I’ve done two tandem jumps with two of my kids. One of my others has done it as has my son in law.
I had the same instructor both times. He’s done 4000 tandem jumps. I kinda guess he’s got it figured out.
The first half second after you depart the plane is sheer terror, then it goes to super cool.
It seems that once the sport got safe gear and events, people had to test the sport for thrills. I heard that they are experimenting with how to land in a wingsuit—one wants to swoop up the cliff of a canyon and zero out his speed at the canyon’s top edge.
I’ve seen more than my share of bad jumps and a couple of frapps.
Sky diving isn’t for everyone. I instructed for several years and rode the aircraft down with the student a couple of times because they decided not to go.
I’m old school - started on rounds and I have 500+ jumps, one malfunction with the new airfoil (square) canopies, and was in the first 8-man star in Germany. I would not trade my experiences with anybody else. It is an intense sport with intense people.
I always tell people if you want to try it, go the tandem route. Static line takes 6-8 hours and they toss you out at 3,000 feet. Not a lot of time if there’s am issue. I did 3 tandem’s and then another 8 solos.