How Dangerous is Tandem Skydiving?

Skydiving has a perilous reputation, but is it actually all that dangerous? At Long Island Skydiving Center, we make thousands of tandem skydives a year. Given how often we get this question from our skydiving NYC guests, we put together some helpful information here.

Tandem Instructor Ratings

When you opt to tandem skydive, you put yourself in the charge of a tandem skydiving instructor. Ever wondered what qualifications are required of your instructor?

To become a tandem skydiving instructor, an individual must have 3 years in the sport and 500 skydives at a minimum before starting training.

All United States Parachute Association (USPA) instructors have been put through their paces in a series of evaluations and exams.

To receive the benefit of these qualifications and safety measures set by the USPA, make sure you jump at a USPA approved drop zone and be assured that you’re in safe hands.

The Evolution of Tandem Technology

The technology of our skydiving equipment has developed significantly over the years, all to the purpose of improved safety.

All skydiving equipment includes two parachutes – a main for general use and a reserve. In case there is a malfunction of the main parachute (albeit rare), the reserve is there as a backup.

We also use an automatic activation device (AAD) – a small device that measures descent rate and altitude and is able to deploy the parachute, if the instructor hasn’t, at a set altitude.

This technology has proven to be very successful and is making the sport much safer.

The Student’s Role in Safety

As the tandem skydiving student (the person being strapped to the instructor), you have a part in the safety of the skydive.

To skydive, you must sign a series of waivers determining your fitness to skydive.

Prior to skydiving, you are given a short briefing, teaching you correct body positions for the skydive and how to land safely, as well as information about your gear.

The student’s ability to follow the instructor’s directions and fully engage makes their jump much safer.

Numbers Don’t Lie

So how safe is skydiving, really? Let’s look at the numbers. These are the stats on US skydiving safety, as recorded by the USPA.

The most recent statistics set is from 2014, when the USPA recorded 24 fatal skydiving accidents of 3.2 million skydives. That’s 0.0075 fatalities per 1,000 skydives.

Tandem skydiving numbers are even better – 0.003 student fatalities for every 1,000 tandem skydives made during the last decade.

Statistics show that skydiving is the safest it’s ever been in the US, thanks in large part to the efforts of skydivers, guided by the USPA.

Skydiving NYC

Feel encouraged? If you’d like to give tandem skydiving a go, our experienced instructors would love to join you on the adventure of a lifetime. Find out more about tandem skydiving at Long Island Skydiving Center, get in touch or just go ahead and book!