Skydiving is a hardcore adventure of sports. There was a time when people considered skydiving impractical as well as dangerous. However, everyone can enjoy this sport through proper training and under good guidance. It gives adventure enthusiasts a rise in adrenaline levels. Moreover, if you have the right kind of training, you can enjoy the thrill of skydiving safely.
This sport is in its preliminary stage, just emerging in India and has gradually gained a lot of popularity amongst the youngsters. People no longer need a passport to enjoy the adventures on their bucket list. This adventure sport is gaining popularity through social media and movies.
India has many certified skydiving destinations with proper training and good instructors. They have better quality equipment and qualified instructors that help in enjoying the sport without any fear. People in India, apart from skydiving, can also enjoy paragliding and scuba diving as they are also emerging in India.
People in India are clueless about these skydiving areas in India. They often tend to ask questions about the locations in countries like New Zealand, the USA and Africa, where skydiving destinations are world-class and are present in almost all regions every 500m.
Types of Jumping
Here is a list of several types of jumping during skydiving:
Tandem jump
If you are a beginner, then tandem sky jumping might be the best choice for you. In this jump, you will be accompanied by a professional instructor who will operate the equipment and do the required manoeuvre. These skydivers are initially students.
The passengers are instructed about the exit position and the correct posture of sitting and lifting their legs before entering the sport. It is a safe way of skydiving, and all passengers enjoy this experience because there is no fear of falling as you have someone to hold on to you.
Static line jump
It is solo skydiving, and one can only do it with a day of training or so. This job is done from 4000 ft above the ground. This is called a static line jump, as the parachute opens on a static line attached to the aircraft. The skydiver does it alone. However, there is a supervisor who constantly looks after the skydiver. It can be an ideal group activity and is a great way for travel and adventure enthusiasts to increase their forfeit of travelling and expand their horizons.
Accelerated free fall
It is the best type of jump for new skydivers. It is a very effective way to learn and understand how to relieve your body and use the parachute to come back to the ground. The ground training makes the rider aware of all the possible negative outcomes and the positive outcomes. The instructors also help the skydiver to jump. They will hold the skydiver first and then slowly leave them on their own. With certain jumps, the rider might also end up getting a license.
Things to Know Before Going for Skydiving
Before you go Skydiving, there are certain things which you should be aware of. Some of them are:
- 18-60 is the ideal age group for Skydiving activities, above 60 you need a clean chit from a doctor.
- The individuals need to carry certain documents such as ID Proof (Aadhaar, Pan, Passport) and Medical Certificate stating that the individual is medically fit.
- Skydiving isn’t physically strenuous. Your skydiving partner does 80% of the work, and gravity takes care of the rest.
- Skydiving is an amazing experience. The minute you land, you’ll want to go skydiving again.
- Choose tight or well-fitted clothing, because loose material can flail at 120 mph
- Don’t overstuff, eat a “normal” meal a few hours before your jump
- It’s very important to arrive on time to properly check in, fill out any paperwork and complete your pre-jump orientation before boarding the plane.
- Your tandem instructor will help you to maintain a belly-to-earth position during the fall itself.
Top eight Places for Skydiving in India
- Mysore, Karnataka
- Deesa, Gujarat
- Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu
- Aamby Valley, Maharashtra
- Dhana, Madhya Pradesh
- Narnaul, Haryana
- Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh
Mysore, Karnataka
Mysore has a lot of popularity because of its closeness to one of the biggest metropolitan cities. It is the best destination for skydiving. Many professional camps in this region provide skydiving options for tandem jumps, static line jumps and free fall jumps. The team provides complete professional training for a few days before the actual dive. Mysore is a great place to enjoy the safest and professional experience to get that adrenaline rush. The Mysore skydiving strip is located at the base of Chamundi hills, and it offers a spectacular view of the entire Mysore.
Fall height: 9000 – 10000 ft.
Price of Tandem Jump – INR 35,000
Accelerated Free Fall – INR 2,50,00
Operators: Skyriders
Best Time: Around the year
Deesa, Gujarat
Dessa city is situated close to Ahmedabad in Gujarat. It is located across the lakeside, and it is one of the most popular destinations for skydiving. The instructors in this place will provide the necessary training for enjoying the sport. This place is both for beginners as well as the experienced. The adventure freaks can experience full enjoyment in this region. This region also has a drop zone that is certified, and so it comes under the top-most best-skydiving destinations.
There are several skydiving camps that the Indian parachute federation and the sports authority of Gujarat organise. You can reach Deesa by bus or taxi from Ahmedabad, which is just 140 km away. You can do static jumps at Deesa. Also, you can go under the training of one or one and a half days. In this jump, the skydiver has no instructor and will be the masters of their own. However, they would be connected to two instructors on the radio for constant guidance. It ensures a safe landing once the skydiver takes leave and the parachute is deployed immediately.
Fall height: 3,500 to 4,000 ft.
