Why Is Second Skydiving Always Better Than First?
“Yes! You already did your first Skydiving! You’re alive! Why do you want to do it again?”
I was asked the same question again and again by a number of friends and family members when I was planning to jump last month. I had no specific answer as of why I wanted to jump second time or why I want to burn money again for something I already experienced!
The truth is that I was bored with bungee jumping, paragliding and water sports. My body was craving for a high-adrenaline rush and my cousin came from Atlanta at the same time. So I had a perfect excuse to accompany him on his first skydiving and enlighten him through my previous experience.
This time also I chose to jump through Tandem from Skydive City at Zephyrhills, Florida. I made our bookings for April 13th, 2017 and fortunately, we got our first-morning slot at 8:00 AM. Unlike the last time when I had to wait for around 4 hours for our turn. This time everything was different because it was not a weekend. I got a call from Tandem around 8:10 AM when we were on our way. We reached around 8:15 AM and did the formalities. At 8:20 AM, our instructors came to meet us.
My instructor was Paul. He was very friendly and has been skydiving for almost 14 years. He briefed me with basic safety guidelines in 5 minutes. My videographer Bob took the initial introductory shot and briefed me few techniques for the better pictures. I was only a few minutes away from experiencing the highest thrill of a lifetime!
This time everything was different. The weather was bright and sunny. I was calm and excited as if I knew how to do skydiving by my own. From the first free fall to the sound of the wind to the air in your face and from the breathtaking acceleration and speed to the moment of truth when you take your first leap, you’re aware of all the coming action as you’ve already been to that adventure before.
Your first time skydiving is a life changing experience to overcome your fear. All the physical and emotional feelings during your first freefall are foreign to you because you have never experienced so many feelings at the same time before that gives you a sensory overload! Itβs sometimes hard to tell if the freefall lasted 10 seconds or 10 minutes!
On your second skydiving, your heart will be racing again but with less sensory overload. You can recall every second of your entire experience. Your freefall actually seems like the 60ish seconds that it is. You’ll be craving for few more seconds because you’re so much more aware during the jump you are actually able to enjoy the entire experience more. You would be able to live every second of your freefall experience, the smooth deceleration from freefall to the canopy flight as your parachute blossomed open.
Unlike your first skydiving stages, the second skydiving stages are comparatively different with more fun and thrill!
Stage 1: Goodbye, people! I’m going to rescue the world!
Stage 2: Victory is in our blood!
Stage 3: Time for some action boys!
Stage 4: A relaxed leap of faith!
Stage 5: Jumping from an aircraft at 13,500 ft…totally insane!
Stage 6: Am I floating, falling or flying…who cares?
Stage 7: I’m at the top of this world!
Stage 8: Have I got my wings?
Stage 9: Leave my hand soon as I can’t hold your hands for longer!
Stage 10: Can’t believe my 60 seconds drop is over! Can we do it for few more seconds, please?
Stage 11: Time for some canopy flight!
Stage 12: Mission accomplished: Landed in one piece without breaking any bones!
Stage 13: Thanks buddy for giving me an ultimate thrill of my life!
All I can say that there is nothing that compares to the second skydive! First time skydiving is a life changing experience but you own the second one! It is an ultimate surreal experience that you’re going to treasure throughout your lifetime. If you don’t agree, then watch this clip and see how much fun I had!
You can also watch the complete action in this video!
Do share your experience if you’ve done skydiving in the comments below? If not, do share about your last experience when you had an ultimate thrill of your life?
Till then, Happy Exploring!
Love,
Ana
elenasts
May 20, 2017Wow I don’t think I could ever go skydiving even though I have always wanted to try it. I’m just terribly afraid of heights and that my parachute wont open haha. Still your post gives me confidence to give it a go.
View CommentSwati Sam
May 20, 2017This is on my wish list too. Some very good pictures of the dive. I was planning to do this in NY.
View CommentAllGudThings
May 19, 2017Your experience shows how eagerly you wanted to fly and enjoy this experience. I too wanna skydive someday but still the thought scares me up. Hopefully will gather the courage and do it someday.
View CommentIndraneil Chowdhury
May 16, 2017This is on my bucket list.. Great photos.. could you also mention the appx. cost involved for tandem jumps ?
View CommentAna
May 16, 2017Hi Indraneil,
The Tandem cost depends upon what height you’re planning to jump, location as well as the season. Usually extra $100 for pictures and video. You can find great deals on Groupon too!
View CommentLiliane Fawzy
May 15, 2017Totally a great perspective. I’ve only been once and sort of thought I wouldn’t do it again after that. But now I’m inclined to say I’ll have to try again!
View CommentNika
May 15, 2017To be honest? I am glad that I survived the first skydive. Haven’t thought about a second time again. π
View Commentwanderlust vegans
May 15, 2017That’s a good sign if you go sky diving for a second time. I’ve never thought about it before but it seems like for a lot of people it is a one time thing. That might be a expense reason rather than sky diving not being enjoyable. My uncle said it is much better than bungee jumping. He said bungee jumping is all of the terror and none of the joy of sky diving.
View CommentTom
May 14, 2017I’ve never seen a post like this before, so thank you so much. Other skydiving posts (just a few) try to get to you do a first jump, so I think it’s brilliant to get you to do a second, to move beyond the “I’ve already done that” experience. I’ll look forward to your 3rd, 4th, jump posts. Cheers, then.
View Commentneha
May 14, 2017Wow. I am not as adventurous. I admire your courage to try this skydiving. Secretly, I want to do it at least once.
View CommentMelanie
May 13, 2017This looks awesome! I have always wanted to try skydiving! I can imagine the second is much better, once you are more relaxed π
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