Learn to Skydive-What an Adventure
Matt Anderson
How to learn adventure skydiving. What to expect from the different methods of teaching.
Adventure seekers will gravitate to the sport of skydiving. It may seem like a modern sport to you,but it has actually been in existence since 1797. People who love thrills love skydiving,and it is a kind of sport that can be enjoyed by everyone, except perhaps for the very young and the very old. All over the world, you will find skydive centers where you can learn to skydive from experienced, expert instructors.
Adventure skydiving means that you jump from an airplane or a high point, such as a building or cliff (also called BASE jumping)with a parachute that opens at a preset time. It is not an experience that everyone wants to have if they are not forced to do so, hence it is called adventure skydiving.
Since this is an inherently dangerous adventure, you certainly cannot attempt it without taking some lessons first. There are different kinds of lessons: some are given solely on the ground to acclimate you with what to expect in the air; some are given in the air while you are strapped to an instructor who explains the process during an actual dive. There is also accelerated free fall training where instructors accompany you separately while you dive.
In any of these instruction methods, you will learn all of the same basics-proper equipment and how to maintain it, the right way to leave the plane, body alignment while free falling, steering your way to the landing spot, and proper landing techniques. You will most importantly be alerted as to what to do or expect in case of equipment (read: parachute) failure. Some of these issues are taught on the ground, but a number of ht em are best explained right in the air with an instructor, tandem style.
If you plan on doing any adventure skydiving, it is imperative that you have the right mind set. Patience and diligence are paramount. The skydiving centers and the instructors do not want any "cowboys" who are going to rush things and endanger everyone else. Following instructions is critical in this sport, where lives can depend on performing correctly.
If you do everything properly, there is very little risk involved in adventure skydiving; improperly maintained equipment or human error are the cause of most accidents. Human error includes diving in improper wind conditions-this accounts for the one death in 100,000 skydives that do occur.
Classroom instruction will emphasize proper equipment, so once you have completed that portion, you will have to put on all of the correct equipment such as goggles, a helmet, a jumpsuit and, of course, a parachute. Today, an emergency reserve chute is required on all jumps as well.
After the safe classes, you can do a jump from an airplane. This will involve you and your instructor jumping while attached to one another. This allows the instructor to talk you through all of the the phases of the jump, free fall and landing.
Adventure skydiving can be one of the most fun, while at the same time safest adventure sports you can participate in. As long as you follow your instructors instructions!
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