Tips to Overcome Skydiving for the First Time Anxiety

Nervous about skydiving for the first time? No sweat. Here at Skydive Long Island, we are familiar with all kinds of first jump jitters, and skydiving anxiety is something we encounter pretty much every day we are in operation. We won't tell you to just relax because what you are feeling is completely natural. Skydiving for the first time anxiety is a good thing! It means you're a living, breathing, rational human being.

Now, we will say that there is plenty you can do to minimize your skydiving anxiety to keep it from becoming overwhelming, and there are even a few things you can do to help turn that skydiving anxiety into skydiving excitement! Keep reading for some tips and tricks to handle skydiving for the first time anxiety.

Read All About It

Fear of the unknown is one of the primary triggers for skydiving for the first time anxiety. That being said, familiarizing yourself with what to expect (as well as learning some general skydiving facts) can do wonders to help ease the pangs of skydiving anxiety and keep those nerves at bay. Truly, doing even just a little bit of research can go a long way.

Skydive Long Island has an entire section filled with articles covering multiple skydiving topics. Give a few of them a read through. We guarantee you'll learn quite a bit about what to expect your first time skydiving and even more about the sport of skydiving . If you don't readily find the information you're looking for, you can also check out our frequently asked questions section. And, of course, you can always give us a call. Our staff is happy to answer your inquiries.

Know the Facts and Stats

As we said above, some general skydiving facts can help alleviate skydiving for the first time anxiety. For example, did you know that every skydiving container (the backpack looking piece of equipment you see skydivers wearing) contains two parachutes?

That's right, within each skydiving container, there is a main parachute and a reserve parachute. The main parachute is the primary parachute deployed during a skydive. The reserve parachute is a backup parachute used in the very unlikely event there is an issue with the main parachute. Because of the important role that the reserve parachute plays, only individuals with an exceptional amount of parachute knowledge are allowed to handle the reserve parachute. Every 180 days, the reserve parachute is inspected and repacked by a certified parachute rigger who has received accreditation from the Federal Aviation Administration.

As far as statistics are concerned, though it is considered an extreme activity, the sport of tandem skydiving has an impeccable safety record. Per the National Safety Council, a person has a greater likelihood of being killed by getting struck by lightning or stung by a bee. Over the last ten years, there has only been one student fatality per 500,000 tandem jumps. While skydiving does have inherent risks, these risks have been mitigated by strict safety standards, training policies, and improvements in skydiving technology and equipment.

Plot The Course

Being familiar with the steps of your skydiving journey and what the day of your skydive will look like can help quell the stirrings of skydiving anxiety. Skydiving is a process: while we try to expedite your experience as much as possible, you generally cannot stroll in and immediately hop on a plane. Here's what the day of your skydive will be like.

Because of current COVID-19 precautions we require our students to fill out their waiver before arriving on site. When you arrive on site, we will review your paperwork. After check-in, you will go through a tandem training and briefing. In this briefing, you will be given instructions for the skydive: how to enter the plane, how to exit the plane, freefall body position, and landing protocol. When it is your turn, you will be paired with a professional licensed skydiving instructor to begin gearing up. After you're harnessed and the skydiving equipment has been inspected, it's time to board the plane and get ready to fly!

Get Ready For The Adventure of A Lifetime

The body processes excitement and anxiety in much the same way: your palms sweat, your heartbeat quickens, your breathing becomes a bit more rapid. The mind is a powerful thing, so sometimes, all it needs is a little nudge in the right direction. Focus on how thrilling this adventure will be. Think about how exciting it is to challenge yourself and take flight. You might just find that anxiety transforming into skydiving excitement!

Ready to overcome skydiving for the first time anxiety? Give us a call and book your tandem skydive today!