Skydiving From 18,000 Feet

Freefall. For many skydivers, it’s the most enticing part of jumping out of an airplane. Images of happy souls, flying free as a bird at 120 mph, have inspired many a daredevil to take the leap. 

Skydiving jumps typically take place between 10,000 and 14,000 feet – with 14K being the standard at Skydive New England. But if freefall is so incredibly magical, why stop at 14,000 ft? It seems, when it comes to altitude, more is better, right? We’d have to agree! 

Why not an 18,000 feet skydive? That extra altitude opens up all sorts of possibilities for jumpers to have fun. Skydiving has evolved to the point that jumpers have many different options for freefall disciplines. And in skydiving, 18,000 feet gives ample time to play in the sky.

Now … imagine how exciting an 18,000 ft tandem skydive would be! No need to search for “skydiving 18,000 feet near me” – you’ve already found the only 18K tandem skydiving for miles and miles! The only skydiving dropzones in the US besides Skydive New England offering glorious 18,000’ skydiving for first-time flyers are in Michigan, Florida, and California!  

Read on to find out why making an 18,000 ft tandem skydive is so special!

Extra Time in Freefall

Skydiving is awesome! Literally awe-inspiring. Why wouldn’t you want to spend as much time as possible in the air? Every second counts when you’re having the time of your life. And at 120 mph, those seconds go by in the blink of an eye. 

Skydiving from a higher altitude equates to a longer freefall. But how much longer? Well, skydiving from 14,000 feet yields about 60 seconds of freefall … and from 18,000 feet gives you about 30 seconds more! So bumping your altitude up to 18,000 feet will add a whole 30 seconds to your skydive – that’s about 50% extra freefall! 

The feeling of freedom that comes with freefall is unmatched in every way. The stunning views; the accomplishment of something relatively few people on this planet do; the feeling of floating through the air, defying gravity itself – it’s sheer exhilaration! You know the moment you exit the airplane door that, after you land, you’ll never be the same. So yeah … you’re going to want to keep the life-affirming feeling of freefall going for as long as possible. 

(Trust us, it’s how we ended up committing our lives to this crazy-amazing sport!)

And, as we mentioned, not all dropzones offer the option for higher jumps. It’s an exceptional experience that can only be had under certain circumstances. Being bold enough to go skydiving will already set you apart from the crowd – make your skydive one to really stand out! 

Cool Specialty Gear

One of the coolest parts of skydiving (besides the actual jump, of course) is the gear that comes along with it. What gear a skydiver jumps with is a very personal choice that encompasses safety and style. Every skydiver has their own approach to gear, and the sick stuff you see on their backs, heads, and arms is a true representation of who they are. 

That’s no different for tandem skydives. Tandem skydiving equipment is highly specialized and designed to make tandem jumps as safe and comfortable as possible. Skydiving is a real treasure trove for gear nerds. 

And skydiving from higher altitudes means there’s even more fun gear to incorporate. Oxygen is required to be worn in the airplane for any jump above 15,000 feet. The O2 is removed before jumping, but wearing it in the plane totally makes you feel like you’re in an action movie. It’s an exciting series of events that most skydivers, especially tandem skydivers, don’t get the opportunity to experience! 

Longer Video

Your skydive will be over before you know it whether it’s from 14,000 or 18,000 feet. Adding a videographer to your jump ensures that you’ll get to relive every moment over and over again – even the ones you were too overwhelmed to remember! 

Skydiving videos are special mementos that you can share with friends and family. They’re all supremely cool, and sometimes they capture some fantastic, giddy silliness, and sometimes they’re pretty emotional. Going skydiving is a huge personal decision, regardless of your reasons for going. And skydiving videos capture that meaning. 

You get to have that cheesy mug on video for even longer if you jump from 18,000 feet! Feel all the feels with a video that really captures the moment … or even more moments with a higher jump! 

Putting the Extreme in Extreme Sports

Skydiving is already a once-in-a-lifetime adrenaline rush. You might as well go full send! You’re obviously someone who likes to make life exciting if you’re planning on jumping out of an airplane. Taking that jump up to 18,000 feet will make the experience extra-level extreme. 

Truth talk: no matter how long your freefall lasts, it’s never long enough. So, if the opportunity for more is there, take it! Make your skydive one to remember forever – book your 18,000 ft tandem with Skydive New England today!