What’s a better way to conquer one’s fear of heights than to go tandem skydiving? I made that commitment a few summers ago and it was an exhilarating feat! I purchased a Groupon for a tandem skydiving experience at the Chattanooga Skydiving Company in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The deal even included a video.
Tandem skydiving is done with the student being attached to an instructor. The 18,000 ft skydiving experience was scenic. The Chattanooga Skydiving Company is located near the serene Sequatchie Valley along Nickajack Lake. We all enjoyed a short tour of the area while on the plane before being released.
Upon our arrival, after we all completed our registration for the adventure, we all were repeatedly informed of our ability to renege at any time. As fear stumbled on my heart, I considered backing out two or three times. The final time was when I sat on the edge of the plane. My instructor started the countdown for the freefall and extreme anxiety fell upon me. Before I knew it, I had jumped and there was no looking back.
My first reaction after the freefall was the shock that I didn’t feel the “dip” effect as from riding a roller coaster. It was more like soaring than dropping. The wind gushed strongly at my face which made it difficult to breathe. I quickly figured out that I had to turn my face away from the direction of the wind to gain more control over my breathing.
The view of the area was spectacular at 18,000 feet! My instructor allowed me to propel the parachute for a few minutes after it deployed to give me an added sense of flying. The landing was facile as it only required that we left our legs up in a sitting motion until we eventually sat on the grassy area designated for landing.
Three things you should know when considering skydiving from a plane:
- No matter how sunny it may be on land, the higher the altitude while skydiving, the colder it will be. Wear a light jacket or sweater to prevent catching a cold or bronchitis. I learned that the hard way.
- The skydiving experience requires that you sign a death waiver. Should your skydiving experience result in death, the company is not liable. Your family cannot file a suit against the firm. Skydive at your own risk. Skydiving is not a covered peril on an insurance policy either. It’s a very risky excursion.
- Purchase a skydiving package that includes a video. Why go through all of that with no tangible proof?
Have you ever been skydiving? If so, describe your experience in one word.
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-Love
