what42 0 #1 March 28, 2001 I've never been skydiving before but would like to try it out. I've decided to just do a tandom jump to see if I like it before trying to do the AFF sequence. My girlfriend, however, seems to have a problem with me skydiving. She's worried about the dangers involved. Does anyone know or can tell me about any deaths/injuries involving first time tandom skydiving? Also, I think we're going this weekend to visit a DZ so we can look the place over and watch people jump. I figure that if she sees people skydiving maybe she'll be a little better with the idea. Any thoughts/comments?Wesley Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkySlut 0 #2 March 28, 2001 Take her to the DZ and check everything out...My family hated the idea of me skydiving but when they came to the DZ they really dug it and now they show up quite a bit to just watch. Knowledge is power, so load up on it and the fear will be gone. See if they are willing to take her up on an observer ride. That may help too."I'll jump anything!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lazerq3 0 #3 March 28, 2001 I dont know about your DZ but the one I am currently training at has NEVER!!!!! had a tandem ride a reserve chute down. SO for me when I made my first tandem the concern of the chute not opening never crossed my mind. The only thing that scared me was looking down from 10,000ft GGGAAAAAAWWWWWWWWDDDDD!!!!! But man is it worht it!! How ever just because they never had a problem doesnt maean one cant happen so make sure you ask yur TM what to do if the situation occurs! As for your girlfriend... hell what do I know I'm still trying to deal with MY wife jason Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NewGuy 0 #4 March 29, 2001 Check out some stats at : http://www.afn.org/skydive/sta/stats.html.This is also interesting but, does not mean much as it doesn't show the total number of participants (e.g. Many more people boat than skydive): http://www.afn.org/skydive/sta/stats.htmlYou can poke around the web by doing a search for "skydive + statistics"I'm just a greener at this with only 7 jumps under my belt - so I'm certainly not the voice of wisdom when it comes to jumping. However, I was pretty much in the same boat as you are. I think everyone is before they decide to go ahead and jump or continue jumping. Plus, I'm not a risk taker unless the odds are extremely in favour of safety. My personal conclusion after researching stats, jumping and putting a lot of thought into it and the preventative measures that can be taken is that the risk very reasonable. Very. I'm more than happy to jump. I worry now more about my trip to and from the DZ - and that's no joke.Being an avid scuba diver I noticed the risks are even higher for scuba diving. So that in part did a great deal to ease my mind.You've probably heard this from everyone and will continue to hear it: It's something you've got to be comfortable with and don't let anyone talk you into it. You are the one jumping so you have to be 110% sure you know what is at stake and are willing to live with the odds.Take a look at the numbers - it might help you. Also take a poke around the forums to see what sort of things result in fatalities and how risks can be reduced.Oh yeah, one more thing... when they say sky diving is better than sex... that's no joke either. But don't tell your girlfriend that! Good Luck! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zennie 0 #5 March 29, 2001 QuoteBeing an avid scuba diver I noticed the risks are even higher for scuba diving. So that in part did a great deal to ease my mind.Heh. My wife & I scuba, but she still thinks skydiving is more dangerous. I show her the numbers and she says I'm rationalizing. Call it what you want, but the numbers speak for themselves.I think she refuses to believe that scuba is statistically more dangerous because it slower moving. I tell you what, though, she wasn't moving very slow when she got narcosis and panicked once. Same dive I had trouble surfacing because I got congested and the pressure started pushing on my eye sockets. Nothing like a limited air supply and feeling like your eyeball is literally going to pop out of your skull (I just eased my way up and it finally cleared). So scuba can kill you, especially if you go deep (as you often do in Cayman & Coz) and don't keep your head. ------------Blue Skies!Zennie Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NewGuy 0 #6 March 29, 2001 Good point! Statistics speak loudly to me. Rationalizing would be interpreting the statistics such that scuba is safer than sky diving.The way I look at it, is that the more the risks are managable the more comfortable I am with the activity.I'm sure you know what you could have done to manage the reverse block you encountered - a managable thing. Not only that, because it wasn't dealt before getting in the water, you still knew how to deal with it. Albeit, I'm sure a scary thing when your air is low. Such risk management should be practiced in any 'high risk' activity.Your wife may be right with one thing - if she feels it skydiving is more dangerous than an activity she participates in - I'd personally believe it is more of a risk for her.Sorry for the tangent...Cheers,New Guy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
what42 0 #7 March 29, 2001 We've decided to definately drive out to the Dropzone saturday. Hopefully the weather will improve. It's been kind of nasty and rainy today and yesterday. I probably won't end up jumping Saturday but I think it'll help both of our nerves a little to watch some before trying it out. I'm starting to get really excited about the prospect of flying.Wesley Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkySlut 0 #8 March 29, 2001 good move!!! you will be even more excited to jump when you leave."I'll jump anything!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
