We’re happy to report that skydiving after LASIK is possible, but there are a few things to be mindful of. Let’s explore skydiving, LASIK, and taking your new eyes on the ultimate adventure!

What is LASIK?

LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. Phew – that’s a mouthful! According to FDA.gov:

LASIK is a “procedure that permanently changes the shape of the cornea, the clear covering of the front of the eye, using an excimer laser. A mechanical microkeratome (a blade device) or a laser keratome (a laser device) is used to cut a flap in the cornea. A hinge is left at one end of this flap. The flap is folded back revealing the stroma, the middle section of the cornea. Pulses from a computer-controlled laser vaporize a portion of the stroma and the flap is replaced.”

Basically, LASIK is an outpatient procedure where a blade or laser is used to cut into the eye so that vision issues can be corrected. 

Thankfully, it doesn’t take too long to recover from the surgery. In fact, in as little as three days, you may be cleared to return to light exercise, or light recreational activities such as bicycling, boating or golfing. In one week, some may return to swimming. 

However, for the eye to have enough time to heal, doctors usually recommend about one month before taking on more rigorous activities such as water skiing, scuba diving, basketball, hockey, motorcycling, snowboarding, dirt biking, and yes – skydiving.

Skydiving and LASIK

Skydiving is an extreme activity. And that means extra precautions have to be taken when planning to jump after a procedure like LASIK. 

All skydivers, new and experienced, protect their eyes on every jump because the 120 mph wind makes it nearly impossible to see without some sort of barrier. You will wear a pair of goggles when you make a tandem skydive to protect your eyes during freefall. However, the goggles are made with ventilation holes so that the goggles don’t fog up during the skydive, and ventilation airflow could compromise the LASIK procedure.

There’s also the very small chance that your goggles could come dislodged during the jump, fully exposing your eyes to the wind. While this is uncommon, sometimes the wind wins against our best efforts. It’s good to have a plan in place should you find your eye protection has abandoned you!

Beyond wind, every skydive contains drastic pressure changes on the way up and down. Miles of altitude are no joke! LASIK can already cause temporary swelling/pressure changes in the eye, so it’s important to give yourself enough time to heal before subjecting your eyes to even more pressure fluctuations. 

Make sure to let your instructor know before you jump if you’ve recently had a LASIK procedure, and give us a call ahead of time if you have any questions! 

Pro Tip: Experienced jumpers have the luxury of wearing a full face helmet, which completely prevents air flow around the eyes during freefall. If given the choice between a full face or open faced helmet, it’s highly recommended for experienced jumpers who have had LASIK to opt for the full face protection.

Recommendations

First and foremost, talk to your eye surgeon before booking your skydive. They are highly specialized in post-LASIK eye care and should be regarded as the ultimate authority on how to approach resuming extreme activities. Here are a couple small recommendations we can make if you’re thinking about coming along on a jump:

• One month after LASIK: We recommend getting permission from your doctor to skydive from one to six months after the LASIK procedure. They may have a personalized recovery timeline for you that you can plan around. 

• Six months after LASIK: After six months, the eye has had more time to heal and you are likely able to do a tandem skydive, though it’s still a good idea to check with your doctor if you’ve had complications or are unsure. 

Remember, these are general recommendations and should not be taken to supersede advice from your doctor. Skydiving after LASIK is ultimately your decision, and understanding the risk factors is imperative to enjoying your jump. 

Skydiving with Glasses or Contacts

While LASIK is a marvel of modern medicine, it’s not your only option for clear-vision skydiving! If you currently wear glasses or contacts, you are absolutely welcome to skydive! We can accommodate glasses and contacts with specialized goggles and a little bit of pre-planning. 

If you’re ready to see what skydiving is all about (pun intended), book your skydive and use that brand new vision to view the world from above! Blue skies!

The post Skydiving After LASIK: What You Need to Know appeared first on Long Island Skydiving Center.

In fact, there are so many different types of parachute that you probably don’t know ’em all! Here’s a rundown of several of the normal and not-so-normal types of parachutes that help skydivers (and far-flung cargo) make their way softly back down to terra firma.

The History of Parachutes

The jump is the easy part when it comes to falling from extreme heights – it’s the landing that’s hard (get it?). And that’s where the parachute comes in. Cue the entrance of Louis-Sébastien Lenormand. Though he’s not the inventor of the parachute, he is the first person to make a recorded (and successful) public jump. The year was 1783, and the jump was from the tower of the Montpellier Observatory in France. Lenormand is actually the one who coined the term “parachute” in 1785 by combining an Italian prefix para (meaning to avert, defend, resist, guard, shield or shroud) and chute, the French word for fall. 

André-Jacques Garnerin also made skydiving history in France in the 1700s – there must have been something in the air! Garnerin was a hot air balloon expert and the inventor of the frameless parachute. In 1797, he ascended in a gondola attached to a parachute and a balloon. At altitude, Garnerin released the balloon and soared over Paris under his grand parachute.

These parachutes, while effective, are extremely crude versions of what this life-saving piece of equipment would become. With extensive research, development, and the dedication of a lot of extremely brave people, the parachute underwent redesign after redesign until it finally became the technological wonder that it is today. 

Round Parachutes

Round parachutes were the first tools for fabric descent. Even the earliest parachutes resemble their round grandchildren despite existing hundreds of years apart. If your mental image of a parachute involves a big, inverted dome of fabric suspended over a dangling jumper, then it’s a round parachute you’re thinking of! They almost look like jellyfish floating through the sky.

Round parachutes served a purpose for a very long time (and still do, in some very specific circumstances), but there were a few issues with this design that caused them to eventually fade from regular use. First off: they’re (gulp!) unsteerable. Secondly, they’re (double gulp!) not super-likely to land lightly.

