When Can I Skydive By Myself?

Whether you’ve always dreamed of becoming a skydiver or you’ve recently been bit by the skydiving bug after your first tandem skydive – waiting for that first solo skydive can be excruciating, to say the least.

Sure, your tandem skydive was an incredible experience, but maybe you long for a bit of independence and are looking to take the toggles yourself (literally). While the journey to achieving your skydiving license can be a long one, the good news is that getting the chance to skydive by yourself is much closer than it seems at Skydive Tecumseh. So, how can you skydive by yourself and exactly how long does it take to skydive solo? We’ve got all your solo skydiving answers here for your eager minds.

CAN YOU SKYDIVE YOUR FIRST TIME BY YOURSELF?

As you peruse the internet for places to skydive near you, you might be wondering if skydiving by yourself is an option. For your first skydiving experience, we always recommend a tandem skydive with one of our highly-trained and certified tandem instructors.

A tandem skydive is recommended for several reasons – a tandem skydive is the best way to not only knock off those first jump jitters, but it is also a great learning experience for when you do begin to pursue a skydiving license.

Jumping solo requires a lot more responsibility than a tandem skydive, which is why some dropzones will even require that you do a tandem before starting your solo skydiving journey.

While a tandem skydive is not required for your first jump at Skydive Tecumseh, it is highly recommended. Not for you? No worries – you can jump right into getting your skydiving license and jumping solo, no prior experience necessary!

HOW CAN I SKYDIVE BY MYSELF?

Your journey to skydiving independence begins by signing up for our AFF Ground School online! In our AFF (Accelerated Freefall) Ground Course, you will spend the day (6-8 hours) in a classroom setting learning the required skills to have a successful first solo jump. During the class, we will go over the skydiving equipment, canopy control, body positions, emergency procedures, and more!

WHEN CAN YOU SKYDIVE BY YOURSELF?

After your AFF Ground School, you will be approved to jump with one of our student skydiving rigs and land your own parachute. During your first few jumps, you will be assisted by two USPA (United States Parachute Association) certified AFF instructors who will help guide you through the process. 

In freefall, it might be a bit difficult to control yourself while skydiving so for the first few jumps your instructors will hold onto your suit grips and use hand signals to communicate with you to correct your body position, maintain altitude awareness, and help you stay relaxed. At around 5,500 ft, your instructors will release their grips on you as you deploy your very own parachute. From there, you’ll have full control of your toggles and fly your canopy back down to the wide-open student-specific landing area. While under canopy, you’ll be guided by an instructor via radio. 

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO SKYDIVE SOLO?

As you move along the AFF Course and prove you are able to maintain altitude awareness, have a stable body position, and can deploy your parachute – you’ll work up the basic flying skills to be able to skydive without assistance.

Once you’ve graduated from the AFF program, you’ll finally be cleared to skydive solo! On your “self-supervised” student jumps you’ll be able to skydive completely by yourself, with USPA-rated coaches, or with other instructors. 

GETTING YOUR A-LICENSE STAMP

After you complete and pass all 25 jumps and all the requirements on the USPA A License Proficiency Card, you will officially be considered a licensed skydiver. The whole dropzone will celebrate your amazing accomplishment by cheering you on as you get the infamous “A” license stamp on your forehead – certifying that you’ve officially graduated from the program and can enter the world of skydiving. 

Once you receive your USPA “A” License, you can jump with other licensed skydivers in groups and explore other categories within the sport of skydiving! You’ll be able to achieve other skydiving licenses (B, C, and D), try different skydiving disciplines, attend skydiving events, travel to different dropzones, and even compete in skydiving if you want – the sky is your oyster! You’ll be greeted with open arms as you join the other fantastic members of this incredible community of fellow passionate skydivers from all walks of life – welcome to the fam!

Think you’re ready to start your solo skydiving journey? Book your AFF Ground Course today with Skydive Tecumseh and let us be the ones to give you that A-license stamp – it would be an honor! Blue skies.