F.A.Q.'s >>

1. What type of clothing should I wear?

You should wear comfortable, seasonal clothing and snug-fitting shoes. You will be provided with a skydiving jumpsuit, head protection, and goggles. If the ground temperature is less than 50 degrees F, you may want to bring your own gloves. If you forget, they will be provided for you. We recommend that you not bring jewelry, necklaces, watches, or shoes with metal latches or hooks.

2. How long will it take to make my first jump?

Tandem skydivers should plan on spending half of the day at the dropzone. We recommend that you bring a picnic lunch and take some time to enjoy watching the parachutists fall from the sky! AFF level 1 jumpers should plan on spending a full day at Skydive Monroe. After an intense morning and afternoon of training, you should be able to make your jump in the late afternoon. Depending on the weather conditions, you may be asked to return to the dropzone the next day to complete your jump. We also recommend that you stay around and ask questions to our experienced jumpers - they love to talk about skydiving, and are eager to answer your questions.

3. Do I have to be a certain age to skydive?

Yes, you must be at least 18 years old with a valid picture ID to jump. Release waivers are standard for any skydiving center and are legal documents that must be signed by a responsible adult.

4. Are there any other restrictions?

Yes, weight limits are imposed for your safety and the safety of others. Call us (1-800-SKYDIVE) for our current weight restrictions. You must also be in good physical condition and sign a USPA medical statement.

5. Is it worth it?

Absolutely! :) Skydiving is unlike anything else in the entire world, and you have to try it to understand it. When you jump, you are taking a risk, but it is a calculated risk in which the rewards are tremendous. The thrill, excitement, amazing scenery, and feeling of accomplishment are just a few reasons "everyone should do it."

6. What will the skydive feel like?

The sensation of freefall is more like flying than falling. You are your own wings, and the freedom is exhilarating! The parachute flight is beautiful and inspiring - you can usually see Athens, Winder, Stone Mountain, and other prominent landmarks near Monroe. This portion of the skydive can be anything from an exciting roller coaster type event to a quiet flight around the open skies. Many say their skydive has been one the greatest things that has ever happened to them. It will give you the feeling that you can accomplish anything!

7. What if my parachute doesn't open?

This is a very common question among prospective jumpers. First, parachutes are specifically designed to open, and our experienced packers take pride in their work to ensure the best opening possible. In the unlikely event that the main parachute doesn't open properly, the harness is equipped with a reserve parachute which has been inspected and packed by a FAA certified parachute rigger. Only the rigger (he knows what he's doing!) is allowed to touch the reserve parachute.

Also, all of our reserve parachutes are equipped with the most reliable and modern AAD's (Automatic Activation Device) available, the CYPRES. This device will automatically deploy the reserve parachute if the main parachute is not opened at a certain altitude and speed.

8. Where will we land?

You and your tandem master will land in a open field very close to the dropzone hangar. All of the canopies at Skydive Monroe are "square", ram-air canopies that can easily be steered to a specific point on the ground. In the early days of parachuting, the landings were sometimes quite hard because the round parachutes offered little control and lift. The new "ram-air" parachutes of today allow landings that are softer than jumping off of a chair.

9. What do all those skydiving terms mean??

To a person just being introduced to skydiving, the new vocabulary can sometimes be overwhelming. Check out this skydiving glossary for answers.

10. Where can I find out more about skydiving?

Check out these links to popular skydiving websites.

Go back to the Georgia skydiving homepage.