r/SkyDiving • • Dec 17 '20

Booked your first jump? Have questions? Read this before posting.

178 Upvotes

Welcome to /r/skydiving and welcome to our sport. We hope you'll have a great time on your first jump.

We understand you have a million questions about what's going to happen. Please take a deep breath and a few minutes to read through our FAQ. It is comprehensive and should cover your questions. If that is not the case feel free to make a new post but please include the tag [FAQ read], otherwise you may get directed to reading the FAQ again.

This step is taken to avoid flooding the sub with daily (sometimes several per day) posts titled "I'm jumping tomorrow, any advice?". Thank you and have fun.


r/SkyDiving • • 10h ago

Struggling with AFF Level 4 — looking for a good tunnel coach

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29 Upvotes

I’m taking a break from jumping for now because I keep getting into uncontrollable spins when trying to turn, both in the tunnel and during AFF. I feel like I need to go back to basics and work on my body control before continuing.
I live in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, so there’s no tunnel or drop zone nearby and I’d have to travel abroad to train.
Has anyone been in a similar situation? Would one-on-one tunnel coaching help? And can you recommend a good coach who’s experienced with AFF students struggling with stability and turns?
I’d also love to hear if it’s realistic to keep progressing when you can only train every few months.


r/SkyDiving • • 7h ago

How hard is it to learn head-down in the tunnel?

7 Upvotes

I have 190 jumps and just do angle and back. I might go to a tunnel for the first time and was wondering how hard is it, and roughly how many hours it’d take.

I've heard a couple of times that you should learn to sitfly well first, but is it possible to skip it even though it isn't recommended?


r/SkyDiving • • 7h ago

Jyro Helium - anyone?

3 Upvotes

B-licensed. 70ish jumps. I'm about to buy my first canopy deciding between:

  • new JYRO Helium 189 (WL ~1.07)
  • new Icarus S-Fire 189
  • used Aerodyne Pilot 188 ZP (WL ~1.08). 150 jumps

My priorities: safe canopy, soft, standable landings first, then easy packing, then openings. No swooping plans. I'll keep it 2–4 years at least. No downsizing ambitions yet :) Jumped only student rental rig before (Navigators, Solo etc etc whatever was available for the load)

The only Helium report I've found is from someone loaded at ~1.4, no local references, nobody knows this canopy (thus not resellable?). If you fly a Helium at a light wing loading, I'd love to hear:

  1. Is there enough flare to stand up landings on no-wind days?
  2. What are the openings like (snivel length, consistency)?
  3. How does it pack compared to whatever you jumped before?

Pilot owners are welcome too, especially if shortening the brake lines fixed the flare for you.

Cheers and blue skies!


r/SkyDiving • • 9h ago

Thoughts on the Deep and Steep Insight GPS altimeter?

4 Upvotes

Looking at getting the insight, what are everyones thoughts on this Altimeter?


r/SkyDiving • • 3h ago

Gauging Interest in a Atlas 2 software

0 Upvotes

I built my own program to interface with my Atlas 2 altimeter and wanted to gauge interest in sharing with the community.

I have full control over every aspect of the altimeter. It is a feature rich program, the 2 features I think the community would use the most is reading all log data including the altitude logged every 5ish seconds saved to a spreadsheet and write new DZs/Alarms/Aircraft.

At the moment it supports reading data from all their altimeters. Writing is limited to the Atlas 2 because that is the only device I own.


r/SkyDiving • • 8h ago

How do you talk under canopy?

1 Upvotes

A friend and would like to talk via mic under canopy while flocking and stuff. Sadly we dont have any cell reseption up there. Are there any specific mics for skydive helmets? ty <3


r/SkyDiving • • 19h ago

BOGO iFly experience coupon

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7 Upvotes

Hey y’all, I have this discount code from my Verizon rewards and don’t have a location here! I hope this helps someone.


r/SkyDiving • • 13h ago

BEER! First tandem jump in 24h. Shit scared

0 Upvotes

Hey everyone

I’m in spain rn- have my first jump tomorrow near Seville. As much as I’ve always wanted to do it- I’m so so scared rn.

