GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR FIRST SKYDIVE

Do I have to be 18?

YES.  You need to be 18 participate in a Tandem or AFF Skydive. You will be required to sign our waiver prior to your skydive. The Waiver is a binding contract and, as such, you must be 18 years old to sign a binding waiver. The waiver surrenders specific legal rights and as a result cannot be signed by someone else on your behalf.  We do require that you bring a valid form of photo identification (drivers’ license or passport) with you when you come for your first skydive. Visit https://uspa.org/downloads/minimum-age-to-skydive

Is there a maximum age?

Not at all. You just have to be in good health and physical shape. People of all ages have tried skydiving.

Are there any weight limitations?

Yes. You must weigh no more than 230 pounds for a tandem skydive and no more than 220 lbs for an AFF student skydive.

Should I do a Tandem jump, or an AFF jump?

Accelerated Freefall (AFF) is more for those who are fairly certain that they really want to learn all they can about skydiving and are inclined to think they will want to continue to learn more about the sport.

Tandem Jumps are an excellent introduction to Skydiving and can count towards your future training if you choose to continue in the sport. If you only plan to make one jump ever, we recommend a Tandem. If you think you might become a regular skydiver and pursue the sport, then try an AFF.

Is the skydiving center open every day?

Open year round – We are open 7 days a week and generally skydive until sunset.

Between May 15th – October 31th – We will be open 6 days a week, closed for skydive operations on Wednesdays.

On weekdays the Manifest Office opens at 9:00 A.M. and closes at 5:00 P.M. On Weekends the Manifest office opens at 8:00 A.M and closes at 5:00 P.M.

Do you accept credit cards?

We accept all major credit cards.

FREQUENTLY ASKED TANDEM SKYDIVING QUESTIONS

How long does it take to do a tandem skydive?

Generally speaking, weather and crowds permitting, your skydive can generally be completed in about 2 hours. Our manifest staff works hard to schedule your skydive with a minimum of time spent on the ground. It is, however, a good idea to budget additional time to take into account any delays that might result from temporary weather conditions that delay our flights making precise schedules more difficult to maintain, resulting in extending your wait time. You will enjoy any free time on the ground watching other tandem skydivers completing their skydive as well as watching various skydives performed by licensed skydivers.

What is Ground School?

Our Tandem Instructors will explain everything about tandem skydiving. They will tell you about the equipment that is used and how it will function during your skydive. They will also give you instruction concerning how the two of you will exit the aircraft for your skydive. You’ll also get some tips on things you can do to enjoy your skydive experience. If you chose to have video and still photographs taken during the skydive you’ll learn where the videographer will be during the skydive and be reminded to “smile for the camera”. The smiling part will come naturally!

Your Tandem Instructor will describe to you what your plane ride to altitude will be like and how the two of you will prepare for your skydive in the airplane. You’ll also learn what positions you will adopt while in freefall and as you prepare for landing.

You’ll feel quite comfortable and ready, more likely eager, for your first skydive after listening to your instructor’s explanations.

Anything for my friends and family to do?

Your friends and family can relax at the Zoo Bar Cafe or enjoy a cool drink while their family or friends are in the air. They can also observe your ground school training and take their own pictures and video to add to what your videographer will prepare for you.

You’d be surprised how often friends or family end up deciding to join you for a first skydive once they have had an opportunity to watch your training or watch other tandem skydivers coming back from their jumps raving about the experience!

What should I wear?

Comfortable athletic attire that allows mobility with sneakers, tennis shoes or something similar on your feet.

If you prefer to wear a jumpsuit over your “street clothes” during your tandem skydive, ask your instructor to provide one.

What altitude do I jump from and how long is the freefall?

Your jump altitude will be between 13,500 and 15,000 feet (roughly 2 1/2 miles up) and your freefall will last approximately 60 seconds.

After your parachute is opened your ride under canopy will last approximately 5-6 minutes during which you will enjoy a breathtaking view of the Florida Treasure Coast and the Sebastian Inlet.

