Can You Skydive with a Fear of Heights? What You Need to Know

Key Takeaways 
We won’t think it’s odd if you tell us you’re skydiving scared of heights – it’s way more common than you think! Having a fear of heights doesn’t disqualify you from experiencing the beauty of a skydive. Can you skydive if you have a fear of heights? Yes! The high altitude of a skydive flattens depth perception, making the ground feel like a 2D map, not a scary drop. Tandem jumping pairs you with a pro who handles everything, turning anxiety into pure thrill while you soak in the ride.

Skydiving for the first time anxiety can be mitigated with learning. What we mean is, a lot of fear surrounding skydiving is rooted in uncertainty. To us, skydiving is an everyday thing, but we remember what our first time was like, too: nerve-wrecking! Let’s take a deeper look into skydiving if you’re scared of heights, and how you can still have the time of your life taking the leap. 

Does Having Acrophobia Mean You Can’t Skydive? 

Skydiving is one of the most inclusive sports out there, so what conditions can you not skydive with? Wicked blood pressure, spinal, back or neck issues, and heart conditions may exclude someone from skydiving. But acrophobia – the phobia that results in extreme distress or anxiety when someone is in high places – doesn’t mean you’re grounded. 

All that said, we’re skydivers – not medical professionals. If you’re apprehensive about your health qualifications, it’s best to get the green light from your doc prior to booking your skydive. 

Similarly, we aren’t well-versed in phobias and can’t tell someone how to conquer their fear of heights. However, we do know that growth doesn’t happen in your comfort zone, and that doing a scary thing over and over again helps. People with acrophobia and those with general apprehension about being in high places can skydive and enjoy it. 

Depth Perception And Fear Of Heights 

Ya know that wiggly feeling you get in your stomach when you peer over the edge of a balcony or a cliff you hiked up? Yeah; oof. Skydiving doesn’t give you that! Why? You’re too high up to register how high you are! 

During freefall, our brains don’t judge height the way they do on the ground. Our eyes can only converge up to around 200 feet, and beyond that, it’s almost like everything is 2D! Weird, right? This makes the ground beneath you during freefall look more like a map than something you could fall off of or into. 

The feeling of butterflies in your stomach from the height can happen as we get closer to the ground under the parachute, but by this time, you’re mere seconds from landing!  

Why Going Tandem Is The Best Introduction To The Sport 

Tandem jumping is the best way to start skydiving, simply because you’re not alone! Going at something scary or intimidating with someone (in this case, someone super experienced in the thing that scares you) is much better than trying to conquer it alone. 

Skydiving with an instructor means all the nitty-gritty details of a skydive are taken care of by your instructor, allowing you to fully soak in the experience. Qualified instructors are able to provide professional guidance through every step, brief you about safety measures (like Automatic Activation Devices), and provide reassurance. 

Skydiving instructors see it all, so if you’re having anxiety about the jump, communicate that with them! They’ll be able to provide comfort on the ground, in the plane, and during the skydive, but they can only do that if they know they need to. 

Should I Go Skydiving If I’m Scared? Yes! 

Can people with anxiety go skydiving? Absolutely. A common sentiment in the community is that skydiving is cheaper than therapy. Meaning, it actually has the ability to decrease our anxiety! 

Some people may not struggle with true acrophobia, but place their general apprehension to jump into the “nervous about heights” category. Here are some common misconceptions, fears, and reassurances surrounding skydiving: 

• Anticipation anxiety. Skydiving is new, and new is scary! Anxiety is rooted in the unknown, so having some anticipation about the jump or the process is normal. Don’t invalidate yourself, but don’t lean into it too hard.  

• The airplane. Can people with a fear of heights fly? Yes, and they do all the time! Facing fears is an opportunity to grow. We suggest having some go-to’s for when you’re feeling those anxious nerves creep in. Take deep breaths, try box breathing, or converse with others in the plane to distract yourself – before you know it, you’ll be soaring through the sky with the biggest smile on your face! 

• The open door in the airplane. We’ll admit … being in a plane with the door open for the first time is a weird sensation. But the good news is that weird doesn’t mean bad! 

• What freefall will feel like. Dreading that roller coaster stomach drop? Don’t worry! Because a plane is experiencing forward movement and is not a stagnant object, leaving the plane doesn’t result in that ‘whoosh’ in your stomach. 

Facing Fears Is Empowering 

Many people who have tried skydiving say that a newfound perspective and a feeling of empowerment for doing it are huge post-jump benefits. Are you ready to join the club? Book your jump today! Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns – we’re here to support you! Blue skies.