By Jessye Gentry |Staff Writer|
Skydiving is something most people only dream of doing but never muster up the courage to do it.
It is one of those things that you put on your bucket list but never think it will get crossed off.
The morning of May 2, I showed up at Skydive San Diego.
At 9:50 a.m., I jumped out of a plane and went skydiving for the first time and hopefully not the last.
By 10:00 a.m., my feet were placed firmly back on the ground.
You jump out of the plane at 1,300 feet and fall at up to 120 miles per hour for approximately a minute until they pull the parachute.
The view was breathtaking and a sight I will never forget.
I was strapped to my skydiving instructor Scott Harper.
Harper has been skydiving for 19 years.
“When I started skydiving I had no intention of doing it as a career, I guess you can say I fell into it. I was asked one day if I could help out and make a little extra cash, and now here I am, 17,000 jumps later,” stated Harper.
Since he has been an instructor for so long he has gathered many memorable moments, so I wanted to know what his favorite one was.
“My favorite memory was when I made the USA parachute team, being able to represent our country is a great honor and responsibility,” stated Harper.
He jumps, on average, five to seven times a day on weekdays and up to 15 times on weekends.
Harper was completely calm before the jump, while I on the other hand, was not.
My adrenaline was pumping, my palms were sweaty and my nerves were through the roof.
Before we jumped, I looked at him and said, “we better not die!”
He laughed at me and we jumped.
The initial jump out of the plane was super scary. However, when you finally gather your thoughts and realize you are free falling through the air, it is a feeling like no other.
It is something that cannot be described—you have to experience it for yourself. All I can say is I definitely understand why its an extreme sport.
I asked Harper about his first jump.
“All I remember was when the instructor opened the door. Yikes! Exiting the plane for the first time is something I will never forget,” stated Harper.
I second that. It was the experience of a lifetime and I would definitely do it again.
It is a little pricey, especially if you want pictures and a video, but it is well worth it. The jump itself was $210 plus an extra $60 for pictures. Prices do vary depending on the place you go to and the specials they offer.
I chose to take the plunge at Skydive San Diego because I heard a lot of great things about it and it is the region’s only full-service parachute center.
If you are looking for something a little bit closer to home, there is also Skydive Perris and Skydive Elsinore.
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