Skydiving is a bucket list item for many people around the world. What better place to check it off than in the beautiful state of Washington? This state provides so many different landscapes to see from the best view: the sky.
From the adrenaline rush of the fall to the videos and photos that you’ll be sharing for a lifetime, there are so many reasons to skydive. Lets get ready to Skydive in Washington State!
Contents
Arrival
As you pull in you find your breath getting a little shorter. You are anxious in anticipation of what is soon to come. As you get out of the car your friend tells you to glance up at the sky. You spot two skydivers floating through the air. Your stomach sinks knowing that will be you within the hour.
As you walk in, the lady at the front desk asks if your group has already filled out the waivers. “Nope! Should we have?” you respond. “No worries! You can fill them out right here,” she says as she points to a QR code on the wall.
After scanning, your phone pulls up a long list of text that you may wish to never see. If you were not nervous already, you now must read an extremely long waiver form telling you that there is a chance of injury or death.
As you sign your life away one initial and signature at a time, you realize you’re about to put your life in the hands of someone you haven’t even met yet.
Getting Ready to go Skydiving in Washington State
Everyone has filled out their waivers. As you wait, people begin to go silent. You notice your friend tapping their foot, another twirling their hair. You’re all nervous, but nobody has backed out just yet.
A guy walks into the room and starts yelling your names to get your attention and beckons you to go behind the double doors. As you push them open, you notice parachutes covering the floor, people with jumpsuits walking around, and a large airplane just sitting among them.
He leads you to the back of this massive garage where you try on jumpsuits and meet your tandem partners. As these incredibly fit and upbeat people introduce themselves, they begin to help you put on harnesses and explain what is about to happen.
After nearly five minutes of instruction, suddenly you find yourself outside the garage ready to fly and waiting for the shuttle to bring you out to the runway. As you try to remember the new instructions you were just given, a cameraman appears and begins to interview you. “Any last words?” he says as he gestures the camera in your direction. “Sorry guys. Love you,” you respond after laughing off the nerves.
Flying High
Suddenly, a truck with a trailer attached pulls up and everyone jumps on. Following their lead, it isn’t long before you are being pulled to the runway where a small plane awaits. Getting onto the plane in your tight jumpsuit and harness makes you feel stiff, but you hoist yourself in and are rolling on the runaway in minutes.
Packed in like sardines, you have just enough movement to look out the window and see the ground below. You watch as the buildings get smaller and smaller as you ascend higher and higher. Suddenly, you go beyond the clouds. You can’t see the ground, but you can see someone getting ready to open the door.
Taking The Leap
WHOOSH! The door flies open. You’ve reached 13,000 feet and the magnitude of what you signed yourself up for truly hits. Before you can talk yourself out of jumping, you watch your friends get hoisted out of the plane one by one.
In seconds you find yourself dragged to the edge of the opening by your instructor. It is so loud, you couldn’t even back out if you wanted to — he wouldn’t be able to hear you say it. So, you tuck your arms in like the instructor told you earlier and take a deep breath.
Freefall
With a little push, the ground beneath you is gone and the loud noise you heard earlier becomes ten times louder as you fall at nearly 125 miles per hour. The pressure of the wind against your body, the feeling of the fall, the adrenaline from the speed and danger — it all hits at once.
Suddenly your cameraman comes into vision, freefalling right next to you. He grabs your hand and you become painfully aware you’re on camera. How is someone supposed to look good falling at 125 mph? Spoiler — you don’t. Your nostrils are flared and your cheeks are pushed back, giving the illusion of a bad Snapchat filter.
But as you begin to fall free from the clouds and the view of pure white, you see the ground. You get yanked upright as your tandem instructor releases the parachute. Now you are really Skydiving in Washington State!
Serenity
Your ear pops as you slow down and then — silence. It is a kind of peace that you have yet to experience. It is quiet and sunny as you float over the state you call home. From the air you can see Seattle; in the other direction, the Olympic Mountains.
As you scan the landscape in awe, you can see your friends slowly drifting toward the ground as well. You almost feel completely safe but have to remind yourself you’re still thousands of feet up in the air.
“It’s time for you to drive,” your tandem says as he hands you a rope for each hand. He teaches you how to steer and in seconds you’re in control of your view, your life. It is almost more terrifying than depending on a stranger.
The people down below that once looked like ants are now becoming much taller. With a lift of your legs and a graceful landing, you have officially, successfully skydived.
Your adrenaline is still rushing as you start to take off your gear and run to your friends for hugs. The smile is hard to shake after the thought of what you just did. The cameraman snaps away as you and your friends reminisce about each of your experiences.
