Group Skydiving vs. Solo Skydiving: Which Is More Fun?

However you go about it, skydiving is a fun and rewarding thing to do. Whether it is by yourself, in a group, in the sky, or indoors in a wind tunnel – learning to move around and interact in freefall is a challenging and joyous experience that can easily send you down the rabbit hole into the amazing sport of body flight. Here, let us have a look at some of the different ways you can get started – either as an individual or a group.

Age Requirements

Jumping from an airplane is one of the most thrilling things there is to do – but the USPA (United States Parachute Association) rules state that you have to be at least eighteen to jump – either as a tandem jump or solo skydiver. Indoor skydiving is a more controlled environment and includes only the freefall portion of a skydive that allows even very small people to be involved. The techniques that we use as well as the fact that we have total control over the wind speed means the minimum age requirement is just three years old. This means that the whole family can participate together, and while you go one-by-one into the flight chamber with your instructor – the setup of our facility makes this very much a group experience, as you are all right there next to each other in the staging area.  

Team Building

One of the best things about learning to fly your body is that everybody starts from the beginning. This makes indoor skydiving a very productive team-building event, as everyone is in the same boat. This level playing field can lead to new and useful bonds developing across your group, as everyone learns something new as a team of equals – which can present very valuable returns when you get back to the real world.

Parties

At the start, jumping out of airplanes is more of an individual affair. You can possibly be together with your friends while climbing in the aircraft – but skydiving tandem with an instructor means you will exit and freefall separately from your friends. Indoor skydiving is a hoot, and that you can all see each other the whole time adds to the fun – as you can egg each other on to success from just feet away.   

Solo Training

When you get serious and want to develop your flying skills, having the tunnel all to yourself is the way to get things done. One of our highly skilled instructors is always present to manage the session and teach you when and where it is needed – but by solo training, we mean that the focus is always directly on helping you enhance your flying as best as possible. The same kind of thing applies to the sky, as jumping one-on-one with a coach is the best way to improve – but regular trips to a wind tunnel like Paraclete XP is what skydivers aim for when they really want to make those important steps forward.    

Going Together

Flying with your friends is a huge part of both indoor and outdoor skydiving. Practicing to get better is all about the time when you get to put those skills to use with your flying buddies. Becoming qualified to skydive in groups with others is a significant but highly rewarding investment of time and effort. Getting to the same place with wind tunnel flying still takes some effort – but can be achieved with a fraction of the time and expense. When you fly indoors you are paying for the operation of the tunnel, so the more people that can fly together – the more ways you split the cost.

These things all add up to make both indoor skydiving and jumping from airplanes involving and enriching things to do. Solo and group flying inform each other and to progress in one are to progress in both. Here at Paraclete XP we have everything you need no matter what kind of group you are part of – we have flown with all kinds and are able to tailor your time with us exactly to your needs.