How to Prevent Motion Sickness While Skydiving

You’ve booked your first jump and excitement is coursing through your veins. And now, the nerves are setting in about what you’re actually about to do. As you prepare to leap from the plane, it’s natural for some worries to creep in – how qualified will my instructor be? What should I wear? And what about skydiving motion sickness? Maybe you’re even questioning, “Should I take Dramamine before skydiving?” Ah – fear not! While the thought of feeling queasy at 10,000 feet can be daunting, there are effective ways to keep that discomfort at bay. 

In this article, we’ll share essential tips on how to prevent motion sickness during your skydiving adventure, covering everything from communication with your instructor to what to eat before skydiving. With a little preparation, you can focus on the thrill of freefall rather than any potential unease. 

Feeling sick after skydiving is easily mitigated and oftentimes totally preventable. Let’s dive into the best ways to prevent the potential of skydiving nausea! 

Does Your Stomach Drop When You Skydive? 

Do you get the stomach drop feeling when skydiving? Not in the way you may think. The loved or hated whoosh in your stomach only happens while making a turn under the parachute, not when we exit the plane. 

Wait, what? That’s right because you and the airplane are already experiencing forward motion, when you jump out, you’re not jumping straight down. The butterflies in your tummy happen when you begin accelerating from a standstill, like if you leaped from a cliff into water or did a bungee jump from a stable platform. 

When you exit the plane during a skydive, there’s a moment called “the hill.” This is the brief period right after you jump when you’re still moving forward with the plane’s speed while beginning to descend. It’s like a transition zone: you’re not quite in full freefall yet, but you’re starting to feel the effects of gravity pulling you down – weee! 

Is It Common To Throw Up When Skydiving? 

Common? Nope, not at all. Possible? Sure, isn’t anything? Feeling sick after skydiving or while doing the jump is rare. While it can happen to some people, it’s not something you should expect. Whether you’re prone to motion sickness or not, it can’t hurt to be prepared. Think of it as something better to prepare for and not need, than to not prepare for it and really (really) wish you would have. 

How To Stop Nausea When Skydiving: 3 Tips 

With the right preparation, you can focus on the incredible thrill of your jump rather than worrying about the ‘what ifs.’ Here’s three essential tips to help you be totally in the moment and enjoy your skydive to the fullest! 

1. Communicate! A fun skydiving experience relies heavily on clear communication between you and your instructor, so don’t hesitate to express any concerns or fears you have before the jump. If you’re apprehensive about any part of the skydive, don’t be afraid to speak up – your instructor can’t help you if they aren’t aware something is making you uneasy. Remember, your instructor was once in your exact shoes! 
   
2. Eat up. Wait …you WANT me to eat?! Yes! Eating a light meal before your jump can help stabilize your blood sugar levels and prevent that unwanted, jittery feeling that often accompanies an empty stomach. We recommend eating as you normally would, but in moderation – if your usual breakfast is 12 chocolate chip waffles, maybe tone it down to six for the day of your jump. We aren’t going to tell you what you should or should not eat, because everyone is different. Food that is generally agreeable to you and gives you some energy is a safe bet! 
   • Skydiving is a physically and mentally demanding activity, so staying satiated to keep your energy levels up is critical. This is why jumping in Key West, where relaxing on the beach immediately following your jump is unmatched. 
     
3. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. With water, that is. Proper hydration is your body and mind’s best friend on the day of your jump. On the flip side, consuming alcohol before a skydive is a big no-no. It’s not only prohibited to drink within eight hours of your jump, but it can also leave you feeling sluggish and generally out of sorts. Basically, having that ‘bleh’ feeling will put a major damper on the day. To maximize your experience, it’s best to steer clear of alcohol the day before. Stick to water to ensure you feel refreshed and ready to soar!

Don’t let worries hold you back from what could be the greatest experience of your life—prepare well, enjoy the moment, and make memories that will last forever. Your first jump is just around the corner, and we can’t wait for you to feel the joy of flying above the Keys – book your tandem skydive today!