What It Takes To Skydive - Skydiving Requirements

I am a licensed skydiver, am 55 years old, and have over 800 logged jumps under my belt. I wrote this article to inform you of everything it takes to go skydiving. I'll answer all the questions you have about starting skydiving requirements within this article. You'll discover how old to go skydiving and the legal skydiving age. I'll also cover skydiving weight limits for indoor and outdoor skydiving. And we'll also delve into the physical and mental qualifications to skydive as well as any restrictions. Plus, I'll even share with you what I think the best age is to go skydiving.

The Basics - Who Can Skydive? | Skydiving Age Requirements

• How Old To Skydive by Law
• Indoor Skydiving Age Limits
• Best Age To Start Skydiving
• Heights & Weight Restrictions
• Height & Weight Limitations by Law
• Skydiving Equipment Limitations
• Indoor Skydiving Weight Limits
• Mental Strength To Skydive
• Physical Strength Required To Skydive
• Medical Conditions That Prevent You From Skydiving
• Can You Solo Skydive The First Time?

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Skydiving Age Limit

Legal Skydiving Age

In countries such as Germany and Australia, kids as young as 12 can go tandem skydiving with a parental waiver. However, in the United States, the minimum skydiving age is 18.

The reason for this age restriction is to protect businesses from lawsuits. If a minor were to lose their life skydiving at their place of business, parents in the US could file a lawsuit pretty easily. That is why you're not allowed to skydive in the United States unless you are of legal skydiving age. Other countries that allow minors to jump don't take lawsuits as seriously and therefore allow parents to be the ones holding responsibility.

The legal skydiving age limit is listed as a United States Parachute Association Basic Safety Requirement. Skydiving instructors are required to obey the age limit. If an instructor disobeys and takes someone under the age of 18 tandem skydiving, they risk getting their Tandem Rating invalidated.

Very few drop zones in certain states will make exceptions for this, but you'll have to talk to specific drop zones to find out the ones that do have specific paperwork to protect their business from legalities.

How Old To Go Skydiving?

By the way, 18 is just the minimum age you can go skydiving. There is no restriction on the legal skydiving age to skydive. So, don't worry that you might be too old to start skydiving! There are very brave 90-year-old skydivers jumping from the planes and and creating memorable experiences. The only requirement is that you are healthy! If verbal feedback will better calm your nerves, call up your local drop zone and call up your doctor. They can help you make an educated decision.

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Best Age To Start Skydiving

The best age to start skydiving is... any age after 18! Seriously, as long as you are over 18 and are healthy, then you are at the best age to start skydiving! Skydiving has life-changing benefits that everyone should experience in their lifetime.

Indoor Skydiving Age Requirements

Indoor Skydiving is a great option for minors. Plus, it's a fun way to test the skydiving waters without jumping out of a plane.

Indoor Skydiving Age restrictions are more lenient for those under 18. You can begin indoor skydiving at 3 years old! Although any child under 18 will require a parental waiver, there’s not much risk involved with indoor skydiving.

For more on Indoor Skydiving (link), check out our indoor skydiving offers!

What Is The Skydiving Weight Limit?

There are skydiving weight limits for both indoor and outdoor skydiving. As a general rule of thumb, a person of a healthy weight can go skydiving.

Anyone overweight (with a BMI over 24.9) may not be able to go outdoor skydiving as it poses more risk to tandem skydivers. The maximum weight for a new tandem skydiver is 220lbs.

These skydiving limitations exist for safety purposes and should not be taken personally. If the drop zone's scale weighs you outside of the weight limit, you probably won't be able to go skydiving. Weight limits are not personal, even someone in excellent shape will not be able to go skydiving if they are outside the weight range.

If you are over the healthy weight for your height, you can still experience skydiving at some point in your life! Work with your doctor to reach a healthy weight for your height then head out to a drop zone!

Skydiving Equipment Limitations

Skydiving weight limits exist solely for your safety. In addition to being able to perform certain movements, most reserve canopies reach their maximum legal weight at 230lbs.

A person of unhealthy weight will not be able to perform the required movements in order to remain in control. And, anyone over the maximum equipment weight risk the equipment malfunctioning.

These weight requirements prevent people from losing their lives and should be taken seriously by drop zones and skydivers.

