
In preparation for our skydiving adventure, I did A TON of research. I looked up reviews on the company we went with, watched endless amount of Youtube videos, and even sought out answers online to my most pondered questions. Even after all of the investigation, I found that these were some things that were hardly, if not ever mentioned by others in regards to their skydiving experience. (And it’s things I would have liked to know before my first time!)
1. IT’S HARD TO BREATHE UP THERE
I always thought that if I died while skydiving, it would be because of my chute not opening. I never even considered for a second that I could suffocate in the expanse of the sky, but dang, it’s really hard to breathe up there! I know, I’m being dramatic and the chances of suffocation are probably slim to none, but while enjoying the free fall I found that it was pretty much impossible to breathe through my mouth, and I had to try extremely hard to gasp for air. (Breathing through my nose was easier) I don’t know what it was, but I was a bit freaked out about it! (Jarden also told me he had the same experience!)
2. IT’S LOUD, REALLY LOUD!
Seriously, its hard to think up there with all that noise. As soon as that airplane door opens, your whole world is filled with the sound of rushing air. When my chute finally opened and I slowly floated down, I welcomed the serenity of the silence.
3. WHAT STOMACH DROP FEELING?
In my extensive pre-skydiving research, I read from a few people that you don’t get the ‘stomach drop’ feeling like how you do on a roller coaster or while bungee jumping. My friend told me otherwise, and I agreed it was impossible; how on earth can I jump out of a plane at 14,000 ft. and not feel like I’m falling? But it’s true! It literally feels like your floating; like your hovering above a giant wind fan. Supposedly it’s the fact that your so high up you can’t see yourself falling; whatever the reasoning, it’s an odd thing!
4. FREE FALLING HURTS YOUR EARS
One thing I noticed while skydiving is that the rapid descent makes your ears pop a lot, and it hurts! Much like the descent of an airplane, I guess it makes sense, but it’s something that people never mention, and I was really unprepared for the few minutes of ear pain while floating back down to land.
5. IT GOES BY WAY TOO FAST
At 14,000 feet, we had about a minute of free fall, and while it seems like a long time to plummet, it’s definitely not enough. Between the initial realization that your falling out of the fricken sky, to the many attempts at trying to look cute for the photographer, a minute goes by in an instant, and your then being yanked up to calmly float the rest of the way down. You get a few minutes of float time, which was beautiful and one of my favorite parts of the jump, but even that is sadly short lived. Who knew one could fall so fast?
Have you ever gone skydiving? Was your first experience like ours? Check out first skydiving experience here!
Christina
Thank for this insight! One day…
Christina
Thanks for this insight! One day…
David
Good post, we have been skydiving 10+ times around the world. The scariest thing they don’t tell you is some places buy used shoots to cut corners and cost.
aglobalstroll
oh my gosh that’s absolutely terrifying! Making me rethink skydiving in some foreign places lol. But wow 10+ times! What a way to see the world 😀
Shar
So true! Except I didn’t experience ear popping. But what a thrill it was!! Great post. 😊
Tasha - A Global Stroll
You are so lucky that your ears didn’t pop! Thank you!
Khai
Everything you mentioned in this article is one hundred percent true. I’ve experienced it myself, and because the air is so thin so high up and the altitudes make you slightly disorientated, the first 5 seconds jumping out of the plane was painful. By the time you’ve gathered your bearings, you’re already halfway through the free fall. Not forgetting, because you’ve more than likely paid for the video package, you feel the need to look pretty on camera. In the end, it just looks like you’re grimacing all the time.
Arealskydiver
It’s funny reading this as a skydiver. I can tell you that it’s not hard to breathe at all. First time jumps forget they are falling at speeds of 120+ mph. Close your mouth and breathe through your nose.
Of course it’s loud. Open the windows of your car driving down the highway…is it quiet? Don’t forget…120+.
You are right. No stomach drop feeling and the reason is, you are jumping out of a plane that is flying. Stomach drop comes from no movement to movement. The plane door may be open but it’s still flying close to 100 mph or more depending on the jump plane.
Skydiving will make your ears pop but that does get better and you learn how to deal with it. That’s the altitude for you.
It also goes by fast like you mentioned and that’s because you’re not use to it. It’s an rush of excitement. If you decide skydiving is something you want to continue, the more you do it, the more comfortable you become.
Chris
I agree as a skydiver this is amusing to read. Breathing is not hard, it’s all in your head.