I recently did few roller coasters and boy was i scared to do those too- only made me question how am i gonna pull it off w actually jumping off a plane.

i’m 25f, 173cm, around 98kgs- so will need to pay an additional amount to make this happen. I’m questioning whether this is the safe for someone around my weight.

I know this is a repetitive post for this sub atp, but i genuinely didn’t know who to talk to- especially given most didn’t want me doing this anyways. ughh

Thanks :’)


r/SkyDiving • • 1d ago

Paralog alternatives?

3 Upvotes

The software looks old and I don't like subscription models for things that I own.


r/SkyDiving • • 1d ago

Price check: OMICRON 170 with only 6 jumps but a manufacturer line-trim service history — what is it realistically worth?

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2 Upvotes

Hey guys, need some advice from the wingsuit palyers and professional Riggers here. I bought this OMICRON 170 brand new last year. After 4 jumps, I noticed it tended to turn right, so I sent it back to Squirrel.

They adjusted the line trim and after the manufacturer fixed it, it came back looking asymmetrical like in the picture.I did measure some left/right line differences myself, around 5–10 cm.They did 2 test jumps. So it only has 6 jumps total.Even though the test video SQ sent me shows it flies straight and doesn’t need any extra input, I’m still gonna sell it.

I’ve had it listed in my country for a few months and literally nobody has even asked about the price. So… can this thing realistically still be sold? If yes, what do you guys think is a fair price?


r/SkyDiving • • 2d ago

AFF & A-License Complete!

35 Upvotes

Well, after years of dreaming about this, I was able to complete my AFF & A-license.

I can safely say that this was the best week of my life!

My course was completed at Moruya in NSW Australia. I stayed there for one week and was even able to complete the first 4 B-rels, which is more than I expected to walk away with.

I'll stick the video here for anyone willing to watch and provide constructive criticism!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao8EcEZhhxU

Being 6ft tall, a tad over 70kg (154 lbs for our friends across the pond) and very inflexible has deemed that arching hard and falling fast are my major shortcomings. I intend to implement a daily stretching routine to help improve this.

I've already purchased a helmet/alti and I can't wait to get back in the sky!


r/SkyDiving • • 1d ago

Pilot Chute Folding Is Harder With A FreeFly Pud?

1 Upvotes

I recently had a rigger replace the hackey on my pilot chute to a freefly pud while I was getting my kill line replaced.

While practicing folding of my pilot chute after the switch I noticed it’s much harder fold because the freefly pud sits underneath the fabric as I fold.

Whereas with the hackey you can kind of have the hackey out of the way of the fabric as you fold.

Wondering if anyone has encountered this and what you did to work around this.


r/SkyDiving • • 2d ago

14 Jumps logged, did SkyDiving ever become boring before it becomes exciting again?

14 Upvotes

I have completed AFF and some solo jumps and I was full of adrenaline and excitement through AFF and the first solo jump but I'm finding myself surprisingly a little bored and underwhelmed now?

However, with other hobbies like surfing I have often found that it becomes more enjoyable when you are more skilled because you're able to do more with it, I was wondering if skydiving might be the similar in that regard.


r/SkyDiving • • 3d ago

Skydiving in Europe as an American

5 Upvotes

Hey everyone,

I’m looking for some guidance on the insurance and other medical required to fun jump in Europe.

I’ll be in the Netherlands this weekend and am hoping to get a couple days of jumping in. Then over Halloween weekend I’ll be near Rome and would love to jump there as well.

Can anyone recommend where to purchase the insurance that’s typically required for jumping in Europe?

Also, do I need to make any adjustments to my ARES II for those locations and elevations?

I have my own gear and an up-to-date reserve repack card.

Any advice, recommendations, or things I should know before heading over would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!


r/SkyDiving • • 3d ago

SKY-DVE

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32 Upvotes

Found another sky diver plate. Sorry for the repost, forgot to attach the photo.


r/SkyDiving • • 4d ago

No wind…no drag for my 100th skydive.

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142 Upvotes

Wawawewa. Undie hundie…very nice!

