First Time Skydiving
Florida's Best Skydiving School ™
NO ONE EVER FORGETS THEIR FIRST JUMP
MAKE IT EPIC at SKYDIVE CITY
Skydive City has taught skydiving for over 30 years. Our dedicated instructors love jumping out of airplanes and love introducing the sky and freefall to thousands of new jumpers every year who come to have fun with us. We are the premier destination for tandem skydiving in Tampa, St. Pete and Orlando, FL.
Unbelievably exhilarating. I didn’t know what to expect. I was in a totally different state of mind when I went home. It was life changing. I felt like I could do anything.
Michael E. — Tandem Skydiver
FLORIDA’S BEST TANDEM SKYDIVING SCHOOL™
by Skydive City
Tandem Skydiving: What to Expect
Our full staff of experienced certified instructors and videographers all have at least 3 hours of freefall time and 500 jumps. Many have thousands!
Before the Jump
Your appointment time is your arrival time. You will complete a registration form and waiver, arrange for video, and pay for your jump. Then, you watch a training video and information about the waiver. Your flight will be called. Your Instructor will provide additional training and put a harness on you. The instructor will wear a harness with the parachute system. You hug and kiss your friends who will wait on the main deck where they can see you land.
Pre-Jump Training Video
Watch our Pre-Jump Tandem Training Video for a great overview of the skydive with important safety information.
Shoot the Ground Portion of Your Video
This is fun. Your videographer places you in front of a backdrop and interviews you. What questions do you want them to ask? Do you want to give a shout-out to someone special?
Boarding and Flight
Your instructor will accompany you to the boarding area for a 20-minute flight to altitude, usually 13,500 feet. You will board the aircraft and sit either on a platform or the floor. You will be very close to other skydivers, likely sitting between their legs and another between yours. Your instructor will direct you to fasten and unfasten your seatbelt. Near altitude, the instructor will attach your harness so that your back is to their front. They will cinch it tight so that the Instructor is in complete control. The door will open. You will see the experienced skydivers get out first. Your instructor will scoot the two of you to the door. This is it. Out you go!
During the Jump
Freefall is an intense rush of adrenaline and exhilaration for 50-60 seconds at 110 mph or about 1,000 feet for every six seconds of freefall. Our instructors remain in control of the jump, showing you the sights, until they deploy the parachute at 5,000 feet. For 4-6 minutes, you and the instructor control the parachute and land back at Skydive City. You lift your legs and land.
After the Jump
Your friends and family will have seen you land. You’ll be overwhelmed and amped! When you’re ready, your instructor will debrief the skydive with you. You might not even remember everything that happened, but as they recall it, you will remember. You will be able to see your video when it’s prepared in The Birdhouse on our video viewing screens. Congratulations, you’ve now gone tandem skydiving in Florida! You are now among the 500,000 people each year who make a first jump!
Make it a Whole Day Experience™
Let us personalize and customize your Tandem experience with one of our Party Packages. See our Hospitality page and Party Packages to learn more!
PREPARE
Are you ready to skydive? See FAQs for answers to the best questions we’ve ever gotten. When your videographer interviews you on camera, what are you going to say?
TAKE FLIGHT
Exit our skydiving aircraft from 13,500 feet. Race to Earth at speeds of 110 miles per hour for a solid minute of exhilarating, serotonin-soaked, adrenaline-fueled, adventure!! Nothing in the world will compare!
CHANGE YOUR LIFE!
You won’t be the same when you land. You’ll realize you’ve not been living to your full potential. If you can do this, you can do anything! You will re-play your video again and again.
There’s More to Know!
How To Plan
AN AMAZING FIRST SKYDIVE
- Plan to spend a half-day. Sometimes we get backed up due to weather, including wind and rain. Some jumps take longer than others. Airplanes slowed down by Air Traffic Control. We ask your patience and understanding.
- Bring friends and family. Have a nice outing on our Moby Deck overlooking the landing area.
- Dress comfortably. Choose layers and tennis shoes.
- Eat normally before your jump. Be sure to visit The Hillz Kitchen and the Sunset Bar before and after your jump.
- Visit Skydive City’s Video Gallery.
- Learn more about skydiving at uspa.org
