Skydiving - Trip Report
 

I decided to go skydiving today.

I had been thinking about it on and off for quite a while. I suppose I didn't have the time or desire before, but now that I'm bored out of my mind and had money lying around, I decided to do it. I remembered a former coworker mentioning this place called "Skydive Miami," so I Googled it and got the info.

I made my appointment yesterday for this morning at 10 AM. There were 3 choices for the jump. Tandem Basic, Tandem Deluxe, and Tandem Extreme. "Tandem" basically means that there is a professional, certified skydive instructor who probably spends more time in the air than on the ground strapped to you for the entire jump. Yes, it looks like he is SIIYP, but he's not.

The difference in levels is jump height. Of course, I chose the Tandem Extreme which is a jump from 13,500 feet (about 4,115 meters for you metric people). It involves a ~60 second freefall followed by 5-7 minute parachute ride to the ground. I also bought the "Ultimate DVD" package which is a ~10 minute edited video of my jump with music and stuff like that. Finally, I got the still photo package where they take pics of my jump (and then I have to go pay to get them developed because they didn't use a digicam... *groan*).

So anyway, it's morning and off I go to the airport. I get there and they first make me watch a video of the dude whose company invented the tandem harness device talking. He's a funny looking guy with a really long beard. We're talking Castaway x 10 beard length here. He goes on for about 10 minutes about how this is dangerous blah blah blah and lots of bad stuff could happen. Then he talks about how much fun it's going to be. Hmmm... decisions decisions.

They give me a long legal document to sign and initial all over the place, which I do. I leave all my stuff in my car, give them my car keys to watch over, and then take me to get suited up.

I put on this cool looking blue jumpsuit which is a bitch to zip up. Finally get it done and then I'm getting the harness put on. It's tightened up in every conceivable place so tight that it's probably going to be impossible to remove later.

He then gives me a bunch of instructions that he says so quickly that I don't remember any of them, but figure it will be OK since they will surely tell me later when I'm in the plane.

I sit around and wait for the plane to come back and for the instructor to show up. They do. He introduces himself, checks my gear to make sure everything's on right, and then we head to the plane.

I sit and a couple of others climb in. When the hatch is closed we've got the pilot, the instructor, the chick who will be taking the pictures, some other chick who will be jumping by herself, and this cool French dude who has jumped like 60+ times around the world and will be making his first US jump in Florida. How nice.

Anyway... we begin the ascent. This is actually pretty funny, since not only had I never skydived before, I have also never flown in a plane before. Well, I did when I was like 4 years old... but it is not part of my recollectable memory and thus it is as though I had never done it before. Cool.

The photography chick turns on the camcorder and asks me if I'm ready. I look at my altimeter and see we're at 6,000 feet (1820m). "NO... WE'RE NOT HIGH ENOUGH YET!!!" They laugh and we continue climbing.

At 10,000 feet (3050m), they have me put my helmet on and the instructor attaches his gear to me, double-checking everything like 3 times. I am now confident all will be well, for if I go *splat*, then he's coming with me. We've reached the jump altitude and it's show time.

The French guy leaps out first, followed by the other chick. The instructor and I move into position and the photography chick jumps out before us. A few seconds later and out we go. It quickly becomes impossible for me to refrain from excitedly screaming "WOOOO HOOOOO!!!!!" as we roll until the little tiny white chute (which I still don't know what it's called) comes out and stabilizes us. I'm now looking down at the world beneath me and the photography chick is snapping pictures.

It doesn't feel like you're falling at all. It feels that you're just laying flat and there's a huge fan under you blowing up. Since I am in a state of free fall, I don't even feel the presence of the instructor above me, until of course he starts doing spins and stuff and we start going around in circles. Super cool [censored]. Even cooler when I look straight ahead and notice the clouds moving upward behind the photography chick. Only then do I truly see that I am falling at close to 160 mph (255 km/hr).

The photography chick and the instructor are magically able to adjust their speeds to get the photography chick above us and below us to get better angles for shots. I feel safe knowing that if anything goes wrong, either one of them will be able to magically adjust our speed to 0mph (no metric help on this one) and bring us safely to the ground.

Before I know it, the instructor taps me on the shoulder, indicating that it's time to check the altimeter. We've reached 5,000 feet (1525m) - time to deploy the parachute. I always remember seeing on TV that when you deploy a parachute, it looks like you violently shoot up into the air, shattering every bone in your spine.

