How to learn to skydive

If you want a good buzz then there's nothing quite like rushing to the earth at 120 miles an hour after jumping from a moving plane. Skydiving is an exhilarating and intense adrenaline rush that can't be described- you've just got to do it! Here is some advice on how to go about it the right way for your first jump...and hopefully many more.

1. Get all of your questions answered before you pay for the jump. Don't be afraid to ask whatever is on your mind because they've probably already heard your question before from someone else.
2. Arrive before your appointment time but be prepared to wait for instructors to become available, the weather to break, etc. Even though you'll only be freefalling for a minute, plan on being there for the entire day just in case. You'll also need time to sign the waivers that say "SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH" on each page.
3. Before your jump, you will get a briefing and meet your instructor. Pay attention to what they say because it will help you enjoy your skydive much more. They will fit you into a harness that will connect to the instructor and the parachute.
4. Board the plane and just soak it all in. Before you reach the jumping altitude (between 10,000 feet and 13,500 feet) the instructor will clip your harness onto theirs. From then on- you are literally joined at the hip and you'll be a lot closer to them than you are to most people in your life.
5. Exit the plane. Listen to your instructor on how they want you to do this because every plane and every instructor/student combination is different.
6. Enjoy it! Enjoy the feeling of falling at 120 miles an hour and feeling free as a bird. The sensation is like no other- it feels like you are floating but the rush of air tells you that you are falling
7. Enjoy the view. Once the instructor deploys the parachute- you have a 360 degree view of the beautiful earth from about 5,000 feet and there is nothing like it.
8. Land safely. Once again, listen to your instructor on how to land. Sometimes you'll stand up for the landing, other times you'll slide in softly; it depends on a lot of factors.
9. Brag. You just did something that most people don't have the courage to do. Enjoy the accomplishment.  
11. Get certified. If you enjoyed your first skydive and want to do it again- talk to the instructors and the people at the drop zone about how to get certified. It takes a lot of time, money, and effort but you'll find that skydivers are among the happiest people on the face of the earth.

 Hints

• You need to realise that there is no such thing as a "100% safe skydive" and anyone who says otherwise is wrong. People die while skydiving and you have to accept that fact before you jump. However, tandem deaths are exceedingly rare for a lot of reasons- most people quote the chances of death to be 1 in 250,000 jumps to 1 in 500,000 jumps for a tandem. On average, there are about 30 skydiving deaths each year out of over 2 million jumps and the vast majority of these deaths are solo skydivers.
• Skydiving is very weather dependent- you generally need mostly clear and blue skies with no precipitation and not too much wind. No matter where you jump, you should have a backup date or two in case the weather doesn't cooperate.
• Always do what the instructor says- they are the boss! Skydiving people are fun-loving, awesome people who love to teach but they are also serious about safety. They will tell you everything that you need to know.
• Get a video of your first jump. It will cost more but it is totally worth it to be able to show off to your friends and family. More than one person has regretted not getting a video of their first jump. Don't be afraid to mug for the camera!

 Warnings

• Skydiving has been made a lot safer through the years with better equipment and safety, but if the very small chance of dying outweighs what you think you will get out of it, don't do it!
• Don't let your friends/family members pressure you into making a jump. The cost and the risk just aren't worth it.