Round parachutes were adapted for sport skydiving from surplus military gear before civilian skydiving had its own gear industry. Early skydivers would modify their military rounds to be more dynamic in flight, and it was this ingenuity and dedication to progress that eventually led us to the ram air parachutes we depend on today! 

Ram Air Parachutes

The venerable ram air parachute is the rightful king of all designs. As a matter of fact, just about everyone in the sky today uses ram air canopies to get down. You’ll recognize them instantly: a square or rectangular fabric wing, wherein a top and bottom sheet of nylon are attached by a set of fabric ribs between them. They have an uncanny resemblance to an airplane wing, and for very good reason – that’s exactly how they work!

The ribs divide the parachute into a set of individual cells that inflate when the parachute is deployed, and this makes the parachute into a rigid wing. When that inflation happens, the wing becomes a steerable airfoil and … bingo! A stable flying machine that slows you down, steers like a dream and “flares” to land you as softly as a pretty little fairy princess.

The shape of ram air parachutes actually creates lift the same way an airplane wing does to achieve a sort of gliding momentum through the air that is both fun to steer and easy to land. 

Specialty Parachutes

As skydiving has evolved, so has our equipment. As a result, there are subclasses of parachutes that are used for different jobs, disciplines, and airsports. 

Tandem Parachutes 

Tandem skydives require highly specific equipment that can handle the weight of two people – an instructor and their student. Research and development through the 1980s led to an adaptation to the ram air parachute in order to accommodate the specific needs of tandem skydiving. The ram air tandem parachute is larger and more docile than your everyday sport parachute so that a tandem pair can have a comfortable, enjoyable ride and easy landing.

Reserve Parachutes

Like main parachutes, reserves started out as rounds and eventually became ram air parachutes – but, unlike main sport parachutes, they are constructed to be extremely docile in flight and open much faster than their leading character cousins. This is because they are for use in emergency situations, so they need to be extremely reliable and easy to fly.

Cruciform Parachutes

These are almost exclusively used by the military as an advanced version of the age-old round parachute. They’re not round, per se, but they’re certainly not the square modern parachutes we use for most purposes today. The difference is this: their squared-off profile decreases oscillation and ends up resulting in fewer landing injuries for the jumpers and cargo that dangle helplessly below.

Rogallo Wings

You’ll pretty much never see a rogallo parachute in the sport skydiving world – but you just might see one in paragliding where they’re commonly used as rescue parachutes. The wing design is highly recognizable: springy and flexible. The Rogallo wing is most often seen in toy kites, but has been used to construct descent parachutes for spacecraft, as well as provide an airfoil for ultralight powered aircraft like trikes.

Want to find out what it feels like to steer a ram air parachute? We’d love to show you! Come on over and join one of our awesome tandem instructors for a comprehensive introduction to one of our skydiving parachutes. You’re gonna love it – book your jump today!

The post What Parachute Types Are There? appeared first on Long Island Skydiving Center.

At Long Island Skydiving Center, we prioritize safety above all else and are proud to share our safety standards and protocols with any of the thousands of tandem skydivers we serve each year. Here’s how we answer the question, How safe is tandem skydiving? 

The Numbers Don’t Lie

The most logical way to understand how much risk is involved with jumping out of airplanes is to look at the cold, hard data. The United States Parachute Association (USPA) has been tracking and compiling statistics around almost every aspect of skydiving for decades, including safety.

The most recent data set available from the USPA is from 2023, which recorded 10 fatal skydiving accidents out of 3.65 million skydives. That’s 0.27 fatalities per 100,000 skydives. And we’re happy to report that, in general, skydiving statistics are trending in the right direction. Let’s look at a data snapshot from 15 years of USPA reports.

Skydiving Safety Statistics

What’s more, there were zero tandem fatalities in 2023, and only 0.002 student fatalities for every 1,000 tandem skydives made during the last decade. Is tandem skydiving safe, then? We would never say skydiving – tandem or otherwise – is safe, but we can say that there are advantages to having a seasoned professional at your back. (More on this below.)

The majority of skydiving fatalities occur when experienced solo skydivers become complacent, push beyond their limits, or try new things. 

Tandem Skydiving Technology

One of the main reasons for the encouraging trend in skydiving statistics is the evolution of our gear. The technology of skydiving equipment has developed significantly over the years, all with a focus on improved safety. And tandem skydiving equipment in particular is custom made to serve the needs of an instructor and student skydiving as a pair.

For starters, all skydiving equipment includes two parachutes – a main for general use and a reserve for emergencies. The main parachute is designed to open and fly in any condition a skydiver could find themselves in, and the reserve is even more reliable. Our gear is also equipped with an automatic activation device (AAD) – a small device that measures descent rate and altitude that is able to deploy the parachute at a preset altitude if the instructor doesn’t manually deploy it.

Fun fact: Reserve parachutes must be inspected and repacked every 180 days by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified rigger, whether they were used or not.

Tandem gear technology takes this mindset even one step further. Tandem setups include a third, smaller parachute called a drogue that helps slow the pair of jumpers in freefall to avoid painfully hard main parachute deployments. 

Skydiving gear quite literally saves our life on every jump, and every part of it is developed with that in mind! 

Tandem Instructor Qualifications

Gear isn’t the only necessity for a successful skydive. Our professional instructors make it possible for people who have never even been in an airplane to taste the freedom of the sky. We know that you’re putting all of your trust into your instructor when you decide to make a tandem skydive, and we take that responsibility very seriously. 