This couldn't be further from the truth.

The instructor pulls the cord and I start gradually feeling the effects of gravity again. Our descent gradually slows until we reach a smooth, safe falling speed. Didn't feel violent or jerky at all. He hands me the steering cords (don't know what the formal term for these are either) and has me hang on while he loosens the harness to make the descent (and landing) more comfortable for us. Afterward, I'm still holding the handles and he's holding the cords above. He tells me to pull the left one slightly, and we turn slightly to the left. He tells me to pull the right one hard, and we turn sharply to the right. I'm not sure if he was letting me play around or if I was doing actual steering, but he soon has me let go and relax while he mans the controls.

I look down and see the other jumpers chutes open and they're doing OK. I also see the landing area below. I'm amazed at how we're able to jump from such a height, see so much land, and land on a relatively tiny spot adjacent to the airport.

We then land and slide along the field (done this way because it's harder for 2 people to land on foot I suppose). He unhooks me and I get up. I'm most pleased with my experience and the photography chick finishes up the roll of film to make sure I remember it.

And, of course, since this thread is worthless without pics, here they are:

http://img500.imageshack.us/img500/921/skydive13gj.jpg

http://img397.imageshack.us/img397/8312/skydive28ih.jpg

http://img397.imageshack.us/img397/6852/skydive39zq.jpg

http://img500.imageshack.us/img500/1223/skydive45bs.jpg

http://img500.imageshack.us/img500/5871/skydive55sk.jpg

http://img500.imageshack.us/img500/9138/skydive69wz.jpg

http://img500.imageshack.us/img500/2637/skydive79pm.jpg

http://img397.imageshack.us/img397/5387/skydive88qp.jpg

http://img397.imageshack.us/img397/3889/skydive97ku.jpg

http://img397.imageshack.us/img397/3...ydive107vi.jpg

http://img500.imageshack.us/img500/1...ydive116pm.jpg

http://img500.imageshack.us/img500/1...ydive129is.jpg

Re: Skydiving - Trip Report
 

Nice report. I'm terrified of heights but still love [censored] like this. Well done.

Re: Skydiving - Trip Report
 

Now that's a trip report. Very cool post.

Re: Skydiving - Trip Report
 

Nice nice nice.

ScottieK

Re: Skydiving - Trip Report
 

awesome report. I'm pretty sure if I did this I would have a heart attack and die on the way down.

Re: Skydiving - Trip Report
 

dude that is awesome.

those pics are screaming photoshop though.

[img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: Skydiving - Trip Report
 

This is almost exactly consistent with my experience. My heart is going faster just reading about it. Don't be surprised if you sort of "crash" later in the day from being so keyed up from the jump.

Re: Skydiving - Trip Report
 

Excellent trip report!

Re: Skydiving - Trip Report
 

Awesome. Really makes me want to try it.

Re: Skydiving - Trip Report
 

I am not afraid of heights or anything but of course we can't compare standing on a roof to being 13,500 feet in the air... so I didn't know how it was going to be when I was up there. Surprisingly I was extremely calm during the entire ride up and didn't get nervous at all. When approaching the open hatch, the ol' heart did start pumping a bit faster but it was more out of the body's natural reaction to the brain telling it what is going on rather than pure fear. I felt very calm after seeing the French dude and the two chicks jump out and very comfortable knowing that the instructor has done this EASILY at least 1,000 times.

For someone who thinks he/she would get scared, the scariest part would most likely be the initial jump from the plane or the seconds leading up to it. It just goes so contrary to the body's natural survival instict telling you "yeah, you have a parachute BUT IT'S SAFER TO JUST LAND IN THE PLANE!!!" Once you're out the hatch all you can think about is how awesome it is.

Oh... one more thing... IT'S NICE AND COLD UP THERE! It was about 70 degrees on the ground when we went up. When they opened the hatch I could feel the cool air coming in, and when we jumped out and the air was hitting my face it must have felt like it was 50 degrees tops.

I would recommend it to anybody who isn't prone to panicking on roller coasters. Definitely do a tandem jump for your first jump and do it at a place that looks like it is run well and has been in business for a while. I felt very comfortable on the ground with these people too. They really knew what they were doing... or at least did a good job fooling me into believing it! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Skydiving - Trip Report
 

Skydiving was awesome. I was terrified the night before but once I got to the airfield I just kind of went into robot mode until the jump. I was mostly scared of the feeling of falling, but once the instructor told me it didn't really feel like that I was fine. It doesn't feel like falling at all, more like floating. Seriously the best $140 I've ever spent. Need to do it again sometime soon.

