Is Skydiving a Good Gift? An Honest Guide Before You Buy

Key Takeaways
Skydiving can be an unforgettable gift, but the best recipient is someone who has expressed interest in jumping. Before buying a Piedmont Skydiving gift certificate, make sure they are at least 18 and under 230 pounds. Whether you should surprise them with the actual jump or simply the certificate depends on the person – you know them best. Certificates are fully transferable, so if plans change, the jump can go to someone else.

You’ve found what might be the perfect present – a skydiving gift certificate. It’s exciting, memorable, and definitely not something they’ll forget in a closet. Then you start wondering: What if they don’t actually want to jump? What if they’re too nervous? What if they can’t use the certificate?

Those are all good questions. So, before you spend $259 or more on a skydiving experience gift, here’s what you should know.

Is Skydiving a Good Gift?

Yes, skydiving is a good gift for someone who genuinely wants to try it.

A tandem skydive makes a great birthday gift, anniversary surprise, graduation present, retirement gift, or bucket-list experience. It’s especially fitting for someone who has said, “I want to go skydiving someday” but hasn’t gotten around to doing it.

The key is making sure they want the experience – not simply that you think it would be fun for them. Skydiving as a gift should feel like an opportunity, not a challenge they have to accept.

Why a Skydiving Gift Is Different

A skydiving present gives someone an experience rather than another physical item. Research published in the Journal of Consumer Research found that experiential gifts can strengthen relationships more than material gifts, even when the giver isn’t present for the experience.

Research published in Psychological Science also found that people tend to enjoy anticipating experiential purchases more than anticipating material ones. That’s part of what makes a tandem jump gift different. The recipient gets the anticipation, the experience itself, and the memories afterward. The certificate is just the beginning.

When Skydiving Is the Wrong Gift

A skydiving gift certificate isn’t necessarily the right present for everyone. 

Think twice if:

• They’ve already said no. Being nervous is normal. A firm “I don’t want to skydive” should be respected.
  
• You aren’t sure they meet the requirements. If finding out would require an awkward conversation about weight, health, or other personal circumstances, don’t guess.
  
• They need to know every detail in advance. Skydiving involves scheduling, weather considerations, paperwork, and a check-in process.
  
• You’re more excited about their reaction than they are about jumping. The goal is to give them an experience they’ll enjoy – not create pressure.

Should You Surprise Them or Ask First?

There isn’t one right answer. You know the person you’re buying for better than anyone. If they’re spontaneous, adventurous, and have already talked about wanting to skydive, a surprise jump could be exactly the kind of gift they’d love. You might tell them where they’re going that morning, hand them the certificate on the way, or simply reveal that today’s the day.

On the other hand, someone who likes to plan ahead may appreciate receiving a skydiving gift certificate and choosing their own date. The important distinction is whether the surprise will feel exciting or stressful.

Keep the practical side in mind, too. Skydiving is weather-dependent, and the recipient will need to complete the required paperwork and check-in process before jumping. A last-minute surprise can work, but it could leave less flexibility if weather or scheduling gets in the way.

When in doubt, surprise them with a gift certificate and let them choose the date. If you know they’ll love the spontaneity, surprise them with the jump.

What to Check Before You Buy

Before purchasing a tandem jump as a gift, make sure the recipient is likely to meet Piedmont Skydiving’s basic requirements. Tandem students must:

• Be at least 18 years old (with valid government-issued photo ID)
• Meet the current weight requirement (230 lbs)
• Be in generally good health

If you’re unsure whether they meet the requirements, consider giving them the gift certificate and letting them review the details before scheduling their jump.

Do Skydiving Gift Certificates Expire?

Piedmont Skydiving gift certificates are valid for one year from the date of purchase. After the first year, the certificate’s cash value can be applied toward a regularly priced experience for an additional four years. Promotional certificates may have different expiration terms.

How to Give Skydiving as a Gift

If you know the recipient wants to skydive, a standard tandem gift certificate is the simplest choice. Standard tandem gift certificates start at $259. Other options are available at an additional cost.

The gift certificate is emailed after purchase. You can print it and put it in an envelope or gift box, forward it directly to the recipient, or save the email for your big reveal. Want to make the reveal more fun? Pair the certificate with sunglasses, a T-shirt, or another small physical gift they can unwrap.

Or keep it simple and let the certificate do the work.

Skydiving Gift FAQs

What happens if weather cancels their jump?

Skydiving is weather-dependent. Rain, wind, clouds, and visibility can all affect whether conditions are suitable for jumping. If weather prevents the jump, the recipient can reschedule rather than losing the experience.

What if they change their mind?

Certificates are non-refundable but fully transferable, which means the gift can be transferred to another eligible person if the original recipient can’t use it. Always check the terms associated with the specific certificate you purchase for the most current details.

Should I book their jump for them or let them schedule it?

Unless you know they’ll enjoy the spontaneity of a surprise jump, letting them schedule it gives them more flexibility around their calendar and the weather.

Can you buy a skydiving gift at the last minute?

Yes. Gift certificates are emailed after purchase, so you can buy a skydiving present even if you’re down to the wire for a birthday, holiday, or other occasion.

Can one certificate cover two people?

Gift certificates apply to the experience selected at purchase. If two people want to jump, you’ll generally need to purchase an experience for each jumper. Get in touch if you need help buying a gift certificate.

Do they have to jump at Piedmont Skydiving?

Yes. Piedmont Skydiving gift certificates are intended for use at Piedmont Skydiving. They are transferable to another eligible recipient, but they aren’t designed to be redeemed at another dropzone.

Can I come watch them jump?

Yes! Friends and family are welcome to come to the dropzone and watch the experience from the ground.

What if they’re afraid of heights?

A fear of heights doesn’t necessarily mean someone can’t enjoy skydiving. If they’re interested but nervous, our guide to skydiving with a fear of heights can help answer some common concerns.

Give Them Something You Know They’ll Remember

You know them better than anyone. You know the things they’ve done, the stories they love telling, and the adventures they’ve talked about but never quite gotten around to. So if skydiving has been on their list, this could be your chance to help make it happen.

Give a Piedmont Skydiving gift certificate and let their next adventure start with you! Because sometimes the most meaningful gift isn’t a material item. It’s a life-changing moment that you helped them experience. Blue skies!