Ever wondered what qualifications are required of your instructor?

• Logging at least 500 jumps
• Earning a USPA D license
• Accruing a minimum of 3 years experience in the sport
• Possessing a current FAA Class III Flight Medical Certificate
• Completing the USPA tandem instructor rating certification program

All USPA instructors have been put through their paces in a series of on-the-ground and in-air evaluations and exams. They’re passionate about what they do and have committed to putting their customers first. 

Pro tip: To receive the benefit of these qualifications and safety measures set by the USPA, make sure you jump at a USPA member dropzone like Long Island Skydiving Center.

You Have a Part to Play

If you’re someone who feels better in control, don’t fret – the tandem student is an active participant in the success of the skydive. Sure, your instructor is in charge of all the major responsibilities, but you’ll learn a handful of techniques that will help you contribute to the jump. 

Your instructor will give you a brief training before your jump so that you can be prepared with the correct body position, how to land, and any other information that might be useful. 

The student’s ability to follow the instructor’s directions and fully engage is crucial, so you must sign a series of waivers determining your fitness to skydive. This makes sure that everyone is on the same page for a successful skydive! 

SKYDIVING NYC

If you’d like to give jumping a go, we’d love to take you on the adventure of a lifetime. Learn more about tandem skydiving at Long Island Skydiving Center, get in touch or go ahead and book your jump! Blue skies!

The post How Dangerous is Tandem Skydiving? appeared first on Long Island Skydiving Center.

We get it. You’ve got the jitters. A big factor in getting yourself to the dropzone and into that airplane is to be well informed. Here are our top 7 tips for skydiving for the first time, anxiety, and making your day at the dropzone as relaxed as it can possibly be.

1. Practice Self Care

Everyone has personal techniques and habits for dealing with nerves and stress – trust that you know how to take care of yourself best, and employ those tactics the day of your jump. But there are certain tried and true methods that you can include in your prep for the big day.

It’s extremely important to show up to the dropzone hydrated and well rested. Make sure you’ve eaten something, and pack snacks and water. Wear comfy, athletic clothing appropriate for the weather that you can easily move around in.

You can also decide before the big day if you want to purchase photos and/or a video package to relive and share your adventure so you don’t have to make that decision at the dropzone. (But don’t worry, you can also add a media package when you get to the dropzone.) And, if it helps, rally a team of friends and family to support you or, even better, have them jump with you!

Take some time to visualize your jump going well and how much you’re going to love the experience – you’ll be surprised at the power of your brain in high stress moments like this!

2. Visit the Dropzone

If you have never been to a dropzone or seen real-life skydivers in action, make the time to visit before your jump. Take in the layout and the general area, see all of the people enjoying themselves, and get an idea of the flow of a regular jump day.

If possible, spend some time at the dropzone a few weekends ahead of your jump. Being a spectator is a great way to understand that EVERYONE is nervous on their first jump. Watching the tandem skydivers getting ready as they load into the plane will help you understand some of what you will be experiencing. Even better is seeing those tandems come in for landing and feeling the shared sense of celebration and excitement on the field. That will be YOU, celebrating in just a few days or weeks!

Sometimes, just finding the location is the biggest hurdle when it comes to trying new things. Long Island Skydiving Center happens to be super easy to access – here are directions.

3. Review the Risks of Skydiving

Probably the biggest source of skydiving related anxiety for most people is the risk associated with jumping out of an airplane. That’s just natural human self preservation at work, and will actually help you make good decisions about your skydive, so use it to your advantage.

Take the time to research skydiving statistics and compare them to other things you do in your  normal life, like driving. You’ll quickly realize that the statistics are on your side for a successful and awesome experience.

Something to keep in mind is that there will be a lot of forms to fill out when you first arrive at the dropzone. Some of them might make you want to reconsider your jump. Yes, there are risks. And you will be asked to sign your name to acknowledge that you accept the risks of jumping out of an airplane. Comfort yourself with the research you’ve done and the reality that skydiving goes on all day, every day, all over the world. 

If you have questions or concerns, just ask. And if you decide skydiving is not for you after all, that’s OK too. No pressure. This is your journey.

4. Watch Tandem Skydiving Videos

In addition to visiting the dropzone and researching statistics, you can familiarize yourself further by watching videos of other people’s experiences. Make an effort to fill some of your spare time with fun videos of skydivers doing their first tandem jump and you’ll notice that your mindset will begin to change.
Leading up to your first jump, you can only imagine yourself in those scenarios. Videos help you visualize what the experience will be like – and help you calm the jitters by being in the know. There are lots of YouTube videos out there for your viewing pleasure (a bunch of them on our YouTube Channel), so dig in!

It also helps to read reviews from people who have jumped before so you can get an inside scoop on how much they loved the experience. 

5. Ask Questions

Dropzones are in the business of creating unforgettable experiences. We know you likely have zero bandwidth for understanding the regulations around skydiving, the gear, suits, and planes. You’ve got a lot on your plate already! 

But we still want to make sure you understand the process and feel as comfortable as you can about your skydive. Your first tandem skydive is designed to be a welcoming and exhilarating learning experience for you. 

Don’t be afraid to ask questions if something is not clear or you are just curious to know more. This is our job, and we love what we do! We want nothing more than to share our passion with you, and asking questions is the best way to connect over a shared love of the sky. 

6. Trust That Your Skydiving Instructor Cares

Tandem instructors have jumped more than 500 times (and often thousands of times), and they have a real passion for sharing this extraordinary experience. Remember that your instructor is there for you. Their entire focus is on your individual and positive experience. It’s your instructor’s job to make sure you feel completely prepared and secure before, during, and after exiting the plane and landing back on the ground.

