Calling all adrenaline junkies! Defy physics and fly like a bird (albeit briefly) while skydiving over Dallas. From two miles high, you’ll soar through the air at speeds of 120 mph, while soaking in the beautiful North Texas landscape.
For your first jump, you can chose between tandem and AFF (Accelerated Free Fall). Most first-time jumpers prefer a tandem jump, in which you jump while harnessed to a certified instructor. A short, 45-minute instructional class precedes the jump. You’ll free fall for 40 to 60 seconds and then enjoy a five to seven minute canopy ride down to the ground. Note that some outfitters require a tandem jump for your first time.
AFF requires four to six hours of training. While you won’t be strapped to an instructor, two certified instructors will make the jump out of the plane with you to ensure you assume a safe falling position. Like tandem jumping, you’ll free fall for 40 to 60 seconds and then coast to the ground with a five to seven minute canopy ride.
No matter where you decide to make your first jump, you will need to meet a few age and health requirements. You must be at least 18 years old, be able to wear 30-40 pounds worth of equipment and be in a good physical shape. Most importantly, you need to be mentally prepared to (1) handle jumping from a plane and (2) handle the shock of a parachute deploying during your jump.
Make your reservation at least one week in advance. For peak weekends, like Memorial Day weekend or Labor Day weekend, we recommend calling several weeks in advance. Class sizes vary based on the company and time of year. Planes can typically take anywhere from 12 to 22 skydivers at a time (including instructors), so if you’re jumping on a popular weekend, you may find that you need to wait for your turn on the ground.
When making reservations, keep in mind that all skydiving companies may cancel in the event of inclement weather or high winds. While deposits on non-refundable (even if the jump is cancelled due to bad weather), most companies will hold your deposit for up to one year, allowing you to reschedule the jump at your convenience.
Here are two of our favorite companies for taking the first plunge:
Skydive Dallas
The perfect place to make your first jump, the extremely professional staff will ensure you feel safe and relaxed. Happy jumpers rave that what makes Skydive Dallas so great are the instructors and the safe but fun atmosphere that they create. The diving instructors here are seriously experienced, with many logging upwards of 10,000 jumps. They take their jobs seriously and ensure that everything is as safe as possible while maintaining a great sense of humor.
Be sure to splurge on the dvd/photo package (an additional $100). For this once in a lifetime experience, you’ll want to impress friends with video of you jumping, and the high-resolution photos will look great as your Facebook profile pic. Mention Yelp and get a $25 discount. A $50, non-refundable deposit is required upon booking.
Basic Package ($229), Premium Package incl. digital video and photography ($329), VIP Package incl. priority jumping and champagne ($409).
SkyDive35
Founded in 1994, SkyDive35 is all about creating an atmosphere of fun, safety and camaraderie by providing personalized attention to small class sizes. SkyDive35 prides itself on keeping classes small and never leaving a jumper behind, so you won’t be stuck waiting for your turn on the ground due to large class sizes. Centrally located between Dallas and Fort Worth, as the name suggests, SkyDive35 is right off I-35 West and is the closest jumping center to both cities.
Open Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to sunset, SkyDive35 is also available Thursday and Friday with advanced notice. Groups of eight or more receive a $10 off discount per person. Cash payments also receive a $10 discount.
Tandem jump $199, Tandem jump with DVD and photos $299, AFF Training from $300.