Prerequisites for Tandem Skydiving

There are four prerequisites for tandem skydiving: 1) you must be 18 or older, 2) be under the weight limit determined by your local dropzone, 3) be in good enough shape to handle the thrill, and 4) sign a waiver of liability to jump in with confidence!

These skydiving requirements aren’t in place to put a damper on the jump or hold anyone back from experiencing their first skydive – rules keep us safe! And in this sport, safety comes first, ALWAYS. Let’s take a deeper dive into the prerequisites for tandem skydiving. 

Requirements For Tandem Skydiving 

How do you prepare for tandem skydiving? Before you link up with your tandem instructor, here’s a quick rundown on what you’ll need to make that freefall dream a reality: 

1. Age

You must be at least 18 years old to jump at any dropzone that is a member of the United States Parachute Association (USPA). And you’ve got to be able to prove it with valid, government-issued, photo identification like a driver’s license or passport.

2. Weight

You must weigh under 270 pounds to skydive with us! Most dropzones tap out between 220 and  240 pounds – it depends on the parameters set by the manufacturer of the gear they use and their instructor’s abilities. Skydiving weight limits are not discriminatory or exclusive; they’re all about your safety and your instructor’s safety. 

Being weight-to-height proportionate is a factor we also take into account to ensure the gear fits you the way it is intended. If you’re hesitant about the weight requirement, give us a quick call! We’re here to help and answer any questions you may have. 

3. Health

Do you need a flawless Ken and Barbie physique to skydive? Absolutely not – we’d have to ground 99% of the skydiving community if that were the case! That said, skydiving is an intensely physical sport – falling through the sky at 120 mph isn’t your average Wednesday afternoon, ya know?

Having a solid bill of health will help you get the most out of the experience. Heart conditions, back or neck issues, recent surgeries, or anything that may flare up mid-jump could prevent you from taking the leap. If you’re at all concerned about your physical ability to enjoy the jump, consult with your doctor to get the go-ahead before booking. 

4. Waiver

Before you can take to the great, blue sky, you must sign a waiver of liability. Think of it as your golden ticket to the best adventure of your life! 

Many people see a big ol’ waiver and lazily skim it while quickly initialing where told. We highly recommend reading what you’re signing. The waiver is like a heads-up that skydiving, although very thrilling, is a sport that holds inherent risk! The skydiving waiver is standard across the industry and gives you the opportunity to pause and acknowledge that you are choosing to jump. 

Do tandem skydiving instructors meet all these requirements? Yes, and then some! Getting a skydiving certification takes hard work and dedication to the sport. Our tandem instructors are highly qualified and passionate individuals who have thousands of combined jumps, hours of freefall time, and various licenses – including the highest license issued by the USPA, the D License. 

What Not To Do Before Skydiving 

If you fulfill all of the basic requirements for a tandem skydive, you need to next consider what to avoid so you can actually enjoy your jump. 

No SCUBA diving

Skydiving after SCUBA is a huge no-no. After you dive (into the ocean, that is), the nitrogen in your blood needs enough time to off-gas at a normal elevation, NOT while 10,000 feet in the sky. This change in pressure would cause those nitrogen bubbles to expand and be pretty dang painful. 

No alcohol

It’s the law to not have a sip of alcohol within the eight-hour window before your jump. We would encourage you to push that to about 24 hours. Trust us, having a wiggly tummy from too much liquid courage while chucking your body from a plane isn’t the move. 

Don’t eat too much, or too little

Eat moderately before your skydive! Food and proper hydration helps to keep your blood sugar in check and your jittery nervous system at bay. Think crackers, sandwiches, smoothies, and electrolytes, NOT a massive seafood boil or 20 pancakes! Once you’ve completed your jump, go celebrate with the best food in the Florida Keys!

You’ve got the rundown on tandem skydiving prerequisites, now it’s time to make it real – book your tandem jump today!