So take a deep breath and feel the nervous tension melt away. Know some awesome human has your back (literally!). Take a second to acknowledge the intensity of this new experience and then just live the moment.

If you are ready to book your skydive or have any questions about your upcoming skydive feel free to contact us today! Blue skies!

The post Nervous About Skydiving? Here Are Our Top 6 Tips! appeared first on Long Island Skydiving Center.

A tandem skydive is when a novice student and a professional instructor are securely harnessed together and use a parachute specially designed to hold two people. The student goes on the front, and the instructor on the back – piggy-back style – and the harness is clipped together at each shoulder and each hip. 

Considering you’re jumping from a perfectly good airplane a couple of miles up, tandem skydiving is pretty comfortable physically. Look at the miles of smiles across our guests’ faces and you can see that tandem skydiving isn’t painful. In this article, we’re jumping into what makes tandem skydiving mentally, emotionally, and even financially comfortable. Let’s go! 

What Does “Tandem Skydive” Mean?

The word “tandem” literally means having two things arranged one in front of the other, and that’s exactly how it applies to skydiving. The student is attached to the front of the instructor, and the instructor has complete control over every aspect of the skydive. 

So, as a first-time jumper, you can skydive after a brief, same-day training session because your highly-experienced instructor manages all of the technical aspects of a successful jump while you, essentially, enjoy the ride. It’s the perfect way for beginners and thrill-seekers to experience the joy and excitement of skydiving without a lot of responsibility.

Tandem skydiving offers an accessible and sophisticated window into the amazing sport of skydiving. For some, it’s a one-and-done bucket list activity, and others go on to become licensed skydivers! 

Factors Contributing to Mental & Emotional Comfort

There’s no denying that skydiving is an intense experience meant to push you outside of your comfort zone. But there are ways to preserve certain comforts that will help you manage the anxiety associated with abandoning others. If the thought of jumping out of an airplane makes you uncomfortable, soothe your soul with the knowledge of these cornerstones of the sport:

Skydiving Safety Measures

The sport of skydiving has been around for decades and, contrary to what the media would have you believe, it’s highly regulated by both the Federal Aviation Administration and the United States Parachute Association (USPA). The USPA is our industry’s governing body that sets out the standards and regulations that member dropzones must follow. It’s a highly active organization that monitors the sport closely and rolls out updates and requirements as the industry evolves.

The specialty equipment we use is also the subject of constant research and development. Skydivers are a creative bunch who like to push limits – to go faster, slower, higher, lower, further, longer. Gear manufacturers are dedicated to producing high quality, state-of-the-art technology for skydivers of all disciplines to use.

Instructors and pilots are also held to the highest standards of excellence, completing intense certifications and ongoing training to keep them up to date and qualified to serve.

These are all factors that are very much in our control, and the knowledge that we take safety seriously is a great drop in the comfort bucket for first-timers.

Professional Guidance

We certainly don’t throw you out of the airplane without preparation! Our highly experienced instructors are skilled at training new jumpers, and you’ll learn everything you need to know before you step foot in the airplane.

Your instructor will give you the full rundown on the gear you’ll use, the plane ride to altitude, the exit and freefall experience, the parachute ride, and how you’ll land together. Don’t hesitate to ask any questions you might have if they don’t cover everything you’re curious about! Your instructor’s goal is to give you the best experience possible, and that includes showing you the ropes and helping you feel comfortable and confident.

Expectations

Managing expectations and doing research ahead of time are imperative to maintaining physical and emotional comfort during the skydive. Reading reviews and watching videos online can help with understanding what the skydiving process looks like and prepare you for what’s ahead.

Weather and other factors may require you to be at the dropzone for a while on the day of your jump, so plan to bring snacks, water, and sunblock. And dress for success! Fitted, athletic clothing appropriate for the season will go a long way to ensuring you’ll be comfy cozy throughout your jump.

Fun fact: You won’t experience the stomach-drop-butterflies during your skydive. Most people describe the sensation of freefall as a windy floating. 

We want you to walk away from your jump feeling fulfilled and challenged in the best way. That means your needs have to be taken care of so that you can focus on enjoying the skydive the way it’s meant to be experienced – a carefully-orchestrated leap out of your comfort zone!

Tandem Skydiving Cost

Financial comfort is important too! We know the cost of tandem skydiving can make some people feel uncomfortable, so it’s important to understand why skydiving costs a pretty penny.

As we’ve detailed, there’s a lot that goes into tandem skydiving possible. Instructors, pilots, parachute packers, and dropzone staff need consistent training and certifications, as well as fair salaries. Airplanes and skydiving gear require routine maintenance and upkeep. And, well, we can’t fly the airplane without fuel! 

The cost of every skydive goes directly toward maintaining the high level of satisfaction we promise and contributes to the continued operations of the dropzone so that we can keep offering life-changing experiences! (If you find a bargain-basement price on skydiving, beware. Cut costs may indicate cut corners.)

The good news? There are ways to save some dough! Book with a group for discounted prices, or keep an eye out for seasonal sales. Don’t skip on adding a video package, though – you only make your first jump once!
Have questions that are keeping you from feeling comfortable? Check out our FAQs or get in touch! Feeling good about joining us in the sky? Come jump with us! We can’t wait for you to experience the freedom of human flight!

The post What Makes The Tandem Skydiving Experience Comfortable? appeared first on Long Island Skydiving Center.

Here’s a short list of things to consider if you’re someone who loves the idea of jumping out of an airplane mid-flight. Let’s GO! 