After Effects of Skydiving in Washington State
It isn’t long before you’re shuttled back to the garage and realize that the adventure is over. You take off your jumpsuit, return any other gear and walk slowly back to the car — thankful that your feet are on solid ground.
Your adrenaline is still high and you’re hungry. Getting yourself a big burger is exactly what you need right now. So, you gather your friends around a restaurant table and reminisce once more about the day. These details you’ll remember forever.
Halfway through your meal, you feel yourself begin to yawn: the crash begins. I wouldn’t plan anything after your skydiving trip because of the crash you’ll have shortly after. Because you have so much adrenaline coursing through your body, you hit a high. But eventually, you come down and come down hard. Nothing a good nap can’t fix.
When you wake up from your nap, you have an email from the skydiving place with all the photos and an edited video of you and your friends. You laugh at the faces, download your favorites and marvel at the video.
You just jumped out of a plane!
After you post on Instagram the comments roll in from family and friends. “AMAZING!” “I can’t believe you did that!” “You’re Crazy!”
Places to go Skydiving in Washington State
Skydive Snohomish
Located in the picturesque Snohomish Valley, Skydive Snohomish is a full-service skydiving dropzone that aims to give people the exhilaration, empowerment and freedom of skydiving.
Tandem Skydive with 30-minute ground school: $250/per person
Add Photo & Video: $90 + Tax
For other prices and deals visit their website.
Skydive Kapowsin
Minutes from Olympia, Skydive Kapowsin is a full-service skydiving location that gives you sweeping views of the Olympic Mountains and Seattle. Each direction is a new stunning landscape to take in.
Tandem Skydive: $220/per person on weekdays, $250/per person on weekends
Add Photo & Video to Package: $100
For other prices and deals visit their website.
Skydive Toledo
Something Skydive Toledo can offer that other skydiving places in Washington cannot is the view of eight active and dormant volcanoes, and amazing views of the Pacific Ocean. With choices for all experience levels and several different video and photo options, you are sure to have an experience of a lifetime while staying in an affordable price range.
Tandem Skydive: $250/per person, $220 for military and first responders
Add Photo & Video: $75 for basic handcam, $130 for deluxe handcam, $75 for still photos
For other prices and deals visit their website.
Skydive Chelan
Skydive over Washington’s largest natural lake at Skydive Chelan. With views of the Cascade Mountains and the Columbia River, you will get to see some of Washington’s most beautiful landscapes from 13,000 feet.
They also offer a Winery Tandem where you get a chauffeured ride from a local winery and skydive over local vineyards.
Tandem Skydive: $250/per person
Winery Skydive: $350/per person
Add Photo & Video: $95 for just video, $80 for just photos, $135 for both
For other prices and deals visit their website.
Rattlesnake Mountain Skydiving
Located in Prosser, Rattlesnake Mountain Skydiving provides views of wine country, the Yakima and Columbia Rivers, and so much more.
Tandem Skydive: $250/per person
Add Photo & Video: $75 bronze media package, $100 bronze plus media package, $175 gold media package
For other prices and deals visit their website.
Skydive West Plains
Located in Ritzville Skydive West Plains is family owned and operated and takes pride in treating their customers like family. No matter what level of skill you are trying to achieve, they want to make sure you are comfortable and safe throughout your experience.
Tandem Skydive: $229 on the weekday, $249 on the weekends
Add Photo & Video: $99 for handcam video and photos on weekdays, weekend prices are not listed.
For other prices and deals visit their website.
Tips and Tricks for Washington State Skydiving Success.
- Eat light before arriving. Eat light so that you don’t feel sick when on the plane or during the free fall. However, you must eat something because not eating could lead you to faint when faced with such adrenaline or anxiety.
- Wear comfy, form-fitting, athletic clothing. You want to be able to have good movement in the clothes you wear but also stay away from things that are bulky. Avoid hoods (could get in tandem’s face).
- Listen to your instructors. Your life is in their hands. And equally, if you don’t listen to instructions and make things harder, you could put their life in danger as well.
- Plan to eat after. After such a big adrenaline rush, you will be hungry. Make plans to have a big meal after, but eat quickly because you will crash soon after.
- Pay for one photographer for the entire group. Every person in your group does not need their own photographer. It is a lot of extra money. Instead, have your photographer exit last with the person who jumps last. That way, they can get videos of the rest of the group jumping out of the plane. Then, the photographer can prioritize making it down to the ground faster in order to get videos and photos of everyone’s landing, reactions, and celebrations. They can also get group shots before the jump and while you guys get ready. Well worth it, and great if your friends or family are willing to split the price.
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