Note: Do NOT open your mouth for any reason while in freefall.

Re: Skydiving - Trip Report
 

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Seriously the best $140 I've ever spent.

[/ QUOTE ]

ouch - I paid much more... true I did buy the video and photos too, but for the jump alone it was $229. How high did you jump from?

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Do NOT open your mouth for any reason while in freefall.

[/ QUOTE ]

too late. lol. I was smiling for pictures and stuff but one time I opened my mouth when looking down and was like holy [censored] my lungs just froze and it took me a few seconds to resume normal breathing.

I'd definitely like to jump again, though... and eventually jump out on my own.

Some day.

Re: Skydiving - Trip Report
 

I did it at a place out in the boonies in Delaware, so I'm sure that explains it being less expensive than in Miami. The jump was from 14,000 feet I believe.

Re: Skydiving - Trip Report
 

Warik- Awesome trip report. I am terrified of high places, so this is pretty remarkable to me. Thanks to your report though, I'm actually giving it some thought. Your trip report lacked only one thing, and that's this guy:

http://img304.imageshack.us/img304/7...9zqcopy9iu.jpg

Re: Skydiving - Trip Report
 

LOOOL

Re: Skydiving - Trip Report
 

Awesome report.

The next time somebody tells me that they were disappointed with their first jump, will be the first time.

Re: Skydiving - Trip Report
 

[ QUOTE ]
Warik- Awesome trip report. I am terrified of high places, so this is pretty remarkable to me. Thanks to your report though, I'm actually giving it some thought. Your trip report lacked only one thing, and that's this guy:

http://img304.imageshack.us/img304/7...9zqcopy9iu.jpg

[/ QUOTE ]

Are you tom green?

Re: Skydiving - Trip Report
 

[ QUOTE ]
It doesn't feel like you're falling at all. It feels that you're just laying flat and there's a huge fan under you blowing up.

[/ QUOTE ]

Completely true!

I remember being thankful they gave me a little cap to wear because my hair got so tangled up. I was a little disappointed because I thought there would be that roller coaster rush, but there isn't.

Freefall feels like someone is pulling your ears and hair and stretching your mouth... it feels like your moving up, not down. And it's SO LOUD! It's like the wind is crawling in your ears and howling in your brain.

And then, all of a sudden, it's quiet and peaceful and you're vertical floating towards the earth. Freefall is over and now you get a little ride. Fun experience.

I can't believe you never flew before and just decided to not only get into a plane, but jump out of one too on the same day. wow.

Re: Skydiving - Trip Report
 

[ QUOTE ]
Are you tom green?

[/ QUOTE ]

I was trying to think of a clever response to this, but the only thing that came to mind was: "uhh............... no?"

Re: Skydiving - Trip Report
 

[ QUOTE ]
I was a little disappointed because I thought there would be that roller coaster rush, but there isn't.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, it wasn't the sort of physical rush you get from a roller coaster putting several g-forces on your body; however, I did feel a bigger emotional sort of rush from it. The new sensation of the cold air blowing all over me and me knowing what was going on was what did the trick.

[ QUOTE ]
And it's SO LOUD! It's like the wind is crawling in your ears and howling in your brain.

And then, all of a sudden, it's quiet and peaceful and you're vertical floating towards the earth. Freefall is over and now you get a little ride. Fun experience.

[/ QUOTE ]

YUP! Even with the tight helmet covering my ears it was so damn loud. I liked the freefall better than the parachute ride though. HATED the turns!!! Instructor said you usually get that feeling if you do it in the morning and haven't eaten anything... which is what I did.

[ QUOTE ]
I can't believe you never flew before and just decided to not only get into a plane, but jump out of one too on the same day. wow.

[/ QUOTE ]

Neither can I. I'm clearly insane. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: Skydiving - Trip Report
 

nice trip report, i am planning on taking my dad this summer before he gets too old, neither one of us has done before

Re: Skydiving - Trip Report
 

Great report and great pics.

I did this years ago before they had tandem jumping. Jumped out with a line attached to the plane called a static line. They gave you a litle training on how to land and how to steer the chute and what to do if your main chute didnt open which was basically kiss your ass goodbye.