What You Need to Go Skydiving: Requirements

• Skydiving Age: The minimum age requirement for all United States Parachute Association (USPA) member dropzones is 18. Don’t forget to bring your valid, government-issued photo ID with you on jump day. Not yet 18 and want to scratch the itch? Feel free to come by Long Island Skydiving Center and catch a glimpse of all the excitement from the ground – we’re open late April to early October.
  
  
• Skydiving Weight: For the safety of all involved, our weight limit is 250 pounds – clothing and shoes included – and be height-to-weight proportionate. This has to do with the operation limits of airplanes and skydiving equipment. Both are developed through rigorous research, and manufacturers actually test and certify planes, harnesses, and parachutes for acceptable maximum weight limits. If you have any questions about this skydiving requirement, please connect with us.
  
  
• Health considerations: Skydiving isn’t exactly a ‘passive’ pastime. True, the majority of the work of the skydive is done by our first-rate instructors, but skydiving can put your body and brain through the ringer. Certain medical conditions like cardiovascular issues, pregnancy, diabetes, or joint issues can preclude you from skydiving. If you have any questions or concerns about your physical or medical ability to skydive, talk with a medical professional before booking a skydive.
  

What You Need to Go Skydiving: Additional Considerations

• Weather: A few puffy clouds provide a beautiful backdrop for your first-time tandem skydive (and any other time after, too!). However, we are required to follow strict weather requirements put in place by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Skydiving is naturally a weather dependent sport, and unsafe skydiving conditions can be caused by low clouds, rain, high winds, and fog. Trust us, we want to skydive as much as you do, but we refuse to put you and our instructors at unnecessary risk.
  
  
• Clarity of Mind: We want you to have the best skydiving experience possible, and that means being fully present both mentally and physically. While having a bit of a buzz strolling the town in NYC or Long Island may be okay, it is a flat-out NO-NO for skydiving. We require our tandem skydivers to be COMPLETELY sober. That means no skydiving if you are hungover, on any substance that could affect judgment or performance, and DEFINITELY no skydiving if you are intoxicated (it won’t be a pleasant experience for you anyway). Save the party for after you land!
  
  
• Waivers and training: Be prepared to read and sign liability waivers when you arrive at the dropzone. It’s important that you have a full understanding of what you’re getting yourself into, and that you can certify your consent. We also won’t send you into the sky without proper training! Before getting into the plane, your instructor will teach you everything you need to know to have a successful jump. 

Oh, and while it’s an odd one, if you’ve recently gone SCUBA diving or donated blood, you’ll need to wait a few days before experiencing the thrill of freefall.

Skydiving for the First Time: What to Expect

While these aren’t necessarily official skydiving requirements, there are a few things that are helpful to know when planning your first jump.

• What to wear: Dress comfortably for the weather on the ground and come in clothes you don’t mind potentially getting a bit of grass or dirt on. When temperatures dip a bit, put on a pair of jeans or leggings and keep your top half cozy with a base layer and a fleece. For your feet, wear tennis shoes or other snug-fitting athletic footwear – shoes should have closed toes, flat bottoms, and no hooks.
  
  
• Training: Your instructor will go over every phase of the skydive, from take off to landing, and teach you all you need to know to enjoy your jump. Go in with an open mind, don’t be afraid to ask questions, and get ready to arch!
  
  
• The feeling of freefall: People are often surprised that falling through the sky doesn’t actually feel like falling at all. Freefall feels much more like windy floating, and you actually don’t experience the stomach drop butterflies of roller coaster hills during a skydive!
  
  
• Prepare to spend some time with us: Skydiving is an involved activity. Between check in, training, the jump, and possible weather holds, you could be with us for several hours. Bring snacks, water, and any comfort items you might need while you’re here! Just remember: no alcohol on the dropzone.
  

What You Need to Go Skydiving: Checklist

Phew, that was a lot. There’s so much to consider before going skydiving and it can feel overwhelming, so here’s an at-a-glance-list to answer, “What do you need to go skydiving?”

• Comfortable, athletic, weather-appropriate clothing (layers!)
• Closed-toe shoes (no sandals!)
• Valid, government-issued photo ID
• Any necessary medical documents
• Water and snacks (for before and after the jump)
• Appetite for adventure! 

Are you ready to leave the everyday behind? Even if you are still working up the courage to make your first jump, it’s okay! It’s natural. Nearly everyone is a bit nervous when they make their first skydive, but the feeling of euphoria that’s waiting on the other side makes it totally worth it.

If you’ve checked off every item on our list and are ready to find out just how great this skydiving thing is for yourself, give us a shout or book online!

The post What Do You Need to Go Skydiving for the First Time? appeared first on Long Island Skydiving Center.

The answers to those questions are technically no, but there’s more to the reasoning than you might suspect. Bad weather, like rain, clouds, and high winds, can impact jump visibility, landing conditions, and overall safety.

Let’s learn how to interpret a skydiving forecast and gain a better understanding of exactly how weather impacts our ability (and desire) to jump!

New York Skydiving & Weather Conditions

Believe it or not, there are actually official rules and regulations around skydiving in certain weather conditions. And those requirements aren’t made up willy-nilly at the dropzone – skydiving weather restrictions are put in place by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the United States Parachute Association (USPA).

The FAA requires that skydivers observe Visual Flight Rules conditions (14 CFR Part 105 for those detail-oriented folks). In summary: if the skies are covered with low clouds or the winds are too strong, we cannot skydive. And if it’s raining, we don’t want to either. Here are some of the main weather conditions we encounter and how they impact our jumps:

• Sunny and Clear Days: These are ideal conditions for skydiving and the days skydivers live for. Good visibility, stable winds, and comfortable temperatures make for beautiful views, mild conditions, and an opportunity to focus on little else but enjoying the jump.

