Tell Me About Skydiving

So, I want to be a skydiver when I grow up. Not professional, but I would like to do it regularly as a hobby. Tell me the basics, how much it would end up costing, and how dangerous it really is. I know there is no way I can learn anything significant unless I take a class and really do it, but I'm just looking at the basics, like how to get into it and how to learn how to do it.

Also, if anyone knows anything about wingsuits, talk to meh. 'Cuz its the real reason I want to sjydive regularly (You have to have at least 150 jusmps in before you attempt it.)

I've jumped a few times. It's more expensive than it is dangerous. ;)

But you can pretty much go out on a good summer day and try it out. A tandem jump will probably cost you around $150-$250. A solo jump with a static line (cord attached to the plane that pulls the chute for you) will be cheaper, cause the plane only needs to take you up around 3-4000 ft (as opposed to the 15000 or so for your average 50-seconds of freefall tandem). I imagine solo jumps get more expensive as you climb higher an higher.

I don't know how regular of a hobby you want to make this, but it will definitely make your wallet hurt a bit if you want to be a regular. I don't even know how much getting your own gear would cost, but it's probably VERY expensive...

Went with my brother and two best friends about 3 weeks ago (my second jump, my brothers third). I'm the one behind the camera for a majority of this clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7YRn...e=channel_page

Excellent hobby. And pretty good cash if you made it a career choice. It takes upwards of 5,000 dollars to do the course to get your license. In terms of safety, a friend of mine has been skydiving for about 23 years as a tandem instructor. He's had to use his emergency chute a total of 7 times. He's never had to use the second emergency chute. His tandem customers never even knew they'd used the second chute.

The odds of all 3 chutes failing is so small you've got a higher chance of getting hit by a bus on the way to work.

Yeah, I figured it was pretty safe. Thats not really my concern. I just want a little mini turtorial on how things go. I know most of what happens in a Tandem, now tell me what happenes your first solo.

Also, how much would it cost after I buy all the equipment in gear. In other words, how much would it cost to just ride, cause eventually thats what I would like to do. And do it often

To just get a plane ride up to 8, 10 or 12 thousand feet costs (in Australia), $27, $34 and $41 respectively. It's insanely cheap.

Omg that is cheap !

It's about the biggest thrill there is. Free fall at 120 miles per hour, high wind, awesome view, adrenaline, endorphin rush...

http://www.extreme-safari.com/images...ni%20Beach.jpg

I really don't have that much of an interest in skydiving. I mean, don't get me wrong, I ALWAYS planned on doing at least once. But when I found out about Wingsuiting, which is as close to human flight I'm ever going to get, I was on board, and I'm willing to be in for the long haul to make it there. Flying is the thing that got me into lucid dreaming as well. I cannot begin to express in words how badly I want to fly.

However, I am VERY scared of drops! (which is why I don't do many roller coasters) But, I have heard it is only the initial jump that gives you the 'stomach falling' feeling, and that after it feels just like being in a wind tunnel... Is this true?

No, there is no "stomach dropping" feeling. That feeling comes from falling faster than gravity (i.e. being "pulled" down). You don't get it when you fall with gravity.

This is also something that I am passionate about doing. I know that once you get your skydiver's license it is much cheaper to do it on a regular basis. My goal would be to go tandem once or twice, then do the course (a couple thousand). At that point I've seen it cost about 20 dollars for a jump once you have your license (plus probably gear costs, unless that's included). Then if I ever invest in my own gear I imagine it would be even cheaper. And yes, I also want to do wingsuit (basejumping).

I don't want to do basejumping. I respect it, and get why its done. But being in the sky, will be so much more of a thrill for me than flying dangerously close to a structure that could kill me. I know thats weird..... I guess I'm just scared. xD

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Universal Mind

It's about the biggest thrill there is. Free fall at 120 miles per hour, high wind, awesome view, adrenaline, endorphin rush...

http://www.extreme-safari.com/images...ni%20Beach.jpg

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Epic. I have to do this. My personal goal has been to go skydiving once I turn 18. Until I do, my life will never be complete.

You're not a real sky-diver before you've done this.

Basically, this man flew with a balloon to pretty much the edge of the atmosphere, and jumped. He could actually see the curve of the sensation, and some people theorize that he broke the sound barrier while falling. Apparently he fell for 4 and a half minutes.

You can see it better in this video:



Just imagine that, that must have been absolutely wild. If there is an edge to this world, that would be it.

UM, where did you take that picture? I wanna dive from there, it's gorgeous. I've never dived over an ocean.

Hm, I hate when I stroll by threads I have posted in earlier, find a bunch of typ0es, and then I can't correct them, because of the weird way edit works.

st00pid edits function

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ninja9578

UM, where did you take that picture? I wanna dive from there, it's gorgeous. I've never dived over an ocean.

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:lol: I didn't take the picture. I found it on Google Images under "skydiving". It's on the first page. I think they are falling over the coast of a country in Africa. Really, falling over any coast is excellent. I'm sure you can do it in New York.