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For many, there is no greater peace than the serenity felt at 14,000 feet in the air. According to the United States Parachute Association, 3.2 million skydiving jumps took place during 2016. With panoramic views, bragging rights, and an unforgettable experience, it’s easy to see why so many thrill-seekers want to cross this ultimate adrenaline rush off of their bucket list.

As Oahu’s premier skydiving school, Pacific Skydiving Center has more than 42 years of experience guiding new students through their first skydiving session. Before you jump out of a perfectly good plane, they have shared a few things new students need to know about parachuting:

1. The Scariest Part Is Waiting

As an instructor from Pacific Skydiving Center tells their students, the scariest part of skydiving is standing in front of the door. The best way to get past this hurdle is to jump. Your instructor will normally be the one guiding the exit process, which can be a relief for those who might get cold feet before the jump.

2. You Won’t Lose Your Stomach

You’ll most likely never experience an adrenaline rush quite like skydiving. After exiting, it may take a few seconds to process the experience of free falling. Students often describe the sensation as a floating feeling, with a lot of wind hitting their face. Contrary to popular belief, there is no “ground rush” or “sudden drop” sensation often associated with roller-coasters.

3. You Will Free Fall for About One Minute

skydivingDuring your first few tandem jumps, you will free fall for approximately 45 to 60 seconds before the parachute is deployed (at between 3,000 to 5,000 feet). On average, you’ll speed along at about 110 mph, or approximately 1,000 feet per six seconds of free fall. As you continue learning how to skydive, you will begin to gradually increase your free fall time.

4. The View Is Gorgeous

Even if you have lived in Hawaii your entire life, you can’t beat the view when free falling from 8,000 to 14,000 feet. The Northshore of Oahu, as one Pacific Skydiving Center instructor notes, is one of the most beautiful places they have ever jumped in the world. Students can often spot pineapples at the Dole plantation, whales during the winter months, and even the entire chain of islands under the right conditions.

If it’s your first time skydiving, Oahu’s only military-certified skydiving company, Pacific Skydiving Center, boasts the most internationally-experienced instructors in the state. This skydiving school offers packages such as Tandem Jumps, Ultimate Skydive, and Extreme, which takes the students anywhere from 8,000 to 24,000 feet in the air. To remember this adrenaline rush forever, photo and video packages are also available. Learn more about what to expect by visiting the website. To book your skydiving package, call the team at (808) 637-7472.

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