• Cloudy or Overcast Conditions: The reason we aren’t allowed to skydive through or too near clouds has to do with visibility. While those white puffies are beautiful from the ground, they completely obscure visibility in the sky. And skydiving without being able to see the ground, other skydivers, or potential hazards is an absolute no-go.

• Wind Conditions: A certain amount of wind can actually be helpful during a skydive and aid in softer landings. But strong winds pose a higher risk by making parachute flight unpredictable and landings much more difficult. There are actually different wind limits for students, licensed skydivers, and tandem jumps, and the more experienced you are the windier it can be. However, skydivers have a saying that goes: I would rather be on the ground wishing I was in the sky than in the sky wishing I was on the ground. 

• Rain and Precipitation: Rainy conditions are probably the worst for skydiving, and typically lead to cancellations or rescheduling. The main problem is that rain almost always comes with clouds, so that automatically poses an issue. But clouds aside, landing on slick grass greatly increases the risk of injury, and falling through raindrops at 120 mph actually hurts! Even if you could skydive in the rain, you wouldn’t want to.

• Temperature Extremes: Temperature is less of a worry than other weather, but extreme temps can still impact jumping. Very hot or very cold temperatures can be dangerous to skydive in, and it’s important to take these in consideration when planning the timing of your jump and what you’re going to wear. This is also the reason that dropzones in the North shutdown for winter.

How Weather is Monitored

The most useful tool that skydivers have when assessing weather conditions is their eyes. Just like anyone else who’s wondering what the current weather looks like, a quick peek outside the hangar door will tell prospective jumpers everything they need to know about the immediate weather and whether or not it’s currently safe to jump. 

But there’s a lot more to jump planning than just what the sky looks like in the moment. An average skydive can take anywhere from 30-45 minutes, so keeping track of incoming weather changes is just as important as the current conditions. No one wants to be caught in the sky as a thunderstorm rolls in – talk about a bad day! 

Luckily for us, weather technology has become incredibly advanced, and we have all sorts of informational gadgets at our disposal. Beyond the weather app everyone carries around in their pocket, pilots, skydivers, and dropzone staff will use highly accurate forecasting, radar, and anemometers to predict changing weather throughout the day. There are even skydiving specific apps like Spot Assist that can help skydivers incorporate weather into planning their day. 

Tips for Weather-Worried Jumpers

Poor weather in the morning doesn’t mean there won’t be jumping later in the afternoon. We want to share the sky with you, and so, most of the time, we’re willing to wait all day for conditions to improve! Here are some tips to help you deal with any weather related worries you might have:

• Prepare to wait. Once the weather clears, we begin with the students who scheduled the earliest appointments and work our way down. Sometimes, patience is rewarded. 

• Dress for the season. You’re going to be outside, so pick an outfit that’s appropriate for the time of year.  

• Wear layers. Weather changes, and the temperature in the sky is cooler than that on the ground. Layers can help you adjust. 

• Check the weather before arriving. If things look really bad, give us a call to check in before you leave. 

• Be flexible. You may have to reschedule. Try to remember that it’s for your safety and we want you to jump. 

Ready to schedule your next adventure or give the best present on the planet and purchase a skydiving gift card? Let’s go!! Blue skies!

The post How Will Weather Affect My Skydiving Day? appeared first on Long Island Skydiving Center.

Part of that includes knowing what clothes to wear skydiving for whatever season you’re planning to make the big leap. The name of the game here is to dress for success so you can focus on experiencing the thrill of a lifetime, instead of being concerned about the weather. Keep reading to learn about the tips we suggest for skydiving in all seasons.

What to Wear Skydiving in Spring

Ah Spring, a time of blossoming, rebirth, and the promise of warm weather. Springtime actually represents a lot of what skydiving can bring into life: new beginnings, a bright future, and the music of chirping birds! Skydiving in the Spring is a great way to celebrate the changing seasons and transitions in life.

And dressing for Spring skydiving is as much of an exercise in adaptability as any other part of this unpredictable season. Layers are a fantastic option for dealing with the wide range of temperatures you might experience during your day with us. It could be chilly in the morning but sunny and warm by midday. You’ll want to account for that in your outfit choice and wear something that can accommodate both scenarios.

We do suggest that you stick with long sleeves and pants for your actual jump, though, due to the likelihood of cooler temperatures in freefall. A good rule of thumb is to don whatever you’d wear to the gym or for an outdoor run. Under Armour or other moisture-wicking fabrics tend to do a good job of retaining heat while keeping you dry and ready for action should things heat up. 

What to Wear Skydiving in Summer

You might think that the hottest season of the year calls for shorts, tank tops, and flip flops – and you’d be mostly right. Breathable, lightweight clothing is the way to go here. Something that will keep you cool in the sun and heat. Athletic shorts or pants and a T-shirt are perfect. You don’t want to overheat on the ground while waiting for the natural AC in the sky.

However, the one part of your summer fit that won’t jive with skydiving is the shoes – you’ll need to wear closed-toe shoes, preferably with laces. Flip flops and sandals have been known to disappear in the 120 mph wind of freefall, and they aren’t the easiest to navigate the different positions of the skydive with.

And don’t forget the sunscreen! While there’s shade at the dropzone, UV rays can sneak into even the coolest corners of reprieve. And you’ll probably want to be out in the sun watching other jumpers land while you wait. Make sure to protect yourself so that the only thing you bring home from your skydive is good memories, not a sunburn! 