If you would like to try steering while under canopy, ask your instructor. If it is possible and not dangerous your instructor will more than likely let you experience canopy control to a limited degree. If not, don’t forget your instructor is the professional and it is his job to guard your safety throughout your skydive.

What is it like to land under a parachute?

During ground school you instructor will train you to lift your legs up just before the landing. Your instructor will, essentially, land first and you’ll lower your legs after both of his feet are on the ground. Your instructor will guide your parachute to a smooth landing. It is not like the early days of skydiving when everyone came down like the paratroopers landing behind enemy lines. Today, landing under canopy involves little more impact with the ground than jumping to the floor from a chair.

What happens if the parachute doesn’t open?

This is a popular question! A malfunction of the main canopy is rare. However, if there is a problem with the main canopy, the tandem parachute container that your instructor is wearing contains two parachutes, the main parachute and a reserve parachute. If the main parachute doesn’t open properly, your tandem instructor will deploy the reserve parachute.

Is weather a factor in getting to do my tandem skydive?

Yes, weather is always a factor. Florida’s weather changes rapidly and there is always a possibility that your tandem can be delayed waiting for some transient poor weather to pass. Thankfully, there are few days in Florida where the weather prevents jumping throughout the day.

Should I make a reservation?

It is always a good idea to call the Manifest Office at 772.388.5672 to schedule a reservation. We can get quite a few people waiting to do their tandem skydive and a reservation helps assure you that you aren’t kept waiting for any longer than absolutely necessary.

Will I have a good time?

You will have the time of your life. There is nothing like it. Odds are, you’ll want to go right back up for a second tandem skydive!

After a tandem, what’s next if I want to learn to skydive?

You can start Accelerated Freefall training which involves learning to skydive under direct supervision of our professional instructors.

The Accelerated Freefall Program equips novice skydivers with freefall and canopy control skills through an eight level program, designed to safely teach you to skydive. Safety is greatly enhanced by direct-in-air jumpmaster supervision. To ensure safety for you and other skydivers, you must demonstrate proficiency on one level before progressing to the next.

Visit our “Learn to Skydive” web page that explains everything you need to know about learning to skydive.

FREQUENTLY ASKED ACCELERATED FREEFALL (AFF) QUESTIONS

Do I need a reservation?

Yes, you need to make a reservation so our Staff is ready to begin your AFF training when you arrive. We are available to start your AFF training on the day of your choosing. You will need to arrive at Skydive Sebastian during the early morning to allow time for completion of your ground school training prior to your first student skydive. You may join others who are starting at the same time as you but we will commence your ground school on an individual basis regardless of whether there are other students on the same day. All of our instructors are full-time staff available every day at the Skydiving Center and will see you through your AFF course as a team effort.

What are the Physical Requirements?

You do need to be in good health to do the AFF program.  Less than 230lbs and be able to jump off a table or chair, land-tuck-and-roll on your own.  If you have any physical limitations, then please let us know.

What do I learn in the Ground School Course?

Your ground school will last approximately 6 hours, varying somewhat with your abilities, and is conducted by one of our AFF rated instructors. You’ll be introduced to all aspects of skydiving. Your instructor will explain and demonstrate the equipment you will use during your student skydives and will thoroughly acquaint you with the manner in which you will utilize all your skydiving equipment including your “rig” which contains both your main and reserve canopies, your altimeter and a radio system which your AFF instructors will use to communicate canopy flight instructions while you are piloting your canopy after freefall.

You’ll be taught all of the normal procedures for exiting the aircraft in a safe and stable manner with two AFF instructors accompanying you during your exit and throughout your freefall. You’ll learn the proper body position to maintain during freefall, enabling you to fly your body in a stable and confident manner. Your instructors will familiarize you with a number of hand signals they will use to coach you during your freefall.

Ground school will cover all required emergency procedures and all the fundamentals of piloting your canopy for a safe and accurate landing at the drop zone.

