Is it Safe to Skydive in Hawaii?

a tandem skydiving jump in mid-air
Hawaii Aloha Travel > Blog > Is it Safe to Skydive in Hawaii?

This post is for all the thrillseekers out there. Those who want their tropical vacation to be full of adrenaline. This is for everyone who plans to Skydive in Hawaii – or anyone who is just a little curious. 

One of the biggest concerns about skydiving is whether it is safe. As a beginner skydiver, you’ll go with a certified company and then dive tandem with a guide. Still, it’s good to know about safety before you go so that you can keep your eyes open for any concerns. Plus, when you know the best safety practices for skydiving in Hawaii, you can fully enjoy the experience knowing you did your full research. 

The Risks of Skydiving in Hawaii

Skydiving isn’t a truly safe activity. You’ll be jumping from an airplane, after all. And people have died during skydiving trips in the state. Most of Hawaii’s fatalities have been because of airplane failures. 

Overall, the risks of skydiving are low. Worldwide, there is less than one fatality per 100,000 dives

Safety When Skydiving

Still, the few tragic incidents in Hawaii are a reminder that we ALL need to take safety very seriously when participating in extreme sports, and that definitely goes for skydiving, too.

Ahead are some helpful Hawaii skydiving safety tips to keep in mind

1. Wear Your Jumpsuit

The jumpsuit you have to wear may not look stylish, but it’s there to protect you from cold air and wind. The jumpsuit should fit well.  It shouldn’t be too big or too small, and there shouldn’t be any openings where air can get through.

two people skydiving with opened parachutes
Sure, the jumpsuits are usually anything but stylish, but it’s important to wear one. It shouldn’t be too big or too small, and there shouldn’t be any openings where air can get through.

2. Love Your Harness

If you’re going skydiving for the first time, the company you’re diving with will give you a harness. The harness keeps everything in place so that you can safely skydive. If you’re skydiving on your own, you should first have a harness that’s been custom-fitted to your body.

3. Know Your Gadgets When You Skydive in Hawaii

When you’re on a tandem jump, you have a professional with you who can pull the parachute cord in case you panic and forget. You should still know about the automatic activation device, though, which opens the parachute for you in case you remember when it’s too late.

4. Be Helmet Wise

The helmet isn’t there to protect you in case the parachute doesn’t open (which is extremely rare), though. Instead, it’s there if your landing doesn’t go as smoothly as you want. You could end up toppling over on your head, in which case you’ll be happy the helmet is there to protect you.

Always wear your helmet. It’s there in case your landing doesn’t go as smoothly as you want. You could end up toppling over on your head, in which case you’ll be happy the helmet is there to protect you.

5. Ask For a License

Don’t unquestioningly trust your skydiving instructor who will be jumping with you; ask to see his license first. Instructors have to meet certain qualifications to take other divers along with them. A quality Hawaii Skydiving instructor will have his license posted for everyone to see, but if you don’t notice it right away, ask about it before signing anything.

6. Eat Before You Jump

Otherwise, you could get lightheaded and pass out, which isn’t just unsafe, but it’s not fun, either. Why pay all that money to faint halfway down? Skip greasy food, though, which will just make you feel lethargic. Eat something light and healthy to keep you feeling tip-top.

7.  Do Deep Breathing

There are few people who can look out of a plane they’re about to jump out of and not panic just a little bit. Before you lose it and ruin the experience for yourself, do some deep breathing. Breathe in for three seconds and then out for five to quickly calm yourself down. You don’t want to skydive when you’re having a panic attack — you won’t enjoy your time or be able to make sound decisions as you skydive in Hawaii.

8. Use your signals

Before the jump, ask the instructor or the other divers what signals you want to use to communicate. You won’t be able to hear each other if you try talking during the jump, so you’ll have to rely on some type of sign language.

Alternatives to Skydiving in Hawaii

Thrillseekers will love the chance to skydive over our beautiful islands. Of course, going skydiving can be a bit intimidating, especially for those who want to ease out of their fear of heights. 

If that’s you, consider taking a paragliding excursion instead. You’ll still experience the thrill of flying, but in a more controlled way. And, you’ll still get a great view of Hawaii!

Hawaii Aloha Travel can help you book the best activities for your vacation. 

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