What to Wear Skydiving in Fall

Fall is similar to Spring weather in that it’s cooler and a bit unpredictable. Plan to bring back the long sleeves and pants, and maybe even carry a light jacket that you can put on if needed. Anyone who’s been to the Northeast knows that a cold snap can happen at the drop of a hat – best to be prepared.

You can even bring gloves and a hat to stay toasty warm while you wait, though the accessories won’t be able to come along on your jump (see: the previous issue with flip flops).

The important thing to consider is staying warm without creating too much bulk, so think layers. Again, products like Under Armour specialize in the kind of clothing that will keep you cozy without hindering your movements. Part of partaking in adventure sports is being ready for anything at any time, and Autumn weather certainly puts that preparedness to the test!

Pro tip: while fall weather can be finicky, it’s totally worth it for the views. You haven’t seen anything until you’ve peeped Long Island Fall foliage from a couple miles up. 

What to Wear Skydiving in Winter

Not all Northern dropzones operate in the winter, and that’s for good reason: it’s COLD. But for skydivers who just can’t bear to take that much time away from the sky, the name of the game is layers, layers, layers.

Winter skydivers will start with a good base layer, such as a cold gear shirt and pants, and then wear thermals on top of that. Particularly cold days usually include a light-weight fleece or hoodie as well.

It’s especially important to protect the extremities in cold weather, so thick socks, a buff or other neck covering, and gloves are highly recommended. The big thing here is mobility – football receiver gloves are a nice, balanced option that offers insulation and the ability to feel and grab things.

And another note on shoes: boots may seem like the way to go for winter jumping, but hooks and eyelets can spell disaster as snag hazards. Footwear should be warm and rugged, but pose no threat of catching on the airplane or pieces of a deploying parachute. 

General Clothing Tips

There are a set of best practices for skydiving apparel, no matter the season. You want clothing that is fitted, easy to move around in, and made for physical activity. Loose items are a no-go, and all accessories or dangling objects, like jewelry, are best left on the ground. 

Even your hair can be done in ways that’s better suited for freefall. Long, loose hair will easily get tangled in freefall, so consider a hair tie or a bandanna to keep things contained. And that includes beards! 

At the end of the day, skydiving is a physical activity, so dress like you’re ready for some movement. Think gym or yoga fit, keeping it comfortable, and regulating body temperatures. You can check the local weather ahead of time, but always bring extra options in case things change! 

Now that you have your outfit planned, put it to good use! Book your tandem skydiving adventure with us today!

The post What To Wear Skydiving For Each Season appeared first on Long Island Skydiving Center.

Jump Day: Anticipation

The feeling that hits you when you wake up on the day of your skydive is anticipation. And it lasts pretty much until the moment you step out of the airplane door! Your morning will be full of a roller coaster of emotions – excitement, stress, fear, courage – and that’s what makes skydiving so amazing!

Things will get seriously real when it’s time to board the plane and begin your 15 to 20 minute climb to altitude. This is actually a peaceful time, when people think about their skydive and enjoy the view. 

But that all changes as you get closer to the exit altitude and people begin to get into position and check their gear. It’s very common, here at Long Island and the whole world over, for skydivers to wish each other luck with fun handshakes and high fives. The excitement becomes palpable and there’s no denying that something big is about to happen!

Pro tip: Even if you’re nervous, make sure you eat a balanced breakfast and stay hydrated. It’ll help you feel your best throughout the day! 

The Door: High Alert

Probably the most defining moment in any skydive is the opening of the airplane door. Cool, clean air suddenly rushes into the plane, the sky feels close, and all your focus immediately shifts to the situation at hand.

You’ll probably find your senses on high alert as you move toward the door. You may even feel like your body’s telling you to stay in the airplane! That’s completely natural. Fear is how humans have survived as long as we have. It’s facing that fear and overcoming that ‘fight or flight’ reaction that makes the skydive so empowering.

When you finally make it to the door, you’ll hear the rush of the air outside, feel the coolness of the sky, and get a full view of the ground far below. At this point you might be wondering: What if I’m afraid of heights? You’re actually so far from the nearest reference point that your brain doesn’t register how high up you are. Sure, it might feel a little scary, but it won’t trigger you the way a ladder would.

You may feel a bit of a sensory overload in this moment but don’t fret. That rush is going to focus your mind and prepare your body to nail the skydive in 3 … 2 …1 …

The Jump: Freedom

The moment you’ve been waiting for! Your instructor will move you to the edge of the door, where you’ll hang in front of them with your legs pulled back and your arms across your chest. (That’s the arch you’ll have learned in pre-jump training).

The next thing you’ll feel is complete freedom as you leave the aircraft and enter freefall. All of your worries will blow away and you’ll be completely focused on nothing but the moment. Perhaps counter-intuitively, skydiving doesn’t feel much like falling, but more like you’re being cushioned by the air. Almost like windy floating.

The sound of the airplane disappears, replaced with the drone of the wind passing by your ears. You’re able to breathe freely and to look around and enjoy the view – or smile and wave at your camera flyer! Freefall is a life changing moment where you can enjoy your bravery and be fully present in a way you don’t get to in day to day life. 

If you could only choose one word when asked “How does it feel to skydive?” our vote would be “freedom.”

How long does skydiving last? This portion of the jump lasts for about a minute, but you’re not done yet! You still have another whole phase of your skydive left. 

The Parachute Ride: Peace

The sensation of going from freefall at 120 mph to gliding gently under an open parachute is unlike anything you’ve experienced before. The rush of freefall is suddenly taken over by the quiet calm of the parachute ride. Everything slows down, including your descent rate, and with it comes a peacefulness that rivals meditation. It’s so quiet that you can actually have a conversation with your instructor.

