Pros and Cons of Skydiving: What to Know Before You Jump

The decision to go skydiving isn’t one to be made on a whim – skydiving for the first time is an extremely personal decision with a long list of benefits, but it also comes with some potential disadvantages. Reviewing the pros and cons of skydiving before leaping can help you feel good about your adventure before you even board the plane!

Skydiving offers an unforgettable, adrenaline-fueled experience with breathtaking views and the chance for personal growth. The pros include a deep sense of freedom, conquering fear, and the thrill of seeing the world from a new perspective. The cons? Skydiving comes with potential injury risk, financial investment, weather delays, and basic physical requirements. This guide breaks it all down.

Let’s go over the pros and cons of skydiving and find out if earning your wings is worth it! 

The Top Skydiving Advantages

Many people view skydiving as a high-risk outlet for daredevils looking to get their adrenaline fix, and wonder: Are there any benefits to skydiving? In reality, most skydivers get into the sport for reasons other than just being an adrenaline junkie – though we can’t deny that we might have a little bit of an addiction to the rush! Skydiving is a highly regulated sport that offers real-life benefits, even on the ground.

These are our top five skydiving advantages that make the sport so appealing:

Sense of Accomplishment

You. Did. That. Remember all that time you spent worrying and stressing over flying through the air with just a nylon sheet to catch you? Well, you went forward with your decision anywa,y and now you have that badge of honor to wear around for the rest of your life!

Increased Confidence

If you can jump out of an airplane, you can do anything! Everything else in life will seem like a piece of cake once you land from that first jump. From then on, everything you do will be compared to that moment at the door when you said yes and overcame all of your fears to experience freedom! 

Stress Management

Exiting an airplane door mid-flight and falling through the air at 120 mph is a stressful situation, no matter how you slice it. Even experienced skydivers get anxious sometimes. And the more you acclimate your brain to that environment, the better it will become at handling stressful situations and managing fear in productive ways. 

Community

Skydiving is so much more than just what happens in the sky. Some of the best moments don’t involve an airplane at all. Post-jump bonfires, dropzone cookouts, full weekend events, and just everyday camaraderie make the sport what it is. Skydiving brings people from all walks of life together through one common value: enjoying life and making the most of it. And jumping out of airplanes, of course! 

Physical Benefits

Did you know that skydiving is great for your heart? And we don’t just mean the proverbial version, either. Between carrying your gear, the physicality of the jump, and the body’s stress response, skydiving is quite a workout. You’ll notice that your muscles get stronger and your stamina increases the more you jump. 

The Disadvantages of Skydiving to Consider

Everything good has a flip side, and the sport isn’t without some skydiving disadvantages. We can probably all agree that it sounds pretty awesome after that list, so what are the disadvantages of skydiving? Well, in the same way that skydiving changes your life in amazing ways, those changes can take a toll on certain things.

Time

While you may not mind spending your time at the dropzone, how that will impact your current schedule may be something to consider. You’re going to find yourself suddenly unavailable on weekends, taking extended trips out of town, and generally prioritizing time in the sky over other things! This can impact relationships and other interests, so it’s important to go into your skydiving career with some perspective on how to manage your time. 

Money

Skydiving requires a financial investment. Your license, gear, jumps, and skydiving travel all cost money. Money that you didn’t have to budget for before you started jumping! To continue in the sport, you’ll have to make some changes and commit to spending your hard-earned cash where you find the most value. 

Hobbies

Once you start jumping, it’s likely all you’re going to want to do. Things that you used to enjoy might even pale in comparison to the thrill of skydiving, and other hobbies you had could fall by the wayside. Even other high-energy activities, like roller coasters or zip lining, will lose some of their excitement. However, it is important to maintain balance in life and continue to pursue other hobbies; it will only make you appreciate skydiving even more!

Prohibitive Factors

Skydiving is an inclusive sport that welcomes everyone, but unfortunately, there are some restrictions on who is fit to jump. Who should avoid skydiving? Anyone under the age limit, which is generally 18, over the weight limit, which is 240 lbs at Skydive New England, and people who have heart problems or joint issues generally should not skydive. Rest assured that these restrictions are solely for safety purposes – skydiving isn’t fun if there’s too much risk involved! 

Final Verdict: Is Skydiving Worth It?

At the end of the day, each person has their own threshold for risk, financial investment, and dedication of time. But looking at the pros and cons of skydiving, it’s hard to argue against it being worth every bit of commitment it takes! Skydiving is a highly enriching sport that changes each participant’s world view, self-esteem, and experience of community. 

What is the scariest thing about skydiving? Not skydiving at all! Book a jump today and don’t miss out on the most fun you’ll ever have. Blue skies!