**Indoor Skydiving Weight Limit **

Weight limits for indoor skydiving are more flexible because there is less risk involved. There is no BMI requirement for Indoor Skydiving but divers must weigh less than 300lbs to participate in Indoor Skydiving.

Mental Strength To Go Skydiving

What It Takes To Go Skydiving

There is no "mental strength" requirement for skydiving. Feeling fear and overcoming these is a part of the life-changing experience.

Excitement and anxiety are natural feeleings before jumping. It's the very act of jumping that will allow you to experience the positive mental effects of skydiving.

But to ease your anxiety, just know the probability of dying in a freak skydiving accident is lower than dying in a car accident. In fact, the number of skydiving deaths in the US for 2019 was only 13, out of 3.3 million jumps.

Skydiving can cause a lot of anxiety for some people, even after reading my statistics. Skydiving deaths are more likely to happen in demo jumps, which are skydiving jumps that require individuals to land in challenging areas. These jumps are voluntary and typically only done by extreme skydivers. You do not have to put yourself in that risk, in fact, you won't even be allowed to as a newbie skydiver.

You do not have to be fearless to go skydiving. Skydiving is dangerous and knowing that accidents happen can cause a lot of anxiety for some people but try to trust your skydiving instructor! They've gone through extensive training and know what they are doing.

Physical Strength To Go Skydiving

Do You Need To Be Fit To Go Skydiving?

Skydiving is considered an extreme sport. You must be able to hold the belly to earth position during free fall and perform a landing. As long as you are healthy, performing these movements on a first tandem dive won't require much physical strength from you. As you become invested in it, however, you will need physical strength to carry equipment.

Equipment weighs about 30lbs. This extra weight is easier to hold if you're in shape. Especially if you end up outside the landing zone. Hauling equipment back to the drop zone so you can continue logging jumps for the day is much easier with increased strength.

Medical Conditions That Prevent You From Skydiving

Talk To Your Doctor

With the exception of obesity, it's unlikely a preexisting health condition could prevent you from going skydiving. However, it is wise to speak with your doctor about yours before jumping off the plane! Some neurological disorders (such as epilepsy), as well as certain heart conditions, can prevent you from skydiving. However, everything is circumstantial, and I am not certified to advise you. That said, please speak to your doctor! They will help you make an informed decision.

Can You Solo Skydive The First Time?

Do You Have To Tandem Jump For Your First Skydive?

Your first Skydiving Experience is going to be memorable, whether you jump solo or with a licensed skydiver. The difference between a tandem jump and a solo jump is training (and that training will cost more than a tandem jump).

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What is Tandem Skydiving?

Tandem skydiving is the act of skydiving attached to a skydiving instructor. It requires no special training and is the best option for someone with less to spend on their first skydiving experience.

Solo Skydiving is when you go skydiving with just your own body, not attached to anyone. Solo Skydiving requires you to know how to position your body, toss your canopy, and land safely. This type of skydiving is much more extensive than tandem skydiving, where all you need to do is show up and pay.

Although most people prefer to tandem dive on their first dive, it's not required by law for you to tandem dive the first time.

So, Can You Solo Dive The First Time?

YES but, you must complete the Accelerated Free Fall Course and become a certified skydiver before you can solo jump. It is required that you become a certified skydiver before taking a solo dive, whether that solo dive is your first or 100th.

AFF Course Training

Accelerated Free Fall Courses are required for you to become a certified skydiver and skydive alone. You must meet the legal age and weight requirements in order to qualify for AFF Course Training.

Conclusion

Outdoor Skydiving starts at 18-years-old in most states, though some make exceptions for 16-year-olds. Indoor Skydiving starts at age 3. The best time to start skydiving is now! Neither Indoor nor Outdoor Skydiving has an age cap.

You must be at a healthy weight for your height and under 220lbs to go outdoor skydiving. You must weigh less than 300lbs to go Indoor Skydiving.

Being scared is a part of the process. That's what makes it life-changing.

It's better to be in shape when skydiving. If you are pregnant or have any neurological heart conditions please consult your doctor. They can help you make an educated decision.

Well, that's it on skydiving requirements. To find out the Average Skydiving Costs (link) check out our blog!

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