For those that are new to skydiving, you probably have a lot of questions about your first jump. You may have heard the term “tandem skydiving,” but aren’t really sure what it means.

You decided to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. Great choice, if we may say so.

The day of your reservation is approaching and you want to be sure you're ready for your first skydiving experience. 

We wanted to share some tips for what you can do to plan ahead and make your day as smooth as possible. Procedures and special considerations may vary per dropzone, but these general guidelines should apply at most skydiving facilities.

Here’s how to prepare for your very first skydiving experience:

First-time skydivers are always asking if it’s common to get motion sickness or nauseous mid-air. They worry they may need to use the onboard bathroom or even feel queasy mid-jump, so they seek ways to calm their nerves before taking the leap of faith. 

First-time skydivers often do their due diligence before taking the jump by researching their freefall online. One topic of deep interest is skydiving safety, specifically, questions about your tandem skydiving partner’s qualifications, how long the fall will last, and — of course — how fast it’ll be.

Skydiving is definitely a thrill, but did you know that there are several types of jumps you can make? High Altitude Low Oxygen (HALO) jumps are well-known around the world. They're said to be among the most thrilling kinds of jumps that a skydiver can make. Typically, they're reserved for military operations and training. So, is it possible for civilians to take a HALO jump? If you're not in the military, but you'd really like to see what one of these jumps is like, here's what you need to know.