Why do skydivers say blue skies?

Blue-Skies: Of course there is the literal meaning of “blue-skies”, which is that there is a cloudless day, but in skydiving, the phrase is imbued with more meaning. Used as both a greeting and phrase of farewell, it's a way to say that you hope all is well and a bit of a benediction or blessing that it stays that way.

Do you scream when you skydive?

Absolutely. Don't feel embarrassed if you accidentally let out a shriek while you're plummeting toward the ground. A common misconception about skydiving is that you cannot breath during free fall, so we actually encourage screaming to make breathing seem easier for you.

What is the scariest part of skydiving?

The door opens, your skin tingles from the brisk feel of the air at 13,000ft, and if it wasn't before, it's real now! This part of the skydive lasts roughly three seconds. The hardest part is stepping up. This is the final push.

What is a skydivers burble?

A burble is a zone of turbulence that forms next to the jumper in freefall, usually over your back when you're facing toward the earth. You don't have to worry about the burble unless you're nearby another parachuting group.

Why do tandem skydivers not wear helmets?

You may have noticed that tandem skydiving students don't wear helmets. One very important reason for this is because – being positioned in front – the student might inadvertently (literally) impact their instructor in back.

Blue Skies - Behind the Life of a Skydiver

Can I wear a hat skydiving?

Tandem student skydivers are not required to wear helmets, so a solution for long hair is important. Hats and headscarves are generally a no-go as the wind will quickly whip away anything not securely strapped down - although, goggles will definitely help in that department.

Can you bring your own goggles skydiving?

We have goggles which fit easily over your glasses, so you can wear both during your skydive and see every detail of this amazing experience! If you wear contact lenses, you can still wear those under the goggles too, but it's likely we'll tape over the little holes, which stops the air blowing the lenses out.

What does DZ stand for in skydiving?

Skydiving containers hold a main parachute and a reserve parachute. DZ – A universal acronym for drop zone which means the place you jump which is also known as a skydive center.

What does AGL mean in skydiving?

AGL. Stands for above ground level. Skydivers always use AGL when referring to altitude.

What does AAD stand for skydiving?

The acronym AAD stands for automatic activation device. In essence, the parachute automatic activation device is a precise microprocessor computer located within the skydiving container.

What happens if you don't pull your parachute?

If the skydiver is for any reason unable to deploy their own reserve parachute – for example, if they have been knocked unconscious – an automatic activation device (AAD – most commonly a Cypres) will automatically deploy the reserve parachute for them.

What should you not do when skydiving?

How do you breathe when freefalling?

How many G's is skydiving?

How many G's? In freefall, only gravity is pulling on you, so you feel 1G. Upon opening, the parachute comes out in stages so as to not be uncomfortable or decelerate you too quickly. A typical opening is a couple vertical G's.

Who should not skydive?

Skydiving isn't labeled an extreme sport for nothing. If concerns around your high blood pressure, a heart condition, back/knee/hip pain … or your weight, vision or hearing loss, illness or disability … would keep you from another extreme sport, then skydiving may not be a healthy choice for you.

Do you need to breathe while skydiving?

It's often believed that you can't breathe during a skydive, but this isn't true. You can breathe while skydiving. The key is to relax, breathe through your nose, and out through your mouth. It's that simple!

What is skydiving without a parachute called?

There have however been multiple recorded instances of skydivers jumping without being attached to a parachute. However these jumps lack the element that make them a banzai skydive, where a parachute is thrown out of the plane then caught by the jumper after some delay.

What is a jumpmaster in skydiving?

A military 'jumpmaster' is the individual in charge of a unit of skydivers coordinating a unit or cargo drop.

What is it called when your parachute opens?

The flare is a basic maneuver used when landing the parachute. Flaring involves the skydiver pulling down both toggles (definition of toggles below) to essentially stall the canopy allowing for a soft landing - flaring too high can lead to a hard landing.

How do you steer a parachute?

Steering a parachute is a very simple process. Each one comes with two steering toggles. To turn left, you pull on the left toggle. To turn right, pull on the right.

What's the maximum weight to skydive?

Most skydiving centers will say their weight limit for a tandem passenger is approximately 200-220 pounds for women and 230-250 pounds for men. There is typically no minimum weight, only a minimum age (18 years old in the US). But there's more to it than the number on the scale.

Can I eat before skydiving?

Can You and Should you Eat Before Skydiving? Absolutely yes, you should definitely eat before skydiving. The number one cause for feeling nauseated or vomiting is when first-time skydivers eat nothing at all or eat entirely too much.

Do all skydivers wear helmets?

Helmets are required for student skydivers and worn almost universally by experienced skydivers. The helmets worn by student skydivers are generally of open-faced style used at skate parks (often referred to by the "Protec" brand name). At many dropzones, there's a pocket on one or both ears.

Is it cold to skydive?

At 14,000 ft the temperature is about 30 degrees cooler than on the ground. Skydiving clothes also need to be easy to move around in and not bulky. Don't forget to wear clothes you won't mind getting grass stains on!

Can you skydive in a hoodie?

Clothing: Loose fitting, comfortable clothes are ideal for your first tandem skydive. If it's cold, wear something warm – a hoodie, sweater, long pants… you get the picture. Dress for the weather on the ground. At Skydive Santa Barbara, you can choose to wear a jumpsuit to keep you even warmer.