I thought it was a great experience. To gather the resolve to toss myself out of an airplane into thin air was a valuable experience for me. Nothing ever seemd quite so scary after that. I am pretty sure I have one jump left in me. I am waiting till my son is old enough to go with me.

Ive also always wanted to go bungee jumping. I even found a guy who takes people of a bridge in pennsylvania about a days drive from my home. But alas I could never find anyone crazy or dumb enough to go with me.

Has anyone done a legit bungee jump? That would be a trip report I would like to hear about.

Re: Skydiving - Trip Report
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Are you tom green?

[/ QUOTE ]

I was trying to think of a clever response to this, but the only thing that came to mind was: "uhh............... no?"

[/ QUOTE ]

When I first saw the pic (I saw the photoshopped version before the originals), I genuinely thought it was a picture of Tom Green.

Re: Skydiving - Trip Report
 

[ QUOTE ]
When I first saw the pic (I saw the photoshopped version before the originals), I genuinely thought it was a picture of Tom Green.

[/ QUOTE ]

lol... never been mistaken for Tom Green before.

Well, no, I'm not Tom Green... as you will be able to tell by looking at the original photos, I'm clearly more handsome. Hope you enjoyed my trip report. =)

Re: Skydiving - Trip Report
 

[ QUOTE ]
Great report and great pics.

I did this years ago before they had tandem jumping. Jumped out with a line attached to the plane called a static line. They gave you a litle training on how to land and how to steer the chute and what to do if your main chute didnt open which was basically kiss your ass goodbye.


[/ QUOTE ]

I did static line as well. I was fine with that, even though it means you only get like a second of freefall, because I figured if I was going to jump out of a plane I was going to do it on my own -- no instructor attached to me.

I don't regret it at all. We went from 4,000 feet, which sounds crappy compared to 10,000 (our other option). But trust me -- if it's your first time, once you get up on the plane, 4,000 feet might as well be 10 miles high.

It's a blast. I highly recommend it. Even if you land on your ass and skid for 100 feet like I did. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: Skydiving - Trip Report
 

Great report man. I've always wanted to do this but have never had the balls.

Re: Skydiving - Trip Report
 

awesome report, sounds like you had a blast!!!!

Re: Skydiving - Trip Report
 

[ QUOTE ]
It's a blast. I highly recommend it. Even if you land on your ass and skid for 100 feet like I did. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

lol well when we landed we skidded on our asses too... I actually found that more fun than landing on foot. It's like a super baseball slide haha.

Re: Skydiving - Trip Report
 

Great trip report and pics.

I have my Airborne wings, but I haven't gone civilian, yet.

Re: Skydiving - Trip Report
 

I did a static line as well, got it off my gf for my 30th, has to be the most scariest thing I have ever done in my life.

The ride up in the small plane was bad enough, looking around at how high 4,500ft added to it, the person before me having some sort of problem before me added to it, we nearly had to land cos of it and if we had there was no way I would have gone back up.

Sitting on the edge waiting to go I was terrified didnt think I could do it (going up ladder type height scares me) but took a deep breath thought [censored] it and jumped. Was doing the count as they suggested but the air just rushes out of you, the parchute deployed and was tangled but actioned the training and got it sorted.

At that point was relieved it appeared I wasnt going to die, so looked down had no idea where the landing site was is amazing how much land you can see, at that point I deceided I didnt care and would just drift and land wherever, the instructor then came on the radio and started yelling at me which way to turn.

Actually managed to get onto the landing site and made a perfect two footed landing (no on my arse for me you noobs [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]) Instructor said was an excellent first jump I took my certificate and left never to return.

Was an amazing experience, whenever I have flown since have made note when we got to 4500ft and saw how high it was, I still cant belive I did it. But for me not a sport I wanted to do regular.

Re: Skydiving - Trip Report
 

Awesome. Really makes me want to try it.

Re: Skydiving - Trip Report
 

I see a couple of you did your first jumps solo from lower altitude tied to some cord (I'm guessing the cord automatically deploys your chute?)... definitely harder to make the jump I think. When doing tandem it was a little easier because the instructor was the one who does the final push (since he's on your back), so all you have to do is not resist... which is impossible anyway since you're in a mechanically disadvantageous position.