When you have completed ground school, your instructor will give you a written test to make sure you understood everything you were taught.

You will be ready for your first student skydive. The ground school experience elevates your confidence, enhances your excited anticipation of your first AFF skydive and greatly reduces any nervousness you might be feeling. You’ll find that the knowledge and understanding you gain from ground school has already started transforming you into a skydiver, heightening your eagerness to put your new found knowledge to the test.

How long does it take to complete AFF training?

Generally speaking and weather permitting, you can complete all of the required AFF skydives in 3 to 5 days.

You are not required, however, to complete your AFF skydives in such a concentrated fashion unless that is your preference. You must, however, complete successive student skydives within 30 days following your preceding student skydive. The less time you allow to elapse between student skydives the more you retain from your previous jumps allowing you to progress more effectively and to better adapt mentally to your new sport. If more than 30 days expire between jumps you will be required to step back one level.

I’m nervous, what if I panic or forget what to do during a student skydive?

It’s normal to be nervous during your first tandem skydive as well as during your progression through AFF training.

Although each person handles it in different ways, most everyone experiences nervousness to one degree or another. It’s normal and it will decline as you become more familiar with the sport and your skills increase.

Your instructor(s) are at your side throughout your AFF skydives and they will be certain that you are confident and capable before they advance you to more complex maneuvers. If you forget a maneuver or lose stability during freefall they are close at your side and will direct you with hand signals and help you restore any lost stability.

As with all things in life, knowledge breeds confidence and dispels the fear of the unknown.

How hard is it to land properly and in the right place?

We often hear people remark that landing properly causes them the most doubt.

You won’t have any problem finding your way “home”. When you exit the aircraft, your exit has been coordinated with the location of the airport and the prevailing winds. You’ll find yourself under an open canopy with the airport within easy flight. Your instructors will communicate with you via a two way radio attached to your harness and will coach you in making the proper turns to approach the airport for an accurate landing. As you approach the ground they’ll give you verbal guidance regarding setting your position to land and your landing techinique. You won’t feel like you’re up there alone.

You’ll receive plenty of instruction concerning proper landing techinique and it is really one of the easier things to learn when you begin skydiving. Many first jump students land in a standing position on their first jump and while others find themselves landing in a sitting position but their landings are generally soft ones accompanied by a lot of laughter and the excitement of having completed their 1st student skydive.

What if the canopy doesn’t open?

Your “rig” contains two parachutes, a main parachute and a reserve parachute. Although the main parachute is highly dependable and is carefully “packed”, all skydivers are reassured by the presence of their reserve parachute. Your reserve parachute, which is packed by an FAA certified rigger, is designed to provide the highest level of reliability possible.

During your ground training you are taught to recognize and react to every kind of parachute malfunction and learn every procedure for deploying your reserve parachute.

Sometimes people wonder what will happen if “they can’t open” their parachute. All of our student “rigs” are equipped with Automated Activation Devices (AADs), which automatically deploy your reserve parachute if you freefall past a certain altitude and have not deployed a parachute.

When I finish the AFF course do I start skydiving on my own?

You can start skydiving on your own and will.

You will, however, want to obtain your A license which is the first level of a licensed skydiver ( licenses range from the A license to the D license) recognized by the United States Parachute Association. The requirements to obtain your A license include performing coached jumps with qualified coaches; learning to pack your own parachute; completion of a specified number of jumps including your AFF training skydives and a demonstration of your abilities in freefall, in the aircraft and under canopy. Once you have demonstrated the required proficiencies you will be qualified to receive your A license.

As you spend more time skydiving your skills will continue to advance entitling you to the higher license ratings.

One of the most interesting aspects of skydiving is that you will never stop learning. Seasoned skydivers with thousands of skydives are still striving to improve their skills and to learn new and different skydiving disciplines. Skydiving offers virtually unlimited challenges. You’ll never get bored and you’ll never cease to discover new excitement with each new skill you master.