Further information

Skydiving > Types of Skydive

Last updated on 7th December 2010

The different skydives we offer.

Tandem Skydive

Tandem skydiving is the most popular type of skydiving. Very basic training (about 30 minutes in length) is given prior to your skydive and no previous experience is necessary. You are connected via a harness to a highly experienced tandem skydiving instructor and taken to approximately 12,000ft (2.3miles, 3.7km).

The instructor takes control of the entire skydive from exiting the plan, freefall, opening and piloting the parachute, and finally to landing. A tandem skydive last for approximately 20 minutes from take off to landing with approximately 45 seconds spent in freefall and around 5 minutes spent under the parachute.

If you require a female tandem skydiving instructor for any reason then, given enough notice, we will try our best to arrange this for you. Female tandem instructors are very few and far between but if we are unable to arrange a female instructor then you will be informed.

Static Line Skydiving

Static Line Skydiving is a type of skydive where your parachute is deployed by a fixed cord. Approximately 9 hours of training is required before doing a static line skydive - the skydive usually takes place the day after the training, but no previous experience is necessary.

You exit the aircraft from approximately 5,000ft (0.9miles, 1.5km) and approximately 4 seconds spent in freefall before the static line deploys your parachute. The static line is a fixed cord, one end of which is attached to your parachute whilst the other end is attached to the aircraft. The static line is around 15ft (5m) in length and, as it pulls tight upon exiting the aircraft, it opens the parachute regardless of actions taken or not taken by you.

Once the parachute is deployed you put your training to use by piloting the parachute to the landing area.

Static Line Skydiving allows you continue skydiving in order to become a fully qualified skydiver.

Accelerated Freefall Skydiving (AFF)

Accelerated Freefall skydiving is a type of skydive whereby you wear your own parachute and you are not attached to an instructor. After you have undertaken a full day of intensive skydiving training, you are able to skydive from full altitude, usually around 12,500 ft (4km), with the assistance of two skydiving instructors who skydive in the air with you.

The instructors are not attached to you as in a tandem skydive but are instead holding on to grips on the legs and arms of your jumpsuit. You open and pilot your own parachute. AFF skydiving is suitable for, and popular amongst, first time skydivers and it requires no previous experience.

General

The feeling of freefall is similar to the floating sensation you have in a swimming pool coupled with strong winds brushing past you. Skydiving does not give you the same sensation of going over the edge on a roller-coaster. Skydiving is relaxing whilst also being the biggest exhilaration you can imagine.

As a beginner skydiver you will have very few movements to make however you will be taught all of the movements required in your training. Experienced skydivers are able to perform very complex, intricate and artistic moves whilst skydiving and many competitions are scored on the accuracy and speed of these movements. During a tandem skydive your movements will be controlled by the instructor.

Tags: challenges, skydive, tandem skydive, static line skydive, aff,