First-Jump Methods
The Accelerated Freefall course will teach you how to skydive. It has become a very popular choice for first time jumpers.
It begins with about 4 to 6 hours of training, teaching you everything you need to know to make your first skydive. You'll learn everything from how to exit the plane to how the equipment works. You'll learn the freefall body position, canopy (parachute) control, and how to land. By the end, you'll be prepared to jump on your own.
You'll wear your own parachute and jump from 14,000 feet with two instructors by your sides. The instructors will keep you stable in freefall and be there for you if you need any help. You'll complete a few simple freefall drills and just enjoy the freefall, which will last about 60 seconds.
At 5,000 feet, you'll deploy your parachute. As it deploys the instructors will continue to freefall away from you. But you won't be completely on your own to land. You'll have help from a ground coach through a one-way radio. The coach will talk you all the way down and guide you in for a soft, accurate landing. The parachutes are very easy to fly and are fully controllable. They fly like gliders. The parachute ride lasts 5 to 7 minutes.
AFF is the course for those who want it all on the first jump!
If you decide to continue skydiving after your first jump, AFF consists of seven "levels." Each level consists of some more training and another jump. After you successfully pass all seven levels, you can skydive completely on your own, without an instructor.
Tandem jumping has made skydiving available without a long training course. Training consists of a video which will teach you the proper body position for freefall and how you'll land. Your instructor will teach you any other details you need to know before your jump.
You'll wear a harness that will connect you to the instructor's chest. The instructor will do all the work so you can just enjoy the ride. You'll jump from about 14,000 feet and freefall at about 120 mph for around 60 seconds. At 5,000 feet, the instructor will deploy the parachute. The instructor will give you a fun ride down, and bring the parachute in for a soft landing. The parachute ride lasts around 5 to 7 minutes.
The choice between AFF and Tandem is completely up to you. Either way you go, you'll jump from about 2 and a half miles up, fall at 120 mph for a minute, and glide back to Earth for 5 to 7 minutes under the parachute.