Skydiving. It's either something that's always been on your bucket list or something you think you'll never do. Unfortunately, far too many people leave skydiving on their bucket list, and far too many people who think they will never do it. Why? Because they had the wrong idea about skydiving.
There are some pervasive myths about this sport that just won't go away, and they keep many people from experiencing one of the greatest thrills of their life. If you're considering skydiving, make sure you don't think these three things:
#1: Skydiving is just too dangerous
Let's tackle this right out the gate: skydiving isn't inherently "dangerous." If you think people who skydive are tempting fate, consider this: There were 13 fatal accidents in 2018 out of 3.3 million jumps. That's a safety percentage of 99.9993%. Your chances of being in a serious car accident are actually much higher than your chances of being in a skydiving accident. And tandem skydiving (which almost all beginners do) has an even better track record.
#2: Landings are almost always painful
As long as you follow the instructions, a skydiving landing isn't painful. Your chute is designed to slow your descent to a safe speed, and if done correctly, the updraft near the ground will cause you to glide to a smooth stop. And if you're doing a tandem jump, your legs are actually lifted so the instructor can take the brunt of any force there is. Most "slide-in" skydiving landings feel just like going down a slide on a playground.
#3: You'll have difficulty breathing when you jump
The fear of not being able to breathe is certainly a real thing for a lot of people, but it's not an issue with skydiving, Why? Because the average jump height is about 13,000 feet (and the legal limit for a skydive is 18,000 feet) and there's breathable oxygen as high as 20,000 feet. You'll be able to breathe just fine when you jump out of your plane. And besides, you'll be experiencing so much of an adrenaline rush that you won't even have time to be scared.
In conclusion, if skydiving seems like the rush of a lifetime, you're exactly right! Ask anyone who ever has, and they'll tell you it's one of the most memorable things they've ever done. So don't let a few silly misconceptions distract you from something you'll remember for years to come.
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