Time flies. Crazy to think that this journey started 284 days ago.


r/SkyDiving • • 3d ago

Is there a bit difference from a Crossfire 2 to a Crossfire 3? TY <3

6 Upvotes

Hi at the moment i fly a crossfire 2 99sqft and i wanted to ask you if its worth or a big difference to swap to a crossfire 3 99sqft. Wingload is 1.7


r/SkyDiving • • 4d ago

🏆🪂 CF World Records incoming? 🇶🇦 Qatar vs 🇺🇸 USA battling for gold at the World Championships!

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25 Upvotes

Canopy Formation (CF) 2-Way Sequential is heating up at the World Championships, with Qatar and the USA France battling for gold and potentially pushing world-record territory. In a fast Round 5 (B-B-C-A-A, a 5-0 round!). Team Australia and UK are also battling in the mid table!

For those unfamiliar with CF, two skydivers fly their parachutes together, making physical contact to build a prescribed sequence of formations. Each correctly completed formation scores a point, similar to belly Formation Skydiving.

It's incredibly technical canopy flying, with top teams using 5 cell canopies!

Keep an eye on this one, we could be watching history unfold! Current WR is 56points in 60sec, set in 2017 by team France

Edit: France is battling Qatar, USA in bronze after round 4.


r/SkyDiving • • 4d ago

VSE Infinity Party Bag D-Bag

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4 Upvotes

Any knowledge or experience out there around the Velocity Part Bag triangular flap attached to the bridle on slick and wingsuit openings?

I'm running a Squirrel PC on one of their dbags and while I would like to move the PC over to my new Infinity's dbag, apparently that would take some rigger work. The existing PC is a classic 28" with freefly pud and tab, but I'm bought in on the stability of toroidal PCs.

Before I commit to such work and while I play with a couple canopies paired with the different dbags/PCs (Omicron 150 @ ~1.25 WL and FW NX2 @ ~1.4 WL), figured I'd see what the Internet's finest has to offer.

From the manufacturer website:

"The semi-stowless deployment bag provides smoother and more consistently stable, on-heading openings.

The triangular stabilizer flap on the bag (attached to the bridle) creates a higher suspension point for the elastic stows to release. It reduces the amount of tilt that is caused from the elastic stows grabbing the lines."


r/SkyDiving • • 3d ago

I totally just got scammed didn't I?

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2 Upvotes

It's starting to pop up as if this website is just being duplicated with a different name


r/SkyDiving • • 4d ago

Thinking of dropping AFF two more jumps

12 Upvotes

I failed my E1 and a few others. I’m on jump 10. My instructor showed me my video and I look miserable and she showed me a brand new student that was smiling and happy. I think my instructor right. It’s not enjoyable it feels like a mission like I’m suiting up for war, my favorite part is landing. I don’t enjoy waiting hrs at the dz and I’m introverted person I’ll say hi but never really converse with others. It feels lonely. My biggest challenge is paying for repeat jumps. I don’t see myself jumping pass an A license. So I’m kind like what’s the point of even trying to get one it feels like wasting more money $250 usd for a jump adds up quickly and if I fail again I’ll be even more disappointed. I don’t even have the money it’ll be on credit, and I’m in debt for more than I would like to say. It just adds to the stress and you have to keep jumping to maintain. A small part of me wants to go for it I got a few weeks before I pass my 30 days.


r/SkyDiving • • 4d ago

Thinking about starting aff next season

9 Upvotes

I did my first tandem jump about 4 weeks ago and cant stop thinking about doing my a license ever since

I actually have a fear of heights but said fuck it and enjoyed it so much

The only thing that makes me think twice about it is the fact that I was kinda stiff and frozen while doing it but I guess that is normal for the first time

There are multiple Dropzones nearby where I live so it wouldnt even be far away

What do you guys think should I go for it and did any of you had an similar experience?


r/SkyDiving • • 4d ago

Needed—suspended EP harnesses for practice.

1 Upvotes

Hey guys,
I am looking for suspended EP harnesses for my skydiving training.
Where can I buy it or get it in India or any training center?
Please advise.


r/SkyDiving • • 4d ago

QUIBERON 🇫🇷 | Le Ballet des Parachutistes à l'Aérodrome / Skydiving Show...

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1 Upvotes

Quiberon Peninsula / Brittany (France) : Take a deep breath of high-altitude adrenaline and look up to the sky to witness the spectacular ballet of skydivers operating from the Quiberon Airfield (LFEQ).