Price: Static Line Jumps – INR 16,500
Tandem Jumps – INR 34,500
Accelerated Freefall (AFF) – INR 36,500
Operator: Operated by Indian Parachuting Federation
Best Time: All around the year
Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu
Apart from the strong influence of French culture and the stunning beauty of this town, Pondicherry is also a popular destination for skydiving. There are many skydiving camps in Pondicherry. Most of them offer tandem jumps as well as static line jumps. In this coastal beauty, free fall from the sky will give you a chance to enjoy the breathtaking landscape.
Pondicherry can be reached from Bangalore and Hyderabad through flights. The minimum age for starting a static jump is 16 years and for the tandem jump is 18 years. The tandem jump in Pondicherry is 10000 feet, and the static jumps 4,000 feet.
Fall height: 10000 ft
Price of Tandem Jump – INR 27,000
Operator: Skyriders and Waltair Escapade Thrills
Best Time: Not ideal during monsoon season
Aamby Valley, Maharashtra
Aamby Valley in Maharashtra is famous for its tandem jump or skydiving. This place offers skydiving all around the year. The training session provided is approximately over an hour with the instructor. In these training sessions, the instructor gives all the necessary instructions on the dos and don’ts of skydiving.
Within a span of 20 to 30 seconds, the parachute opens. For 40 to 50 minutes, you can have a beautiful image of the entire Aamby valley. It will enhance your adventurous experience and help you enjoy the complete ride. Amber valley can be reached from Mumbai airport and is located 130 km from Mumbai.
Fall height: 10000 ft.
Price: Tandem Jumps
Monday – Thursday INR 20, 000
Friday – Sunday – INR 25,000
Operators: ThrillsExtreme
Best Time: It is suitable at any time of the year except for too windy conditions or monsoon seasons.
Dhana, Madhya Pradesh
The serene town of Dhana lies in the Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh. This place is a beautiful location for skydiving and attracts a lot of adventure-seekers. Various operators organise skydiving camps for the skydivers to experience an adrenaline rush. However, the free-fall time is very less over there. However, people can enjoy the vast stretches of the landscapes within this area.
The tandem instructor accompanies the skydiver throughout and ensures a very safe landing. There is no need for having any previous experience whatsoever. A 30-minute-long training session will be provided to the adventure-seekers. The speed for the free fall is about 120 mph. One can reach this town from Bhopal or Jabalpur by road. The fall is experienced from a height of 4000 feet.
Fall height: 9000 – 10000 ft.
Price of Tandem Jump: INR 35,000 – INR 37,500
Static Jumps – INR 24,000
Operators: Chimes Aviation Academy, ThrillsExtreme
Best Time: any time of the year except for highly windy and monsoon season
Narnaul, Haryana
Skydiving in Haryana is open for people who want to experience an adrenaline rush. The Haryana government has decided to show interest in these sports to increase tourism inside the states. Apart from skydiving, paragliding is also present here, attracting thrill-seekers from all over the world. The Bachhod airstrip located in Narula is the only international skydiving zone. It is located approximately 2 hours from New Delhi. They provide and one-hour training session before the skydiving sport.
Fall height: 10000 ft
Price of Tandem Jump – INR 27,500
Operator: SkyHigh
Best Time: Not ideal during monsoon season, apart from that any time of the year is suitable.
Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh
Skydiving facilities are available in the Aligarh airstrips, where a person can experience a thrilling take off. One should have certain physical qualifications and should be medically fit for skydiving here. A general physician will provide a medical certificate that is to be presented here. A qualified instructor conducts the registration process. The Aligarh strips have only five stocks in a day. Therefore, you will have to reserve the day you wish to dive.
Anyone who is an early riser and wants to enjoy the city view can enjoy skydiving in Aligarh. For those who want to see the sunlight, the reporting time is 9 a.m. The jump will happen between 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. If you love sunsets, you can opt to come after 12 noon and experience this between 1 to 5 p.m.
However, you can only opt for a tandem jump. The tandem jump package includes a certification of completion and also a coffee mug. Participants will be provided with photographs and video recordings of the journey.
Fall height: 9000 – 10000 ft.
Price of Tandem Jump – INR 27025
Operators: SkyHigh
Best Time: Any time of the year except during heavy rains
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The Do’s and Don’ts of Skydiving
Do’s
- Paying attention to every detail that has been provided to you during the training session.
- If you wish to fly solo, you must have a well-equipped training facility.
- It is best to go on a light meal for skydiving and neither on an empty stomach for a full stomach because it makes you feel nauseous.
- Dress properly in a full tight top with proper helmets and pads so that the ride might not be a pain.
- Acrophobics should completely avoid skydiving because it may not be a pleasant experience for them.
Don’ts
During the fall, even if you panic, you have to take a moment and relax. You have to recall the training session calmly and then try for a safe landing immediately. You should contact our instructor over the radio if you aren’t on a tandem jump.
Before skydiving, always ensure to go for training. The trainer will instruct you to conduct this sport. Alcohol consumption before skydiving is completely prohibited. Make sure to never disobey the rules, as it becomes a factor of life risk.
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Skydiving is a sport that anyone can try without much preparation in advance. Furthermore, skydiving costs usually somewhere between 12,000 to 20,000 approximately. So, get your heart racing and dive headfirst in the blue sky by choosing from the following list that we have curated for you on the best destinations for skydiving in India.