When it comes to your jump, there are two ways to go about it. The most popular way to break into the exciting world of skydiving is with a tandem skydive.

Tandem skydives involve you and a certified tandem master, hooked up to one another, making a jump together. The tandem master does all of the work, you just get to enjoy the ride. You will start your experience with an informational video about the tandem skydive system and the industry in general. Twenty minutes before take-off, you will be suited up in a jumpsuit and harness by your tandem master. He will explain the process to you and plan some fun things like flips or spins if you choose to do them. Then it's out to the plane where you will be one of the first to enter with your tandem master. He will sit behind you and the plane will climb to 13,500 feet. At full altitude the harness you are wearing will be connected to your tandem master's harness and you will move towards the tail of the plane. Once the other jumpers are out and clear, you will rock out, rock in, and lose yourself in complete freedom. After the best 60 seconds of your life (well besides that one night in college) your tandem master will deploy the main parachute and you will glide gracefully down to the landing area.

The other option for a first-time jumper is the Accelerated Free Fall course. This course is offered to individuals who want to make the skydive themselves and certifies jumpers to make skydives on their own after completion of all seven levels involved. The course starts with six hours of ground school, followed by a briefing and first skydive. Your first jump requires you to make two circles of awareness (you'll learn in ground school, whuffo) as well as several practice pulls while two AFF Certified Instructors hold you by your sides. If after the jump your instructors clear you for the next level, you can continue with all seven levels of progression until you graduate and owe lots of beer. Once certified you can jump anytime the planes are flying at your home dropzone while working on licenses that allow you to jump anywhere, anytime.

 Tandem skydives are more common due to their price and convenience. A tandem skydive at Skydive Deland costs $174, and a video package can be added for $88. I highly recommend the video package because the videographers at Skydive Deland are the best in the world (check out my mom's jump in the videos section of the site) and they make the jump that much more fun in the process. 

The AFF course takes a lot longer to do since it involves actually learning how the equipment operates and how to use it properly. The course can be paid for up front in full (with a discount) for roughly $1100 or per level for slightly more.

STETSON STUDENTS GET A DISCOUNT ON  BOTH FIRST JUMP METHODS!!! MAKE SURE TO TELL THEM YOU ARE A STETSON STUDENT!!!

ALSO TELL THEM THAT THE STETSON SKYDIVE CLUB OR ONE OF ITS MEMBERS RECOMMENDED IT BECAUSE WE GET CREDIT FOR THOSE!!!

If you want to make a skydive and have questions that are not answered by the information here, feel free to use the contact part of the site and we will be glad to talk to you all about it. 

See you at the dropzone!!