When Can I Skydive By Myself?

TL;DR
You can begin jumping with your own parachute during Accelerated Freefall training, although instructors will initially accompany you in freefall. After completing the required AFF objectives, you may be cleared to make supervised solo jumps without an instructor beside you. You will still be considered a student until you complete the remaining training and licensing requirements. Earning a USPA A License requires at least 25 jumps, demonstrated freefall and canopy skills, exams, and an A-license check dive. At Skydive Orange, the progression begins with a First Jump Course and a training tandem before advancing to AFF, coach jumps, supervised solos, and licensing.

While tandem skydiving is the most common introduction to the sport, it is not the only way to experience it. Some people know they want to jump solo, while others complete one or two tandems and find themselves wondering: How can you skydive by yourself? 

The short answer is that you enroll in a skydiving training course. You gradually gain independence as you complete student training, eventually progressing from flying alongside instructors to making supervised solo parachute jumps and then earning your first skydiving license.

In this article, we’ll explain how to skydive solo and walk you through the steps required to become a licensed skydiver.

Can I Skydive Alone?

If you meet the requirements, yes! But skydiving is a technical sport that requires formal training. Before solo parachute jumping, you must learn how to exit the aircraft, control your body in freefall, monitor your altitude, deploy your parachute, respond to emergencies, fly a safe landing pattern, and land. At Skydive Orange, students learn these skills through a program called Accelerated Freefall.

What Is Accelerated Freefall?

Accelerated Freefall, or AFF, is one of the most popular student training methods in the world. It uses a structured progression to teach students how to become responsible, independent skydivers. 

During the first part of the AFF curriculum, specially trained AFF instructors accompany you on jumps. Unlike a tandem instructor, an AFF instructor is not attached to you. You wear a separate parachute system while the instructor flies beside you in freefall. Instructors may initially hold onto you for stability, then gradually provide less assistance as you continue to progress through the program and demonstrate mastery of the required skills.

Each AFF jump includes specific objectives that must be completed before you can advance to the next stage of the curriculum.

What Does “Solo Skydiving” Mean?

In skydiving, “solo” can describe three different milestones.

1. Jumping With Your Own Parachute

The first solo skydiving milestone is jumping with your own parachute system (commonly called a rig), instead of being attached to a tandem instructor. During AFF training, your instructors will accompany you in freefall, but you will be responsible for monitoring your altitude, completing the required objectives, deploying your parachute, and landing it yourself.

At Skydive Orange, students wear a radio so the instructional team can provide guidance through the landing pattern as you build experience.

2. Making a Supervised Solo Jump

You are cleared for supervised solo jumps after completing the certified student program. The exact point in the curriculum varies from one dropzone to another. At Skydive Orange, students are cleared for supervised solo jumps after completing coach jumps.

During a supervised solo, you will exit the aircraft, complete the freefall, deploy your parachute, and fly and land it without an instructor’s assistance. However, you are still officially a student. Each jump must be approved, and you must follow the supervision, equipment, and weather restrictions that apply to student skydivers.

3. Jumping as a Licensed Skydiver

The final milestone is earning your USPA A License. This requires at least 25 freefall skydives, completion of the required freefall and canopy skills, a completed A-License Proficiency Card, written and oral exams, and an A-license check dive. Reaching 25 jumps alone does not automatically make you a licensed skydiver. 

Once all requirements are completed and verified, you are no longer a student and can jump without supervision. You can also begin skydiving with other appropriately experienced, licensed jumpers.

How Do You Learn to Skydive at Skydive Orange?

Learning to skydive is a gradual process, with each stage building the skills and confidence needed for the next:

• Complete the First Jump Course: Complete six to eight hours of ground training and a written test covering equipment, freefall, canopy flight, landings, and emergencies.
• Complete a Training Tandem: Apply what you learned, complete specific objectives, and initiate the parachute deployment.
• Begin AFF Training: Jump with your own parachute while AFF instructors provide progressively less assistance as you progress through the program.
• Continue With Coach and Solo Jumps: Develop the skills needed to safely fly with other skydivers.
• Complete A-License Requirements: Finish the required jumps, skills, tests, and practical evaluations.

Solo Skydiving FAQs

What Are the Requirements to Learn to Skydive?

To participate in Skydive Orange’s student program, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Weigh no more than 225 lbs
• Be reasonably physically fit
• Be able to pull the parachute control handles with at least 22 lbs of downward force

Students must also become USPA members and complete USPA’s online Skydive School before attending the in-person first jump course.

How Many Tandem Skydives Do You Need Before Going Solo?

Student programs vary. Some require a tandem before AFF, while others do not. At Skydive Orange, students complete one Category A training tandem before beginning AFF. We find that students perform better after experiencing freefall and applying their ground training in a tandem setting.

How Safe Is Solo Skydiving?

Solo skydiving involves risk, but students do not jump alone without preparation. Training, instructor supervision, equipment requirements, weather restrictions, and gradual skill progression all help manage that risk.

How Hard Is It to Skydive Solo?

Learning to skydive is challenging, but no previous experience is required. Students progress at different rates, and each jump builds on previously learned skills. Preparation, consistency, and a willingness to receive coaching all contribute to success.

How Expensive Is It to Skydive Alone?

The cost depends on your stage of training and whether you are jumping with instructors, a coach, or independently. Visit our AFF pricing page for current training packages and individual jump prices.

Ready to Learn to Skydive?

If you are ready to begin working toward your skydiving license, your first step is the first jump course. Book your first jump course at Skydive Orange and begin your journey toward becoming a licensed skydiver. We can’t wait to jump with you!