What Happens After the First Jump?
Skydiving
You can easily find articles telling you what to expect before your first skydive — how to prepare, what to wear, how it feels in freefall. But what about what happens after your skydive? Once you’ve landed, your feet are back on the ground, and your heart is still pounding.
The short answer: a lot. Skydiving doesn’t just give you a thrill; it often leaves a lasting impact.
The Immediate Afterglow
What do you experience after skydiving? Well, if we’re being completely honest, tandem skydiving isn’t something you can truly describe. It’s a fully immersive experience that affects people in unique ways. That first jump brings a rush of skydiving emotions and physical sensations unlike anything else.
During your skydive, your body releases a cocktail of feel-good chemicals: adrenaline, serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins. The result? A full-body buzz that makes you feel alive. Many describe the freefall as pure euphoria, while the canopy descent back to the ground feels meditative and peaceful.
What are the most common effects of skydiving on the brain? A massive shift in perspective. Skydiving has a way of grounding you, ironically enough. It pulls you into the present moment, shuts off the background noise, and leaves you feeling mindful, energized, and alive.
Is It Normal to Cry After Skydiving?
Absolutely. Skydiving is an emotional experience, especially for those going through recent stress, loss, or major life transitions. Some cry from joy, others from relief, and many from the overwhelming feeling of doing something they once thought was impossible. It’s raw, powerful, and deeply personal.
It’s not uncommon to hear people say, “That changed my life.”
And for many of us who’ve stuck with it, it really has.
How Long Do the Effects of Skydiving Last?
That post-jump high? It can last for hours, sometimes days. You may find yourself feeling more confident, calm, and focused long after you’ve landed. For those who continue jumping, the effects are longer-lasting, showing up in how we handle stress, take on challenges, and approach life overall.
Skydiving doesn’t just give you a thrill — it rewires how you see yourself. And for some, that shift sticks around for good.
So … What’s Next?
You just jumped out of a plane. You’re feeling euphoric. The adrenaline is still pumping. And now you’re asking: what’s next?
1. Keep Jumping (Tandems)
If you loved it but aren’t sure about pursuing skydiving solo, no problem. You can keep doing tandem skydives. It’s a great way to relive the experience and continue feeling that unmatched sense of freedom — without the commitment of training.
2. Learn to Skydive (Get Licensed)
Want to take it a step further? You can get your skydive certification! Enroll in a student program and learn to solo skydive. In the U.S., that means working toward your USPA ‘A’ License — a skydiving license that lets you jump solo and with other licensed jumpers.
To get there, you’ll:
- Complete a student training program
- Log at least 25 skydives
- Demonstrate key skills and safety knowledge
- Learn to pack your own parachute
Once licensed, your jump cost drops significantly, and the doors open to a whole new skydiving world.
3. Jump With Friends
This is where it gets really fun. Once you’re licensed, you can jump with your friends. Whether it’s your original tandem crew or new people you meet in the sport, jumping together adds a whole new layer of joy to skydiving. You’ll share unforgettable moments, on the ride up, in freefall, and under canopy.
Beyond the Basics: Progressing in the Sport
Try Different Disciplines
The sport of skydiving has endless paths to explore. Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can dive into different disciplines:
- Freeflying – Fly in vertical orientations like head-up or head-down
- Tracking/Angle Flying – Move across the sky in formation during freefall
- Wingsuiting – Use a wingsuit to double your freefall time and glide across the sky
- Dynamic Flying – Artistic, dance-like movements through the air
- Canopy Piloting (Swooping) – High-speed, high-performance landings under small parachutes
Each discipline brings its own challenge and excitement and plenty of community along with it.
Compete
Once you’ve found your niche, you can take it to the next level. Skydiving competitions exist at local, national, and international levels. Whether you’re flying solo or on a team of 4, 8, or even 16, competing adds focus and drive to your progression.
Final Thoughts: The Skydive is Just the Beginning
That first jump is more than a bucket list item — it can be the spark that lights a whole new way of life. Whether you choose to return for another tandem, start your journey as a solo skydiver, or even compete at the top level, skydiving opens the door to a community, a mindset, and a lifestyle unlike any other.
What happens after your first skydive? You grow. You smile more. You start thinking, If I can do that … what else am I capable of?
And maybe — just maybe — you go up again.
Haven’t booked yet? What are you waiting for? Book your jump today.
