Is Skydiving Scary? What a First Jump Actually Feels Like

Key Takeaways
Skydiving is scary for most people, but the anticipation is often far worse than the jump itself. Fear typically peaks during the plane ride and at the open door before quickly giving way to excitement once you leave the aircraft. Freefall feels more like flying than falling, and the peaceful canopy ride is often a favorite part of the experience. Even people who are afraid of heights are frequently surprised that skydiving doesn’t feel like standing on a ladder or the edge of a building. Throughout the jump, you’re supported by a highly trained tandem instructor and specialized safety equipment. While it’s completely normal to be nervous, many first-time skydivers land wondering why they were so afraid.

Is It Scary to Skydive?

Yes, skydiving is scary, or at least the idea of it is. It’s completely normal to have a fear of skydiving – you’re jumping out of a plane in mid-flight after all! In fact, we might be a little concerned if you weren’t at least a little nervous. The good news is that for most first-time tandem skydivers, the anticipation is far scarier than the skydive itself.

Many people spend days, or even weeks, wondering if they’ll actually go through with it. They worry about the plane ride, the open door, or whether they’ll panic. But once they arrive at the dropzone and begin moving through the day step by step, those overwhelming “what ifs” usually begin to fade.

That’s not because skydiving suddenly becomes risk-free. Skydiving is an adventure sport with inherent risks, and it should always be approached with respect. It’s because uncertainty is often scarier than experience.

So, just how scary is skydiving? Let’s get into the play-by-play of your day at the dropzone! 

The Skydiving Experience, Moment by Moment

Check-In & Ground Training

What is the scariest part of skydiving? Ironically, many people tell us their nerves are at their highest during check-in and ground training. The drive is over. You’ve arrived. It’s real now.

For a lot of first time tandem students, simply showing up is the biggest hurdle. You’ve already conquered one of the hardest parts: deciding to do it.

After checking in, you’ll complete your paperwork, meet your tandem instructor, get fitted into your harness, and receive a pre-jump briefing. While paperwork isn’t exactly the exciting part of the day, it serves an important purpose, and your instructor will walk you through everything you need to know before you ever get near the airplane.

Most first-time jumpers are surprised by how calm and organized the process feels. Rather than being rushed toward the aircraft, you’ll have time to ask questions, meet your instructor, and get comfortable with what’s about to happen.

The Plane Ride to Altitude

As the airplane climbs, anticipation usually builds. It’s at this point that some first timers find themselves thinking, “Am I really going to do this?” If that’s you, don’t worry, you’re in very good company.

Instead of focusing only on what’s coming, take a moment to enjoy the view. Watch the clouds drift by. Look out over the Gatineau Hills, the Ottawa skyline, and the lush greenery below. Very few people ever get to experience the world from this perspective, and it’s a pretty incredible one.

The Open Door

For many, this is the scariest part of skydiving.

The aircraft door opens, the wind rushes in, and suddenly everything becomes very real. If there are others exiting before you, you’ll probably watch them disappear out the door and think, “Why did I sign up for this?”

That’s completely normal. Your fight-or-flight response is doing exactly what it’s designed to do. The important thing to remember is that you aren’t doing this alone. You are securely harnessed to a professional instructor who will handle every technical aspect of the exit. They’ll position both of you correctly in the door, give a count, and guide you safely out of the aircraft and into the wide open sky.

Then, before you have much time to second-guess yourself … you’re flying! 

For most people, this is the exact moment that fear disappears and excitement takes over.

Freefall

Here’s the part almost everyone gets wrong. Freefall doesn’t feel like falling. It also doesn’t feel like the stomach-dropping sensation of a roller coaster. 

Because the airplane is already flying at roughly the same speed you’ll be traveling when you exit, there isn’t that sudden drop your body feels on an amusement park ride. Instead, you feel like you’re flying, floating, or being supported by the wind.

One of the most common questions we hear is, “Can you breathe in freefall?” Absolutely. If it feels like you can’t, it’s usually because you’re holding your breath, not because there’s no air. That’s a perfectly natural reaction to the adrenaline.

Our favorite solution? Scream. Seriously! Screaming forces you to exhale, which naturally resets your breathing. Plus, you’re skydiving. If there’s ever been an appropriate time to let out a yell, this is it!

Under the Canopy

Then everything changes. The parachute opens, the wind noise disappears, and everything becomes remarkably peaceful. This is the part where many people realize they’re actually enjoying themselves.

Now you can talk with your instructor, ask questions, laugh with disbelief about what you just accomplished, and soak in the incredible view below. The canopy ride gives you several peaceful minutes to simply enjoy being thousands of feet above the ground.

If looking straight down makes you a little uneasy, try looking toward the horizon instead. Not only is it the best view, but it also helps you relax and appreciate just how beautiful the experience really is. 

Don’t be surprised if the quiet parachute ride, not freefall, ends up being your favorite part of the entire experience!

Why Skydiving Doesn’t Feel Like Your Other Fears

“But I’m Afraid of Heights”

This is one of the biggest misconceptions about skydiving. You may hear instructors say, “Height is different than altitude,” and while that sounds strange at first, it actually makes sense.

Think about standing on a ladder, a balcony, or the edge of a tall building. You have clear reference points. Your brain can judge exactly how far you are to the ground, which often triggers that queasy feeling people associate with heights.

At 10,000 feet or higher, those reference points disappear. It’s surprisingly similar to looking out the window of a commercial airplane. You know you’re incredibly high, but your brain doesn’t process the distance in quite the same way. It’s one of the reasons lots of people who are afraid of heights can wholeheartedly enjoy skydiving.

Likewise, if you avoid roller coasters because you hate the stomach-drop feeling, don’t worry, skydiving doesn’t create that same sensation. 

What Actually Keeps You Safe?

One of the biggest reasons people feel more comfortable once they get to the dropzone is because they begin to understand how tandem skydiving works.

Safety isn’t based on a single piece of equipment. It’s built around multiple layers of redundancy.

Every tandem skydiving system includes two parachutes: a main parachute for the jump and a reserve parachute that’s packed, inspected, and sealed by a certified parachute rigger.

Every tandem system also includes an Automatic Activation Device (AAD), which is designed to automatically deploy the reserve parachute if specific altitude and speed conditions are met.

Most importantly, you’re attached to a Canadian Sport Parachuting Association-certified tandem instructor who has completed extensive training and whose job is to manage every technical aspect of the skydive, from aircraft exit to landing.

Should You Go Skydiving If You’re Scared?

Only you can answer that question. But we’d encourage you not to mistake fear for a reason not to do something. 

Most people who make their first tandem skydive are nervous. Many are downright terrified. But courage isn’t about waiting until you aren’t scared anymore – it’s about deciding that something is worth doing despite the fear.

If you’re ready to experience it for yourself, we’d love to help you take that first step – book your jump today!