The views around Long Island are breathtaking, and the parachute ride is the best time to enjoy them! Your instructor will take the lead in steering the parachute – though they may let you have a go if you’d like – and you are free to enjoy the scenery before you. You’ll feel as though you’re a giant bird gliding around on beautiful wings.

One thing people worry about during the parachute ride is: Will I feel sick? This part of the skydive is the most likely to impact people prone to motion sickness, but there are ways to avoid any issues. Let your instructor know ahead of the jump and they’ll help keep you feeling great.

The Landing: Amazing

Unfortunately, all good things must end and land-dwellers must return to the ground. During your final approach, your instructor will talk you through the steps you learned during training. The main thing to remember is to keep your legs straight out in front of you like you’re doing a mini ab workout. The ground will look like it’s moving awfully fast as you get closer, but your instructor will take full control of the parachute to slow it down to a stop as you both land, usually in a seated position, on the ground.

This is where your sense of achievement takes over; you’ve done something amazing! Your adrenaline will start to level out and you’ll be left with a great feeling of pride and happiness that will last the rest of the day and beyond!

So, how does skydiving feel? It feels phenomenal!! Book a tandem skydive with us and see for yourself! We can’t wait for you to experience human flight! Blue skies.

The post What Skydiving Feels Like appeared first on Long Island Skydiving Center.

You consider your GoPro camera your #1 adventure buddy. That little piece of digital ingenuity has been with you on each of your great escapades and captured some of your favorite memories. Now that you’ve scheduled a tandem skydive, you are probably thinking: can you take a GoPro skydiving?  After all, if there’s one thing that goes great with skydiving, GoPro is it. 

Skydiving with camera in tow isn’t out of the question, but can you take your own GoPro skydiving? Unfortunately, not so much.

We get it. We all want to capture memories and keep them with crystal clarity that can last a lifetime. So we know bringing your GoPro on a tandem skydive may seem like a great idea, but trust us: it’s not.

Here’s why we have to say no to taking your own GoPro skydiving.

Big Trouble Comes in Small Packages

Skydiving is no carnival ride. When you’re on a tandem skydive, you are a skydiver. Yes, you have a United States Parachute Association (USPA) certified instructor there with you, but you have a few responsibilities, too. And trust us when we say the first time skydiving is overwhelming enough on its own without adding any extra attention grabbers or gadgets. 

To have a camera attached to you requires some serious skydiving skill and a near-avian familiarity with freefall. Obviously, people too focused on getting the best shot (something that is tough to do, even when you’re not freefalling at 120mph) are easily distracted. And, frankly, on a skydive, the directions provided to you by your instructor are something that deserve your undivided attention.

While it’s rare, just like in everyday life, emergency situations do arise. And guess what? It’s been proven that cameras can interfere with response times and emergency procedures.

Even tandem instructors (who must have a minimum 500 skydives to even qualify for a tandem rating) are recommended to complete 200 skydives with tandem passengers SANS camera BEFORE adding a GoPro to the mix.

In part, this is because cameras are a snag hazard – parachute deployments include a highly organized unfurling of several attachment lines and you don’t want anything to be sticking out that can potentially catch. A line entanglement with a camera can cause a very sticky situation and result in injury, so cameras need to be kept clear of the lines during parachute deployment, which takes some serious flying chops.

The Rules are Bigger Than Us!

The rulebook all skydivers, instructors, and dropzones follow is called the USPA Skydiver’s Information Manual (also known as the SIM). The job of the United States Parachute Association (USPA) is to disseminate the safety information it’s been gathering for decades to its group member dropzones. And we take this information to heart. All of our operations are centered around what the USPA recommends or requires.  

So what’s the conclusion the SIM draws about cameras? Flying a camera is a serious decision. If you’re someone who likes to get into the nitty gritty, check out Section 6-8, which covers camera usage and safety. Or, if you’re more of a summary kind of person:

The SIM says before jumping with a camera, a skydiver should have enough general jump experience to be able to handle any skydiving emergency easily and without stress. As such, it recommends having a C license, or 200 skydives and the equivalent C license flying skills. 

Oh, and before a skydiver can jump a camera, they also need to have 50 jumps on the parachute equipment that they will be jumping with while using said camera. And when it comes to a licensed skydiver filming students, the SIM suggests that the filming skydiver must have at least 300 group freefall skydives AND at least 50 jumps flying a camera with an experienced jumper.

Why are we telling you all this? To drive the point home that adding a camera to the mix is a decision that has to be made with care.

Professionals Do It Better (and Safer)

Don’t worry. We have you completely covered at Long Island Skydiving Center. Sit back, enjoy the experience, and let us worry about capturing the skydive on film. 

Even if you could bring a camera to altitude, you shouldn’t even want to. Imagine not being distracted by trying to get a sweet shot, or panicking over whether you even turned the camera on. That’s for us to worry about. Allow yourself to live fully in the moment: don’t let your skydive pass you by just so you can watch it on a screen after the fact. 

And, while we’re sure you’re a great videographer who’s captured some pretty sick vids, we can pretty much guarantee that our professional video flyers have the experience to wow your socks off. They’ve done this a lot! 

Since we know how hard it is to leave your faithful friend at home, still bring your camera with you to the dropzone! Just leave it on the ground in the hands of your human friends and family and get some behind the scenes footage before and after your jump. 

Your skydive will be captured by professionals so that you can relieve the great time you just had again and again.

Ready to get that share-worthy footage of yourself having the time of your life? Scoot on over here and lock in your tandem skydiving date! See you at the dropzone. Blue skies!

The post Can I Bring My Own GoPro Skydiving? appeared first on Long Island Skydiving Center.