“When can I skydive by myself?” Sometimes, we get this query before our customers have even stepped foot off the plane. Other patron’s land from their first tandem skydive, filled with joy and adrenaline, ready and raring to go, and cannot wait for more. From just one look, our experienced eyes can almost immediately tell: they’ve been bitten by the skydiving bug!  

What about you? Are you wondering how you can reach greater heights and experience the grand, new world of skydiving? Have you dreamed of soaring through the clouds? Would you like to fly solo? We’d love to help make your dream a reality, and we can attest, one of the best ways to fully experience human flight is with a solo skydive. 

If you’ve found your way to this page, chances are some part of you is interested in seeing if you have what it takes to make a solo skydive. And, guess what? You’re in luck: at Skydive Orange, we are home to one of the nation’s top skydiving schools and are pleased to offer a renowned student training program to take them from neoflyer to future licensed skydiver. 

Here’s what you need to know. 

In the spirit of transparency, we want you to know jumping solo requires more extensive training than a tandem skydive does. While you do not need to complete a tandem skydive before embarking on your solo skydiving journey, a tandem skydive allows you to get a controlled, moderated taste of flight with the direct assistance licensed skydiver—after all, you are attached to them! While on a tandem skydive, the primary responsibility is placed on the instructor, a solo skydive puts the responsibility on you. If this makes you nervous, you can always get a feel for freefall, before your first solo skydive, with a tandem skydive. It’s still a great way to get started. 

If that’s all well and good, but you know for sure solo is the way to go, we’ve got the information you need. 

How to Skydive Solo

At Skydive Orange, we offer a United States Parachute Association endorsed program known as Accelerated Free Fall (AFF). After a 6-8-hour first jump course, during which you will receive a thorough ground training to fully prepare you to take flight, you will complete your first solo skydive. 

On your first solo skydive, you will be provided with two highly-rated skydiving instructors.  These instructors will hold on to you in freefall; however, you are not attached to them. On your first solo skydive with your instructors, you will have the responsibility of deploying your own parachute and landing it.

After completing the required number of skydives in your training progression, you will be cleared for self-supervision and can skydive completely solo! Though, skydiving by yourself is just the beginning. Once you receive your skydiving license, you will be cleared to jump with other licensed jumpers. Trust us, you will find it’s a whole lot of fun skydiving with others. 

Take the first step on your skydiving journey, and give us a call to schedule your First Jump Course today!