Tandem Skydive FAQs

Tandem Skydiving FAQs

We’ve been answering the questions of first time skydivers for nearly 30 years, so there’s a good chance that your questions are on this page. If not, reach out! We’re happy to help.

General FAQs Tandem Requirements Media Package Questions Jump Day Questions Skydiving Safety Questions

Skydive Danielson is located at 41 Airport Rd., Danielson, CT 06239 – on the grounds of Danielson State Airport.

We’re less than 40 minutes from Providence, under an hour from Hartford, and about an hour from Worcester – a perfect day trip for much of Southern New England. The Boston metro is roughly 1 hour and 20 minutes away, offering a quick weekend getaway that still feels like a true escape into The Last Green Valley.

The Skydive Danielson season typically runs May through early October – check social media for specific opening and closing dates. Office hours are 9 am to 5 pm on weekdays, 8 am to 5pm on weekends. Jump operations vary depending on weather and sunset times. Book online!

Yes – space is limited and loads fill fast. A non-refundable deposit of $75 is required to reserve your spot. Deposits are applied to your total cost of the skydive. Book online!

We accept cash and credit. Checks are not accepted. All tandem skydiving prices listed reflect a 3% cash discount.

Note, a non-refundable deposit of $75 is required to reserve your spot. Deposits are applied to your total cost of your jump, with the balance due at check in.

Skydiving freefall is indescribable – it’s like nothing else on the planet! You’re floating on a column of air while the big, beautiful world unfolds in front of you. There’s no stomach drop sensation like you get on a roller coaster ride. Instead it is windy and awesome. Really, really awesome!!

While freefall doesn’t make people sick, the airplane and/or parachute ride can. Let your instructor know if you’re prone to motion sickness and be sure to:

Eat a light meal before your jump and bring snacks – an empty stomach will make it worse
Stay hydrated – bring water or non-alcoholic drinks with you to the dropzone
Abstain from alcohol the night before – if you’re under the influence, you won’t be jumping

At Skydive Danielson, we value safety above all else. So, no – you have to do a tandem skydive first. In fact, our Learn To Skydive program begins with two training tandem skydives followed by solo skydives using a student parachute. Jumping tandem allows you to get the experience of a skydive without having to deal with all the responsibilities that come with it.

Absolutely! People are welcome to hang out at the dropzone while you get ready for your jump and watch you land! We have picnic tables and a spectator viewing area. Note, all children 12 and under must be under adult supervision at all times.

Yes! There’s no better bonding experience than jumping with friends, family, and loved ones! We can accommodate multiple tandem pairs at a time on our spacious aircraft, and offer a per person discount for groups of 10 or more. Book online!

No. For safety reasons, guests cannot bring dogs and other animals to the dropzone. Please let us know ahead of time if you or someone in your crew is supported by a service animal.

In accordance with United States Parachute Association (USPA) regulations, you must be at least 18 years old to skydive. Parental consent does not waive the minimum age requirement. You must present a valid, government-issued photo ID at check in. No ID, no jump; no kidding.

At Skydive Danielson, our tandem skydiving weight limit is 240 lbs (fully clothed). All guests are weighed at check in. Guests over the weight limit will forfeit the non-refundable deposit paid at reservation.

Weight restrictions for tandem skydiving are in place to ensure the safety of all participants and are not intended to be exclusive or discriminatory.

Skydiving doesn’t require extreme fitness, but you must be in generally good health and mobility. You’ll need enough flexibility to crouch and kneel in the aircraft, maintain a stable arch position in freefall, and lift your legs for a safe landing.

Here’s a good test: Can you jump off a picnic table and land comfortably on your feet? Great, skydiving is for you! No? Skydiving may not be suitable for you.

Some health conditions can preclude you from making a skydive. If you have a cold, congestion, sinus pressure, or an inner-ear issue that affects your balance, wait until you’re feeling better before you jump.

