What Makes a Great Skydiving Instructor?
DZ News
One of the biggest influences on your skydiving experience, whether it’s a tandem jump or the start of your student progression, is your skydiving instructor. The right instructor can make all the difference. So, what makes a great skydiving instructor? Good question – let’s get into it!
Skydiving Instructor Qualifications
Before diving into the intangibles, let’s look at the requirements: how to be a skydive instructor. As a Canadian Sport Parachuting Association (CSPA) dropzone, Parachute Ottawa follows all CSPA guidelines and regulations. Our instructors hold all required skydiving certifications and meet strict standards.
To become a Tandem Instructor, you must:
- Have a minimum of 500 skydives
- Be active in the sport for at least three years
- Hold current CSPA skydiving certifications
- Earn a CSPA “B” Certificate of Proficiency (CoP)
- Earn the Coach 1 certification
- Hold a UPT (United Parachute Technologies) rating
For Progressive Freefall Instructors (PFFIs), you must achieve these training requirements:
- Earn a CSPA “C” CoP
- Earn the Coach 2 certification
- Supervise at least two complete First Jump Courses (FJC) in the past year
- Have a minimum of 600 jumps
- Have at least 6 hours of accumulated freefall time
Ongoing training and recurrency ensure that our professional skydiver instructors stay sharp and up to date with the latest safety and coaching standards.
Beyond Skydiving Certifications
As a Progressive Freefall (PFF) student or first-time jumper, you won’t necessarily be aware of your instructor’s training. But you will notice how your instructor makes you feel, and that’s what makes the biggest impact.
So, what makes a professional skydiving instructor beyond the CSPA certifications? In our experience, there are four top traits that set the best skydiving instructors apart.
1. Safety Conscious
Skydiving is an extreme sport, and while we take every possible step to mitigate risk, safety always comes first. A great skydiving instructor prioritizes safety above everything else. They’re focused, calm under pressure, and proactive about ensuring every jump is conducted responsibly. Safety isn’t just a checklist, it’s a mindset.
2. Passion
A great skydiving instructor truly loves what they do, and it shows. Their enthusiasm, energy, and desire to share their passion for skydiving doesn’t just set the tone, it’s contagious! On the other hand, an instructor who’s burned out or disengaged can dull a powerful and exciting experience.
3. Skilled Coach
Being a skilled coach is a huge part of being an awesome instructor. Coaching is more than giving instructions; it’s understanding how people learn and respond under pressure.
Even on a tandem jump, your instructor will guide you through body positioning and safety cues. In a program like PFF, strong coaching becomes even more important. A great skydiving instructor knows how to build your confidence, deliver clear and constructive feedback, and support your progression at every stage.
4. Coachable
The best skydiving instructors never stop learning. They’re open to feedback and constant improvement in the name of personal and professional growth. Whether it’s earning new skydiving certifications, training in different disciplines, refining their technique, or learning from peers, great instructors continue to evolve because they are also great students.
What’s It Like to Be a Skydiving Instructor?
Being a skydiving instructor means watching transformation happen in real time. You empower people who are nervous, unsure, maybe even scared, and help them do something incredible!
You never know what someone is burdened with when they arrive for their jump, or how skydiving might shift something profound in their life. Instructors get to witness students light up as they learn to fly their bodies, control their movement in freefall, or stick their first stand-up landing. You watch lives change before your eyes, granting people the same opportunity that was once afforded to you – it’s intensely rewarding!
Where It All Begins
There are many directions you can take as a professional skydiver:
- Coach
- PFF Instructor
- Tandem Videographer
- Tandem Instructor
- Competitive Skydiver
- Competitive Skydiving Videographer
But every path begins in the same place: as a student. At Parachute Ottawa, our Progressive Freefall program is where that journey begins. The ultimate goal? Earning your “Solo” Certificate, the first Certificate. This license allows you to jump on your own and begin working on the skills required to jump with other skydivers.
By the end of the PFF Program, students will have:
- Completed a minimum of 10 jumps
- Accumulated minutes of freefall time
- Passed all required ground school content and exams
- Earned their CSPA “Solo” Certificate
It all starts with one jump, and the right instructor to guide you through it.
Start Your Skydiving Journey
Whether you’re here for a one-time adventure or the beginning of a new passion, your instructor will be right there with you, sharing knowledge, prioritizing safety, and inspiring your next step into the sky. These are the same qualities that will shape your understanding of how to be a good skydiver, and maybe even someday, a skydiving instructor!
Ready to experience it for yourself? Book your jump today! Blue skies.
