Types of skydiving courses

If you need to release adrenaline, if you want to live an exciting adventure, if you like sports and excitement, then you have to take the leap. Parachute jumping is an aerial sport that is very fashionable, both to live the experience on a specific day and to specialize in skydiving as a hobby or as a tool for certain jobs.

If you want to do a tandem here you have several possibilities.



A good option to feel the excitement of parachute jumping is baptism. The baptism of skydiving is a one-day experience in which you can try your luck and decide to go further. If it convinces you and you want to know more about skydiving, there are a series of courses with which you can learn the secrets of skydiving and improve your technique.

Although each school may establish different categories for skydiving courses, there are 3 generic ones for beginners (AFF, Tandem and Static Line) and several advanced skydiving courses for those who already jump.

Below, we explain what each one consists of:




It is the most traditional form of parachute jumping. In this case, instructor and student jump, fall and land together. Both are joined through a special harness that hooks the student to the instructor's parachute. There are 2 phases in this course:

a) Tandem phase: with a minimum of 5 tandem jumps that are performed at 4000 meters high and serve for the student to learn stability methods in free fall, perform complete turns in both directions, open the parachute, maneuver and land, all assisted directly by the instructor

b) Individual phase: between 10 and 15 jumps at a height of between 2000 and 4000 meters to reinforce what was learned in the previous phase, but this time individually. However, in this second phase some jumping with the instructor is required.





It is the most effective method in terms of speed and safety. Created in the late 70s in the USA, and whose expansion began in the 80s.

This course is intensive and personalized. The student is observed during the entire course by the instructors (at first 2, then 1) to be able to correct any errors that may occur and teach the techniques of parachute flight.

The AFF is made up of 1 theoretical class of about 6 hours and 7 practical levels, separated by between 7 and 10 jumps. With the theoretical class you will learn basic notions about the method of jump, knowledge and use of the equipment, behavior in the event of emergencies in flight, exit, communication during the flight, the opening of the parachute and the flight after opening, and the final phase of approach and landing. After this theory, we move on to practice, which begins with a first tandem jump, which is followed by another 7. The first 3, supervised by 2 instructors, the remaining 4 by a single instructor. To move from each level to the next level, you must carry out the sequences described in each of them and overcome them. The instructors are the ones who will decide on each jump if the objectives have been achieved and if the student can move on to the next level.



In the AFF course the student, from the first moment, jumps alone. The instructors will hold you for the approximate minute that the free fall lasts, but when it is time to open the parachute, the student will be alone with the equipment. For the instructor to direct the approach to the landing point, the student carries a ground-to-air radio. The safety of the equipment is maximum and they have an automatic opening device.

At the end of the AFF course, in which you will learn the basics that every parachutist should know to practice this aerial sport in any sport, you will obtain a degree recognized by the International Aeronautical Federation and the Royal Aeronautical Federation Spanish, with which you can practice skydiving in any center in the world.



Course composed of 30 jumps at a height of between 1000 and 1500 meters, in which the student is attached to the plane by a static rope. The parachute in this case has an automatic opening system attached to the rope.

This method is used to acquire the technique for exiting the plane. Once this phase has been mastered, the free fall begins in which the student opens his parachute while jumping to a height of between 1500 and 3000 meters.




These courses are available for students who have passed the first training phase of the previous courses. Advanced skydiving courses serve to teach the student new skills with the parachute. The topic of these courses can be very broad, in which specific techniques will be covered depending on what you prefer.

• Advanced group jumping courses: With these courses you will learn to jump in a group and you will gain more ease in your movements. Improve your technique of exiting the plane, learn the techniques of approaching the group, manage to move forward, backward, go up and down, perform combined movements and collaborate with the group, learn to move away to open your parachute and know the basic rules of group flight .

• Advanced Free Fall Formation Course (FCL) with which, jumping in a group, you will learn to form figures in the air.

• Advanced Freefly Jumping Course, where you learn new forms of flight, such as the Stable Face-to-Earth (ECT) flight position, headdown (Headown), standing (Standfly), sitting (Sitfly) or back (Backfly).

Whichever parachute jump course you take, we advise you to before each jump check the operation of your equipment, to take into account the action of the wind (especially if it is your first jumps and you have not yet you dominate the position) since it can make you lose control, and that you have self-control and emotional balance. If you opt for the tandem jump, these evaluations will be made by the instructor.



The requirements: the minimum age to skydive is 16 years old, and those under 18 will have to have parental authorization. No extraordinary physical condition is necessary, although it is necessary to have a minimum background and not suffer from heart problems. Before jumping with a parachute, remember that you should not take any type of substance that could alter the normal behavior of your body and, if you have donated blood or have practiced diving, tell the instructor because, due to changes in pressure, you will have to assess whether you are in a position to jump or not.

To parachute, you need a series of elements that form the basic equipment: 2 parachutes (the main one and a reserve), the suit or jumpsuit, helmet, gloves, glasses, altimeter and an automatic system opening of Advanced