Further information

Skydiving > Various Medical

Last updated on 7th December 2010

We've addressed a number of medical related skydiving concerns here.

Breathing

You can breathe during your skydive. Even though you will be falling at up to 120 mph, it is easy to breathe. The wind which enters your lungs does not enter at full speed as it is slowed as it passes through your nose and mouth. The maximum height that the skydiving centres fly to is 15,000ft where there is plenty of oxygen available.

Asthma

Asthma can be a restricted medical condition, but the need to obtain medical consent depends on the severity of your asthma. You will skydive from an altitude where the air pressure will be lower than that at ground level and so it may be slightly harder to breathe. If you are in any way unsure please consult your doctor. A guide to skydiving and asthma is available here: British Parachute Association (BPA) Asthma advice.

Hearing

Whilst in freefall the noise of the air rushing past your ears prohibits you from hearing anything else including your instructors voice. This noise does not appear particularly loud and is often unnoticeable during your skydive as your other senses take in the full experience. Once the parachute has opened you are able to speak freely to your instructor and can hear other sounds around you. Impaired hearing is no barrier to tandem skydiving.

Some skydivers do experience their ears “popping” during the ascent in the aircraft due to the decreased air pressure. During the skydive, as you descend to higher pressured air, your ears should return to normal. It may be the case that you need to take action to “unpop” your ears once you are on the ground. This is usually done by pinching closed your nostrils whilst trying to exhale from your nose.

Sight

All skydivers wear clear plastic goggles so that they can fully enjoy the view. On a clear day you will be able to see for several miles during your skydive. If you do wear contact lenses or glasses then these should be securely attached and worn under the goggles provided. Blindness or impaired vision is no barrier to tandem skydiving.

Physical Disabilities

If you have a physical disability or if you are a wheelchair user then this does not necessarily mean that you are unable to skydive. Medical consent is required before you skydive and extra steps may need to be taken at the airfield. Many of the instructors have experience of skydiving with people with physical disabilities. Please also contact us to make us aware of any special arrangements that must be put in place.

Dental

If you have recently had any dental work, including a filling, then you should obtain medical consent from your dentist.

Tags: challenges, skydive, medical, tandem skydive, aff, breathing, asthma, hearing, sight, disabilities, dental,