Advice For Your First Tandem Skydive

Ask Mr. Fly

I’ll keep it simple. I’m thinking of scheduling myself for a tandem skydive, but I don’t even know what I don’t know. Considering I haven’t made a habit of trying to take flight, I’d appreciate ANY advice for my first tandem skydive that you can give me.

Sincerely,

Ready To Wing It

Dear Ready To Wing It,

Let’s start at the top (literally).

1. Prepare your mind

Some of the best advice we can give you is to spend time preparing your mind for your skydive. We know your thoughts are probably racing, so slow them down! Like we learned when we were little with Aesop’s fable “The Tortoise and The Hare”, it pays to take things slow and steady. Before your skydive, we suggest you take deep breaths and relax. You are about to soar. Be mindful during your experience and let yourself be in the moment not rushing ahead to the end. At Oklahoma Skydiving Center you will be given at least 11,000ft AGL and usually up to 14,00ft AGL in our brand new TURBINE Cessna 206 to take it all in.

2. Prepare your body

• Treat it like any other day!

When it comes to eating, treat the day you skydive like any other. Eat like you would normally—nothing too heavy though. Think about your pre-skydiving meal as a healthy medium between fasting and feasting! Don’t avoid eating, though. We don’t want your blood sugar to dip and you to faint and miss the experience of a lifetime.

• Drink Responsibly! (We mean stay hydrated!)

Consume plenty of liquids the day of your jump. Adrenaline pumping through your veins can really drain you. Don’t avoid drinking water for fear of having an accident, just be sure to handle nervous bladder situations before you begin gearing up.

• Check the Weather and Dress Appropriately

This one is pretty easy. If it’s going to be warm, dress so that you would be comfortable on the ground. The same goes for a day where it may be a bit chillier: come prepared and wearing a few layers.

3. Memorialize it

Like so many of life’s important moments, this fantastic experience can be fleeting. Treat your skydive like the milestone moment it is and capture it with photography and video.

4. Pick a reputable dropzone

You want this to be as safe of an experience as it can be, so make sure you are heading somewhere legitimate. The best way to determine if a dropzone is the real deal is if it is a member of the United States Parachute Association (USPA). If you cannot find that information, go ahead and give the facility a call. It can definitely assuage some feelings of doubt if you can actually chat with someone on site, and whether you can actually get someone on the phone to speak to can say a great deal about the facility. And ultimately, thanks to the world wide web, you can also read reviews and get a feel for the experience others have had with the business.

5. Don’t Wait

Finally, don’t wait and live today! Don’t put off the adventure of a lifetime. As they say, carpe diem, “seize the day!”

Ready to Fly? Learn More about Tandem Skydiving at OSC!