Hasn’t technology advanced far enough to ensure functioning parachute packs? Or some sort of backup ripline of sorts?
I’m a former Instructor, Jumpmaster and Safety Officer for the United States Parachute Assn. I would be classified as “Expert” if I had one water jump.
Parachuting now is very safe if you stick to the safety procedures. If you have a malfunctioning main, the release system and reserve deployment is now quite fast, especially when compared to the old system that the round chutes used.
The danger is when one problem is followed by another. If you initiate opening lower than usual, then something else goes wrong, you have little time to correct the problems. If you don’t have enough time you eat high speed dirt.
The “squares” are VERY reliable if packed properly. I have only known one jumper who didn’t take his pack job seriously. The reserve chutes must be packed by a licensed rigger.
I’ll look for more information, but this was just to answer your question.