First-Time Skydiving Tips: What to Expect

Welcome to Skydive Tecumseh! We were founded a-way back in 1964, making us one of the very first sport dropzones in the whole world — not to mention the premier drop zone for the Detroit area, especially when it comes to student skydiving (tandem skydiving included!). 

That means we understand first-time skydiving very intimately. We know you’re nervous! Everybody is. And we’re equally sure that you have high expectations for your first-time skydiving experience. Don’t worry, dear reader: We’re here to exceed your expectations and give you some first-time skydiving tips to start you on your way.

Arriving at the Dropzone as a Skydiving First-Timer

First and foremost, embrace the nervousness you’re experiencing as a first-time skydiving student! You’d better believe that your heart will be beating like a drum, especially if you spot a couple of parachutes on the way down from your approach on the road. It’s all about getting real! Take a deep breath and love where you’re at.

From your parking spot, you’ll make your way over to the office. It’s there at the desk that we’ll get you registered, check your government-issued photo ID (you brought it, right?), and have you fill out the waiver paperwork. We like to joke that the paperwork is scarier than the skydive — and it might well be!

Skydiving Training and Safety Tips

The next tick on the skydiving tips list has to do with training. As a first-time skydiving student, you’re not just a passenger — you’ll have to know what’s goin’ on up there, so training is non-negotiable. Your skydiving “ground school” will last approximately 40 minutes. The classroom time will cover the basics of the equipment, the method we use to enter and exit the aircraft, and the requirements you’ll need to cover in the 60-second free fall and landing. It won’t be as overwhelming as it sounds.

Once your time in the classroom is done, you’ll be on the official manifest to make your first-time skydive. Woo hoo! At some point, you’ll hear your name called over the loudspeaker, you’ll meet up with your instructor and you’ll head over to gear up.

SKYDIVING TIPS FOR THE FUN PART!

Ride to Altitude

Once you’re rocking your jumpsuit and harness, it’s time to head out to our beautiful airplane. Safety, speed, and comfort are key for your ride to as high as 18,000 ft altitude above ground level (AGL). Skydive Tecumseh operates a Beechcraft King Air, a top-of-the-line skydiving aircraft with hecka powerful engines and a comfortable interior, that takes up to 12 jumpers on each load.

Capture the Experience on Tape

We’re pretty sure you’ve opted for a Skydive Tecumseh video/photo package (because you’re smart like that!), which means that you’ll have extra company for your jump: a camera flyer who will climb out ahead of you and hang out with a firm grip on the outside of the plane in order to snap a sweet shot of you on exit. In fact, our top skydiving tip for first-timers is to make sure to get that package. Not doing so is the #1 regret of new skydivers!

Time for Freefall

Then, of course, it’s freefall time. You’ll be in freefall, zooming at around 120mph, for around a minute or so. At approximately 6,000 ft., your instructor will deploy the parachute and you’ll fly around for 3-5 minutes under it (we call it the “canopy”) before you’ll touch down in our capacious, grassy landing area.

We guarantee that your first tandem skydive with Skydive Tecumseh will be truly unforgettable – so come experience the best that Detroit area skydiving has to offer.

LET’S DO THIS!

Book your tandem skydive online today!