Can You Skydive With a Fear of Heights?

Key Takeaways
A fear of heights and a fear of skydiving are different experiences, and many people with a fear of heights successfully enjoy skydiving. Skydiving often doesn’t trigger the same fear response as standing on a ledge because of the extreme altitude, lack of visual reference points, and unique freefall sensations. Mental preparation, visualization, and gradual exposure to heights can help build confidence before your jump. Researching the sport, taking care of yourself, asking questions, and focusing on your breathing can make your first skydive a more enjoyable experience.

Many people think that skydiving with a fear of heights would be uncomfortable at best, if not impossible. But rest assured, it’s not! When it comes to skydiving, a fear of heights is actually much less of an issue than you might assume. 

So if you’re wondering: Should I skydive if I’m scared of heights? The answer is yes! Go for it if you want to! Here’s why.

Fear of Heights vs. Fear of Skydiving

While they may seem like the same thing, a fear of heights and a fear of skydiving are actually separate triggers. In fact, there’s a good chance that you’ll meet at least one experienced skydiver who’s afraid of heights at any dropzone you visit. 

Fear of heights, or acrophobia, is defined as an extreme or irrational fear of heights, especially when one is not particularly high up. People who are afraid of heights are often triggered by short distances, or even just thinking about being up high. 

So, what is the scariest part of skydiving? That differs from person to person, but it generally centers on the unknown sensations of the experience and the fact that exiting an airplane mid-flight is not natural to humans! It’s completely normal to be nervous, or even downright scared before your skydive, whether you’re afraid of heights or not.

Why Skydiving Feels Different Than Standing on a Ledge

There are scientific reasons why skydiving doesn’t activate the same alarm bells as a fear of heights, even if you are actually afraid of heights. There are certain conditions that must exist for your brain to register height (and the fear of it), and skydiving often circumvents those triggers for these reasons:

Distance

A skydive starts from thousands of feet above the ground. Even though we know this is extremely high up, our brains can’t actually process that distance in real life. There’s so much space between you and the ground that it almost doesn’t seem real, and, as a result, your brain doesn’t react the way that it would from a lower height.

Point of Reference

One of the most important things needed to trigger a fear of heights is a point of reference between your eyes and the ground – the ladder, the wall of the house, the cliff face. Something that your brain can “measure” and use to recognize the distance. In skydiving, it’s just you and the sky. That means that having nothing between you and the ground stops your brain from thinking too hard about the height!

Sensations

Most people assume that freefall includes the butterflies-in-the-stomach, drop feeling that you get on roller coasters. In reality, you’ll feel much more like you’re floating than falling, and you aren’t likely to experience those butterflies at all. 

How to Prepare for Skydiving With a Fear of Heights

Anyone – even people who are acrophobic – can enjoy skydiving. But if you’re worried, chances are you’ve searched how to overcome your fear of heights so you can fulfill your dream of human flight. Top tip: remember it’s all mental.

Focusing on this reminder can help you right-size your fear throughout the experience. Spend some time the day of your jump visualizing the airplane, freefall, and parachute ride so that it’s not a shock to you when it becomes real. 

Exposure therapy is also one of the ways people treat a fear of heights, so you can try experimenting with lower heights at home (like a chair or ladder) and see if that desensitizes you to getting off the ground. 

Hearing from other people who are afraid of heights and have gone skydiving can help, too. Read about like minded folks having the time of their lives and you might not be so worried anymore! Here are a few of our reviews to get you started: 

• “I had never even been in a plane and heights is my biggest fear but with them I felt so safe, comfortable and like I couldn’t have been in better hands! 1,000,000,000/10 would recommend them to anyone!”
  – Mallory L

• “I am afraid of heights, and riding on planes makes me nervous … I felt completely prepared for the jump, and although my greatest fear was the free fall (I hate rollercoasters), it was the best part of the jump!”
  – Tracey D

• “First time skydiving and had a great time. I had a bad fear of heights going into it but my instructor Tom did a great job helping me with my nerves. Overall 10/10 experience, would do it again.”
  – Charlie B

Practical Tips for Your First Skydive With a Fear of Heights

Are you ready to challenge yourself and change your life? Here are some tips to get you in the mindset to enjoy the experience of a lifetime:

Research

Understanding safety statistics and skydiving culture will go a long way in boosting your confidence in your decision to jump out of an airplane. 

Take care of your body

Get a full night’s sleep the night before your jump, and eat a nutritious breakfast the morning of. The better your body feels, the less stressed your brain will be. You should also bring snacks and water to the dropzone to stay fueled up while you wait. 

Ask questions

Your instructor is here for you. They love sharing their passion and knowledge, so don’t be afraid to ask any questions that might help you feel better about your adventure.

Breathe

When it’s finally time to jump, remember to breathe. Breathing signals to your brain that everything is copacetic and helps calm your nerves. Taking deep, measured breaths will keep you in the moment and focused on the fun you’re about to have! 

Reach out to us with any questions you have about skydiving, or book your jump now and ask when you get here! We can’t wait to share the sky with you!