Can you skydive with high blood pressure? This is not a question we can answer because we’re skydivers, not doctors. If you’ve experienced fainting spells, seizures, diabetes, high blood pressure or heart problems, shoulder dislocations, or chronic neck/back pain, please consult a medical professional before booking your jump.

Do not skydive if you are pregnant.

Skydiving is an inclusive sport, and many people with differing abilities successfully make tandem jumps and pursue solo skydiving. If you believe you’re capable of making a skydive or curious about the possibilities, connect with us to discuss your needs and potential accommodations.

We offer three different skydiving media packages – Extreme Hand Cam (selfie footage and photos), Pro Package (videographer footage and photos), and Ultimate Package (hand cam and videographer footage and photos). Check out our Media Packages page for details.

Hand cam footage is captured from a wrist-mounted camera worn by your instructor. With our Extreme Hand Cam package, you get close-up HD video, up to 100 photos, exit and freefall coverage, your parachute deployment and ride, and pre- and post-jump interviews.

With videographer footage, a dedicated camera flyer exits the plane with you and your instructor to take cinematic, wide-angle footage from an outside perspective. With our Pro Package, you get HD video, up to 50 photos, exit and freefall coverage, and pre- and post-jump interviews. Because the videographer has to fly their own parachute at a safe distance away, they are not able to capture your under-canopy footage.

With the Ultimate Package, you get both hand cam and videographer footage and photos.

You’ll be able to view your video on the big screen in the hangar within minutes of landing! You’ll get a link to your video package by the end of the business day via your email address.

No, each tandem jumper is accompanied by an individual videographer. Tandem pairs exit the aircraft with about 5 to 10 seconds of separation to ensure the parachutes don’t deploy within close proximity. Because of this separation, it isn’t possible for a videographer to fly from one tandem pair to another.

Sorry, no! In accordance with United States Parachute Association (USPA) regulations, you must have a license to skydive and a minimum of 200 jumps before jumping with a camera.

You are welcome to take pictures on the ground before and after your jump, but you are not permitted to bring a camera, camera glasses, or phone with you on the airplane.

Your reservation time is your class time – please check in 15 minutes early to ensure you’re on time to your training session. We are only able to accommodate latecomers if we have availability later in the day.

Parking is free and conveniently located right off Airport Road, next to Skydive Danielson office – you can’t miss it!

Most guests spend three to five hours at the dropzone, but plan to spend the day with us to allow for delays and weather holds.

Yes! A light meal (sandwich, salad, etc) is recommended. An empty stomach can cause more trouble than a full one. Bring snacks! We are conveniently located minutes off the highway with lots of nearby market and restaurant options.

Hydration is important – water and non-alcoholic beverages are encouraged. Please make a final restroom stop before gearing up.

Alcohol is strictly prohibited for at least eight hours before your skydive. Being under the influence is unsafe, illegal, and will result in the cancellation of your jump.

You must present a valid, government-issued, photo ID – such as a driver’s license or passport – at check in. No ID, no jump. Also bring your college or military ID in order to receive the applicable discount.

You’re welcome to bring a cooler with snacks and water or soft drinks – no alcohol. There are plenty of markets and convenience stores nearby! You can also bring things to keep you occupied while you wait to jump, like books, frisbee, hacky sack, or other outdoor games.

Avoid skydiving if you’re sick or congested – the pressure changes can cause inner-ear pain. If you’re not feeling your best, please reschedule your jump.

If it’s anxiety, be sure to stay hydrated, eat a light meal, and consider motion-sickness remedies if needed.

Yes! Wear your glasses or contacts to skydive – you don’t want to miss our incredible views of the Heritage Corridor and Quinebaug River! Wear contacts if you have them. If you must wear glasses to see, wear an old pair if possible. Either way, we’ll provide you with goggles to protect your eyes. Bring back ups of contacts or glasses just in case you lose them in freefall!

There’s no skydiving dress code, but some outfit choices are better than others. As a general rule for what to wear skydiving, go for athletic clothing that enables full range of motion and lace up gym shoes.

