Skydiving Gift Certificates: A Holiday Gift Guide
A tandem skydive makes a gift people never forget. What a gift certificate costs, how long it lasts, the age and weight rules, and how to pick a good drop zone before you buy.
Some gifts get unwrapped and forgotten by New Year's. A first skydive gets talked about for the rest of someone's life. If you're shopping for the person who has everything, a tandem skydiving gift certificate is worth a look. Here's what to know before you buy.
What you're buying
Most gift certificates cover a tandem skydive: the new jumper is harnessed to an experienced instructor who handles the parachute. After a short briefing, you ride up in the plane, jump, freefall for up to a minute, and then fly the parachute down together. See AFF vs. tandem for the other way to start.
What it costs
Prices vary a lot by drop zone and jump altitude. A tandem jump often runs in the $200 to $400+ range, and the video and photo package usually costs extra. Many drop zones sell certificates for a set dollar amount or a specific package. See how much a tandem skydive costs for what drives the price.
The rules to check first
Make sure the person you're buying for can actually jump.
- Age: in the U.S., you generally have to be 18 to make a tandem skydive. A certificate for a 16-year-old will have to wait.
- Weight: most drop zones have a limit somewhere around 220 to 250 pounds, and some charge extra near the top of the range.
- Health: most ask about heart conditions, back and neck problems, recent surgeries and pregnancy. Some ask for a doctor's note.
- ID: a government photo ID on jump day.
Read the fine print
- Expiration: many certificates last one to two years. Check the date and your state's gift card laws.
- Refunds: usually non-refundable, but often transferable to someone else.
- Weather: jumps get rescheduled for wind, clouds and rain. That's normal and it's for safety. Tell the recipient to plan a flexible day.
- What's included: video, photos, altitude, weekend fees.
Winter is fine for buying
In the northern half of the country, many drop zones slow down or close for winter. That makes it a good time to buy for a spring jump. Some run holiday sales. And yes, some people do skydive up north in winter.
How to pick a drop zone
- USPA Group Member: look for membership in the United States Parachute Association, which means the drop zone agrees to follow USPA's safety rules.
- Reviews that mention the instructors and the briefing, not just the view.
- Clear answers to your questions about the rules and the fine print.
- Distance: pick somewhere the person can actually get to.
Make it a gift, not a dare
A surprise skydive is fun for some people and terrifying for others. If you're not sure the person wants to jump, give it with an easy way out, or ask a friend to find out first. A thrill they chose is a better gift than one they felt pushed into.
Sources (3)
Skydive Cross Keys: Tandem Requirements · Skydive Cross Keys: Skydiving Gift Certificate Guide · United States Parachute Association
Photo: Parachuting at the Lublin-Radawiec airfield, 2022 04 by unknown author, Public domain.