How to Mentally Prepare for Skydiving

Table of Contents

• Accept The Nerves 
• Understand The Process
• Practice Breathwork 
• Preparing For A Skydive: Night Before & Morning Of 
• What Should You Not Do Before Skydiving?
• Lean On Your Instructor

Key Takeaways

Feeling nervous before a skydive is completely normal. Learning how to mentally prepare for skydiving starts with accepting those nerves instead of fighting them. Understanding the tandem skydiving process, practicing breathwork, and being physically prepared can help you feel calmer and more confident on jump day. Remember, your tandem instructor is there to guide you every step of the way, so don’t be afraid to ask questions or communicate how you’re feeling. Most importantly, trust yourself, trust the process, and get ready for an experience you’ll remember for the rest of your life!

Thinking about making your first skydive? First of all: congratulations! You’re about to do something that most people only dream about. Second: it’s completely normal to be nervous. In fact, every first-time skydiver feels some level of fear before jumping out of an airplane – it would be kinda concerning if you didn’t! 

The good news? You do not need to get rid of your nerves to have an incredible experience. Learning how to mentally prepare for skydiving is about understanding what to expect, trusting the process, and giving yourself tools to stay calm and focused.

Whether you’re checking off a bucket-list item for fun or finally facing a lifelong fear, here’s how to prepare for a skydive so you can enjoy every second of the adventure!

Accept The Nerves

One of the biggest misconceptions about skydiving is that fearless people do it, and that just isn’t the case. Even experienced skydivers get butterflies sometimes. The truth is, courage is not the absence of fear – it’s doing something despite your fear! 

Your brain is protecting you – sending off alarm bells because you’re doing something exciting, unfamiliar, and way outside of your everyday routine. That’s not weakness, that’s human nature. And it’s a beautiful thing! 

So, how do you get past anxiety-fueled thoughts like:

• “What if I panic?” 
• “What if I pass out?
• “What will freefall feel like?” 
• “Am I really going to do this?”  
• “What is the riskiest part of skydiving?”

The key to preparing mentally for skydiving is to educate yourself about the experience, accept that anxiety is a normal part of it, and consciously override that “NOOOO!” feeling, so you can get to the freedom that’s immediately on the other side.

Many tandem students say their nerves disappear the moment they leave the airplane. Why? Because there’s no time to overthink. There is only “the now.” Your senses take over, adrenaline kicks in, and what felt scary moments earlier becomes pure excitement and joy. 

Understand The Process

Learning what happens during a tandem skydive can make the experience feel a lot more accessible and manageable. 

A typical tandem skydive includes:

• Check-in process
• Video overview and waiver 
• Safety briefing
• Getting geared up
• Airplane ride to altitude
• 45-60 seconds of freefall
• Parachute ride 
• Land back at the dropzone

That’s it! Your tandem instructor handles all the technical parts of the jump while you focus on enjoying the experience – or better yet, don’t focus, just be. Unless your instructor is asking you to do something, you are free to cast your worries to the wind and soar.

Pro Tip: If you have questions or concerns about the tandem skydiving experience, communicate with our team – we’re here to support you. Confidence grows when you have accurate information!

Practice Breathwork

It may sound a little woo woo, but deep breathing is a great way to prepare to skydive. It’s one of the most effective ways to calm your nervous system. Slow, controlled breaths signal to your brain that you are safe, even when adrenaline is trying to convince you otherwise. Breath is powerful, and we should use it to our advantage to push past our comfort zones. 

Try this simple technique known as box or square breathing:

• Inhale slowly for four seconds
• Hold for four seconds
• Exhale slowly for four seconds
• Repeat several times – until your heart rate has noticeably slowed 

Another helpful mental trick is to stay present. Don’t think about the entire jump from start to finish. Just consider the next step: 

• Gear up
• Board the plane
• Enjoy the view
• Follow directions

Breaking the experience into small moments keeps your brain from becoming overwhelmed. This technique may seem to support unpreparedness, but it actually makes sure you’re present for every piece. Experienced skydivers or those learning to jump solo often do this to ensure they focus fully on each critical moment. 

Preparing For A Skydive: Night Before & Morning Of

The way you treat your body before your jump has a huge impact on your mental state. If you’re exhausted, dehydrated, or running on an empty stomach, your anxiety is bound to feel more intense.

The night before your skydive:

• Get a full night of sleep
• If you’re feeling antsy, at least lie down and physically rest (put your phone away!) 
• Drink plenty of water
• Avoid alcohol
• Eat normally (avoid what might upset your tummy) 

The morning of your jump:

• Eat a sensible meal
• Plan ahead so you arrive on time
• Wear comfortable clothes, suitable for the weather
• Avoid loading up on caffeine – your normal intake is okay

What Should You Not Do Before Skydiving?

When it comes to what not to do before skydiving, the list is short and simple: 

• Don’t come to the dropzone hungover
• Don’t show up sleep-deprived
• Don’t forget to hydrate 
• Don’t forget your valid, government-issued photo ID

Your body and mind work together, and feeling physically prepared makes it much easier to stay mentally calm – both consciously and subconsciously.

Lean On Your Instructor

One of the best parts about tandem skydiving is that you are not doing it alone! Your tandem instructor is there to guide you through every step of the experience. 

Tandem skydiving instructors are professionals who are highly trained, experienced, and skilled at helping nervous first-time jumpers feel comfortable. They’ve seen every kind of reaction imaginable – from shaky voices to nervous laughter to complete silence on the ride to altitude. They’re pretty impressive individuals, but they’re not mind-readers. If you’re anxious, tell them. Seriously. Communication is critical! They can help you, but only if they know you’re in need. 

Your instructor can answer questions, explain what’s happening, and reassure you throughout the process. And sometimes just hearing a calm, confident voice can completely change your mindset.

Ready To Send It?

At the end of the day, mental preparation for skydiving is not about eliminating fear completely. It’s about trusting yourself and the facts enough to take the leap anyway. Once your feet leave the airplane, you’ll understand why so many people describe skydiving as life-changing. Book your tandem skydive today! Blue skies!