Comfortable athletic clothing you don’t mind grass stained
Avoid bulky clothing that will whip around in the wind
Gym shoes; no sandals, boots, heels, or shoes with lace hooks
Wear black or bright colors to stand out against the sky in your video
Jumpsuits are available on request

In warm weather (above 70°), choose active wear, like shorts or leggings and a T-shirt. Avoid short shorts for comfort in the tandem harness and on landing.

In cooler weather (below 70°), dress in thin, light layers – starting with thermals if it’s cold. It’s much colder at altitude than on the ground. Bring your own gloves if under 60 degrees!

The weather on jump day can be unpredictable – fine conditions on the ground may not be fine at altitude. If we are skydiving at the time of your arrival, you will pay for your skydive at check in. If we are on a weather hold at the time of your arrival, you have the option to wait to pay until we start jumping again.

All payments are non refundable, regardless of weather conditions
Rainchecks can be issued at any time; you don’t have to wait for the weather to change
Rainchecks do not expire and are fully transferable

If you have a long drive and are concerned about the weather, please call the dropzone before you head our way.

Tipping isn’t expected in skydiving, but it’s definitely appreciated. Instructors train hard for the privilege of taking people on their first jump, and videographers put real effort into capturing your moment. Showing them a little love is wonderful – just not mandatory.

Prefer another way to say thanks? Shout them out by name in a glowing review, write a thank-you note, or give them a big post-landing hug.

Skydiving is an extreme sport with inherent risk – jumping from an aircraft at 14,000 feet is not a “safe” activity. Because of this, skydiving is a highly regulated industry overseen by the United States Parachute Association (USPA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Skydive Danielson is a USPA Group Member and follows all USPA safety protocols. All tandem students are securely harnessed to a USPA-certified instructor who manages every part of the jump, from exit to landing. Our aircraft are maintained and operated to strict FAA standards, and our team is trained, licensed, and committed to risk management at every level of the experience.

For more information on national skydiving safety statistics, we encourage you to read the USPA’s annual report, How Safe Is Skydiving?

Tandem instructors are highly trained professionals who must meet strict USPA requirements in order to take students skydiving. Every USPA tandem instructor has:

Minimum of 500 jumps
3+ hours of freefall time
USPA D-license
FAA Class III Medical Certificate
Tandem Instructor Rating

They’re also trained in emergency procedures, aircraft safety, and passenger handling, and must maintain ongoing proficiency to keep their rating current.

Hollywood loves showing parachutes that don’t open – but in real skydiving, this scenario is extremely rare. Modern parachute systems are incredibly reliable, and while a main parachute can occasionally have a malfunction, it still almost always opens.

By federal law, every skydiving system must include two parachutes: a main and a reserve. If the main parachute does not deploy or cannot be used safely, your instructor will deploy the reserve.

At Skydive Danielson, every tandem system is also equipped with an Automatic Activation Device (AAD) – an electronic safety device designed to automatically activate the reserve parachute if the instructor is unable to do so.

Main parachutes are packed by trained professionals who follow strict FAA guidelines. Reserve parachutes must be inspected and repacked by an FAA-certified rigger every 180 days – whether they’re used or not – to ensure they remain in top condition.

We continuously monitor conditions on the ground and at altitude. Strong, gusty winds, low clouds, and rain are all a no-go for skydiving. Weather delays can happen at any time and may last an hour, several hours, or even the entire day. Skydive Danielson is a safety-first operation – if we are not jumping, it’s because it is not safe to do so.

All weather decisions are made on the same day as your scheduled skydive. If you are unable to skydive due to weather, airport closures, or other unforeseen circumstances, you will receive a raincheck to use at any time. Rainchecks never expire and are fully transferable.

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Tandem Skydive FAQs

Tandem Skydiving FAQs

General Questions

Tandem Skydiving Requirements

Media Package Questions

Jump Day Questions

Skydiving Safety Questions

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