups. On a tandem, the instructor positions you in the doorway and you leave the aircraft together. AFF students exit with an instructor on each side. The moment you leave the plane, you’re in freefall.
Freefall. In the standard belly-to-earth position, you’ll fall at about 120 mph. Spreading your arms and legs wide increases your surface area and creates drag, keeping you stable and at that slower speed. More advanced skydivers orient head-down to reach speeds around 180 mph, but your first jumps will always be belly-to-earth. Freefall from 13,000 feet lasts roughly 60 seconds.
Deployment. At the planned altitude, typically around 5,000 to 5,500 feet for students, you deploy the main parachute. On a tandem, the instructor handles this. AFF students reach back, locate a small pilot chute, and throw it into the airstream. It catches air and pulls the main canopy out of the container. The opening takes a few seconds, and you’ll feel a firm deceleration as the canopy inflates above you.
Canopy flight. Once the parachute is open, the world gets quiet. You’re now descending at a much gentler rate, with several minutes of canopy time to steer toward the landing area. You control direction by pulling down on the left or right steering toggle. Pulling both toggles simultaneously slows you down.
Landing. The final maneuver is the flare. At about 10 to 15 feet above the ground, you pull both steering toggles all the way down in a smooth, even motion. This converts forward speed into lift, dramatically slowing your descent right before touchdown. A well-timed flare lets you land on your feet with a gentle step or short slide. A mistimed one means a harder landing, which is why canopy control gets heavy emphasis in training.
What Keeps It Safe
Skydiving is statistically far safer than most people assume. In 2023, the U.S. Parachute Association recorded a fatality rate of 0.27 per 100,000 jumps, the lowest in the sport’s history. For context, in 1961 that number was 11 per 100,000. The improvement comes from better equipment (especially AADs and modern canopy designs), standardized training programs, and stricter operational practices.
Weather is one of the biggest factors in whether a jump happens at all. Skydiving operations follow visual flight rules, which require a minimum of 3 statute miles of visibility and adequate clearance from clouds. Most dropzones also set their own wind speed limits, often around 14 to 20 mph for students. If conditions aren’t right, the load gets delayed or canceled. This is frustrating when you’re geared up and ready, but it’s one of the reasons the sport’s safety record keeps improving.
Physical and Medical Considerations
Most dropzones set a maximum weight for tandem students, typically between 220 and 250 pounds depending on the operation. This isn’t arbitrary. The tandem parachute system is rated for a combined weight of student and instructor, and exceeding that limit affects canopy performance and landing safety.
Several medical conditions can complicate or prevent a jump. Cardiovascular problems, including arrhythmia and congenital heart disease, are a concern because skydiving involves rapid pressure changes, low oxygen at altitude, and significant adrenaline. Back and neck injuries are risky because the forces during parachute opening and landing can aggravate existing damage. Pregnancy increases vulnerability to joint injuries because hormonal changes loosen tendons and muscles. Epilepsy and seizure disorders pose obvious risks at altitude. Diabetes doesn’t automatically disqualify you, but your blood sugar needs to be well-managed, and you’ll want to discuss specifics with the dropzone. Asthma and other respiratory conditions can be problematic in the thin, cold air at jump altitude.
What It Costs to Get Started
A single tandem skydive runs $275 to $300 at most U.S. dropzones, though some offer weekday discounts that bring the price closer to $240. Video packages are usually an add-on of $50 to $150. Repeat tandem jumps are sometimes discounted.
If you want to pursue AFF and eventually get your solo skydiving license (called an A license), expect to spend significantly more. A full AFF course typically includes 7 to 8 instructor-accompanied jumps, plus additional solo student jumps, gear rental, and ground training. Total cost for an A license usually falls between $3,000 and $5,000, depending on location and how many extra jumps you need to demonstrate proficiency. After that, you’ll either rent gear per jump or invest in your own rig, which runs $5,000 to $8,000 used or $10,000 and up new.
For most people, the smart move is to do a tandem first. It lets you experience freefall and canopy flight with zero commitment. If you’re hooked, AFF will be waiting.