They gave me a flyer for some training packages which looks awesome. For $1,600 I would get a tandem jump, a 1 year membership to the USPA, ground school, and then SEVEN solo jumps. Crazy [censored]! I'm not sure if the instructor is assisting on those 7 jumps because this particular one I'm reading says "AFF = Accelerated Free-Fall" and the other column says "IAF = Instructor Assisted Freefall." Not sure if I could make my first solo jump without at least an instructor falling nearby.

Definitely gotta do this again though. If I ever get a sweet ass job that actually pays bonuses, my first one will go toward this. Then whenever I travel anywhere I could add "jump out of airplane" to the list of things to do there. Vegas would look badass from 3 miles up.. muhahaa.

Re: Skydiving - Trip Report
 

Had to do a days training for the solo one, is deployed as you jump. But they have to teach you the whole jump and landing procedure basically trying to drum it into you so is automatic. Also what to do if it went wrong for example if you jumped and we left trailing out of the plane, cutting the cord and deploying the reserve etc.

People did the tandem but they went up after and hour while us mugs were walking round the training room pretending we were parachuting.

Re: Skydiving - Trip Report
 

[ QUOTE ]
lol... never been mistaken for Tom Green before.


[/ QUOTE ]

I thought you looked a lot like Tom Green, too, until I saw the picture of you with the helmet off.

-McGee

Re: Skydiving - Trip Report
 

Awesome report. Great pictures. I'm terrified of heights but now I have to do this.

Re: Skydiving - Trip Report
 

wow, this is something I have to do.

Re: Skydiving - Trip Report
 

I love the Superman picture. Great trip report.

Re: Skydiving - Trip Report
 

ahh.. I remember my first time. It's funny, the first time you go - you have no idea what to expect, so you're not scared. The 2nd time... is another story. I remember - there was some marsupial instinct to put your arms out and grab onto something - you immediately realize how stupid that is. I also remember pulling the rip cord, and then pulling it out again, thinking "wtf? - isn't this supposed to make me stop?"... then WHOOOSH.. which felt like stopping in mid-air.

Oh, and this is the first I've heard to having to pay extra to jump out higher. The place I went for a tandem jump at 15K feet was ~$120

I grew up in the middle of IL - where I believe they have the most people jump in the world. One particular place has the most people doing it... and the most accidents. One summer - they broke some world record for most people in a formation or something. People were falling out of the air left and right... without their chutes. My brother was a county cop and had to pick them up/scrape them up. Not pretty... I believe the term we used was 'dirt darts'.

Suffice to say.. I went to a different facility not too far away, and they were great. I think all the instructors had over 1,000 jumps... with most in the 3-6,000 range.

I remember my 2nd time... I was jumping tandem with a guy who was absolutely insane. After the fall... and we're floating down.. he had me pull on both the handles as far down as I could. I could feel us slow down.. then he said, "look up, look up!"... I look up.. and I could see the parachute crumple before my eyes.. and feel us falling very rapidly. He then said, "let go!".. and I did.. and we jerked in mid air as the chute caught air again. We did this again another time. This was the same guy that put us on crazy turns.. yanking hard left.. will make you go upside down. You look up - see your chute (filled, at least), and see the ground as well. Just freaky. When I landed, I asked one of the other instructors if they do those stalls.. and he just said, "If my chute opens.. I'm happy.. nobody else does that." I about [censored] my pants when I heard that. Oh, and a friend of mine got that guy - and he did the same thing.. and it looked terrifying from the ground.

They seemed to love screwing with newbies as well. On my 3rd jump, I was with a friend who was going on her 2nd jump.. and was getting very nervous. A bunch of people just landed and were carrying their chutes into the facility. Guy walks by, pretending not to see us.. stops, and says with surprise as he's holding his chute, "Ah... worked again." My friend ran to the bathroom to empty her gut.

Re: Skydiving - Trip Report
 

Hah, those pics are sweet, Ive always wanted to go. I love how you are all excited and psyched up (as most normal people would be), by the look on your face, and the instructor is just like.."eh..another day in the office"....

Re: Skydiving - Trip Report
 

[ QUOTE ]
the instructor is just like.."eh..another day in the office"....

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually... he's doing exactly what I'm going to be doing next time. Keeping the mouth CLOSED... sucking in a gallon of cold air blowing into me at 100+mph is not fun. Felt like I was going to get frostbite in my lungs haha