No matter how you choose to do it, your first jump experience is something you'll remember for the rest of your life.
While many people choose tandem skydiving for their first jump, here at Jumptown, first-timers can also make their very first skydive solo. Of course, each method has its pros and cons. We explore the differences between tandem skydiving and AFF to help you determine which first jump experience is right for you!
For many people, a skydive is something that's been on their bucket list forever. They want to come and experience all of its jaw-dropping glory and then tick it off the list.
That's totally fine! People who come to try our sport as a one-off experience are always welcome at Jumptown. In fact, some of our best students are the ones who end up at the dropzone as a challenge or to celebrate a birthday or special occasion.
The benefit of tandem skydiving is that it can be done in a day. There's a short brief that prepares you for the body position you'll need to adopt and your responsibilities for landing. We'll educate you on the equipment you'll be using for your skydive; though the operation of the equipment will be managed by your highly experienced skydiving instructor. Because you're not operating your own equipment, you can be a little more relaxed and really enjoy all the sensations of freefall and stunning views that surround you.
Another option for your first jump experience is to skydive by yourself! Students who select this method for their first skydive typically do so to start working towards a skydiving license.
Here at Jumptown, our learn to skydive training program is called AFF. This stands for 'accelerated freefall' and is the most popular way to learn to skydive.
As a student skydiver in the AFF program, you'll jump with two instructors by your side, at maximum altitude from jump one. These instructors are there to support you as you progress through each level and ultimately become a fully fledged solo jumper.
Prior to jumping, you'll undertake a full day of ground school where you'll learn all you need to know to be a solo skydiver. This includes learning about the equipment and how to operate and maintain it, how to exit from the aircraft, proper freefall position, and how to pilot your parachute. You will also learn how to manage events when they don't go according to plan.
Upon completion of the course, you'll earn your skydiving license, which qualifies you to jump solo without the assistance of an instructor at any USPA affiliated drop zone.
We also offer a unique AFF camp, where you can complete your course within just 4 days!
Your choice of learning to skydive (via AFF) or making a tandem skydive for your first jump is entirely up to you. It really depends on what you want to get out of it.
A tandem skydive is a one day experience during which you feel all the thrill of the skydive and get to tick it off your bucket list. There's absolutely nothing stopping you from making a tandem jump and then coming back to learn to skydive, either!
AFF is more of an investment because you have to complete an extensive first jump course before your initial jump. And that first jump is typically the start of a series of jumps to work towards your skydiving license. The benefit of investing in an AFF program is that once you earn your license, you can jump solo at any dropzone in the US!
If you'd like to discuss your options for making your first skydive at Jumptown, please contact a team member, or book a skydive online today!
