Top Tips if You’re Skydiving Tomorrow and Scared

Skydiving tomorrow and experiencing some of that good ol’ skydiving anxiety? Don’t worry – you’re in good company! Being scared of skydiving is a completely natural response to the idea of throwing yourself out of a perfectly good airplane mid-flight. In fact, not being at least a little bit nervous is kind of unnatural!

Luckily, there are plenty of tried-and-true tactics for managing that stress and making the most of your skydiving experience, and it has just as much to do with what you should do as what you should not do before skydiving.

Read on for our top five tips to prepare for your jump – and don’t land with a “what I wish I knew before skydiving” list!

1. Know What to Expect

Diving into the unknown is half the battle when it comes to being less scared of something, and that includes skydiving. Having a good idea of what your time with us will look like, knowing how to prepare for the big day, and even getting in a little bit of practice beforehand will do wonders to calm your racing heart. 

You can even stop by the dropzone before jump day and hang out at the Bombshelter Restaurant to watch other people making their own first skydives! Understanding the process and seeing other people having the time of their lives is the best way to feel more confident in your decision to take the leap.  

2. Do Your Research

Whether you’re someone who lives by numbers or not, understanding the statistics and risks of skydiving can switch your brain into a more logical gear. According to the most recent numbers from the governing body of skydiving in the US, the United States Parachute Association (USPA): 

“USPA members reported making 3.65 million skydives in 2023. In the same year, there were a total of 10 civilian skydiving fatalities in the United States. Both 2021 and 2023 saw this record low number since record keeping began in 1961. When the numbers are placed into a rate index, that comes out to 0.27 deaths per 100,000 jumps.” 

3. Practice Self-Care

It’s impossible to overestimate the value of self-care in both life and skydiving. If you can get yourself in tip top mental and physical shape, your skydiving experience is going to be that much better.

Take some time before you head to the dropzone to do what you know works best for you, whether that means going for a run or laying in bed cuddled under the blankets. Get your mind right before your mind-blowing experience! 

Is it okay to eat before skydiving? Absolutely! You need to take care of your body, too. In fact, you should eat a complete and balanced meal to start your day so that you can feel energized and alert. You can even bring snacks and water with you to the dropzone to keep yourself feeling good throughout the day, but no worries if you didn’t remember! We’ve got you covered at the Bombshelter, with snacks and drinks for before and after your jump. 

Save the party for AFTER your jump! While it might be tempting to go all out the night before to process some of your nerves, a hangover doesn’t make for an enjoyable skydiving experience. And, even worse, we won’t be able to take you on your jump at all if you’re still under the influence or are too sick. Plan to celebrate your life-changing experience with all of your friends after you land. Or, better yet, bring them with you! 

4. Visualize the Outcome

Give your brain permission to let go of the reins for a little while. Meditation and visualization leading up to your jump – whether that’s days or seconds before you leave the airplane – will help every bit of your mind and body feel calmer. 

Picture your jump going exactly as you hope it would be, imagine yourself whooping with joy as you fly through the air, sailing under the beautiful big parachute, and sticking your landing to cheers from loved ones. Try to conjure what it might feel like to freefall through the air at 120 mph and allow your body to embrace the sensation. Deep breathing is also a fantastic way to regulate the nervous system, even in the excitement of the moment.

5. Ask Questions

Your instructor is here for one thing and one thing only – to take care of you while you’re on the ride of a lifetime! Their main focus is for you to feel comfortable, confident and excited. They have hundreds if not thousands of skydives under their belts, have completed intense training, earned several ratings, and have extensive experience in the art of the tandem skydive, so don’t be afraid to tap into them as a resource!

Ask them any questions you have before, during, and after your jump. They’re more than happy to share their knowledge and passion with you. You can even reach out beforehand with questions – we’re all here to support you.

Are you ready to put your fear aside and take the leap? Book your tandem and let’s get to it! 

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