Welcome to
SKYDIVE SOUTH TEXAS!
Skydive over The Gulf; Land on Mustang Beach...
SKYDIVING FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS!
WHY ARE YOUR PRICES A LITTLE HIGHER THAN OTHER PLACES I'VE CALLED?
Two reasons: Location and Location! Sand and salt aren't good for anything-- airplanes and parachutes included. We spend a significant amount of time and money cleaning our aircraft and parachutes each week. Many components which would last for years in a "landlocked" area require annual replacement here on the coast near Corpus Christi.
This location, however, is great for YOU! The aerial views you will experience here on Mustang Island are well worth the extra $25 you'll spend enjoying your Skydive with US! Additionally, do you want to drive 3 hours north when you can stay right here near Corpus Christi and get the same thrill?? Come visit and you'll see what we mean!
WHAT IS A TANDEM SKYDIVE?
Tandem jumps offer an introduction to the sport of skydiving. It requires 15 to 45 minutes of ground preparation (it is not a full “First Jump Course”) and consists of an experienced skydiving instructor, or "tandemmaster", and the passenger: you! You will wear a harness while the instructor wears the parachutes. Your harness attaches to the front of the instructor’s harness, and the two of you freefall together for 30 to 50 seconds, open the parachute then land together under one large parachute.
WHY CAN’T I GO “SOLO”?
Solo skydiving requires a full curriculum of ground training and about 8 very closely supervised jumps in a course known as Accelerated Freefall, or “AFF”. You are then coached or mentored up until your 25th jump, when you are eligible for your “A-Level License”.
Skydive South Texas’ mission in Corpus Christi is to provide the introduction and thrill of skydiving mostly through tandem jumps. Many of our instructors and staff are certified to teach the entire course, but because of our proximity to the water... we can't by law allow students to go on their own here on the Island.
However, during your tandem skydiving in Corpus Christi experience, feel free to ask as many questions as you like if you are genuinely interested in the sport: you can learn a lot! Our instructors will be happy to explain many aspects of the jumps: normal and emergency procedures, climb to altitude, exit, opening, canopy control, and landing. They will also show you the details of the equipment and how it works.
If you do want to “GO SOLO” someday, see “Where can I learn to skydive?” at the bottom of this page!
**We do provide final training for Students who've completed AFF Level 8 or above; Call 361-537-3776 for details!
WHAT IF YOUR PARACHUTE DOESN'T OPEN?
Clearly, this is the most Frequently-Asked-Question posed by all prospective jumpers.
By law (FAA regulations), all intentional parachute jumps must be made with a dual parachute system containing both a main parachute AND a reserve parachute.
Additionally, it must be noted that the technology utilized in today's equipment is light years ahead of the old military surplus gear of the '60s and '70s. The canopies are drastically different from the classic “Airborne” round parachutes. The materials are stronger, lighter and last longer. Modern packing procedures are simple and the deployment sequence is much more refined, providing smoother and more reliable openings.
The reserve canopies are even more carefully designed and packed. The reserve parachute must be inspected and repacked every 180 days by an FAA rated parachute Rigger - even if it has not been used.
There are also additional safety features employed to ensure canopy deployment such as Automatic Activation Devices (AAD) and Reserve Static Lines (RSL) which exponentially increase the level of safety. Should neither you nor your instructor deploy the parachute for any reason, the AAD will “fire” it for you.
HOW FAST DO YOU FALL?
When you leave the aircraft, you are moving horizontally at the same speed as the aircraft, typically 60 MPH. During the first 10 seconds, a skydiver accelerates up to about 115-130MPH straight down.
Once under canopy, descent rates of 1000 feet per minute are typical. However, the parachute is designed with steering controls and “brakes” to slow you down for a soft landing when the time comes.
HOW HARD IS THE LANDING?
The canopies used today bear little resemblance to the classic round canopies of years gone by. Today, nearly all jumpers and jump schools use "square" canopies for parachuting. These canopies are actually rectangular in shape, and when open, act like an airplane wing-- more like a glider than an umbrella.
The aerodynamics of the square canopy provide exceptional maneuverability, allowing jumpers to land almost anywhere they wish. This wing shape also provides tip-toe soft landings for even the novice jumper. The days of landing like a sand bag are history. You will probably land standing up, even on your first jump.
WHAT ARE THE PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS?
Students should be in reasonably good shape with no significant physical infirmities.
Problems may arise where a prospect is too heavy (over ~230lbs; see below) or if they have medical conditions which may impair them during the activity. Someone who experiences fainting spells, blackouts, or heart conditions should not jump. Respiratory illness or sinus congestion may cause a problem due to atmospheric changes at altitude (can you “clear your ears” prior to and after the jump?)
The better your physical condition, the more you will enjoy the experience. This being said, very few people have medical or physical conditions which actually preclude jumping.
Skydive South Texas staff will work with you. If you have a question, ask them, or even better, consult your physician. You may be surprised at the relatively few physical constraints involved!
Concerning Weight Restrictions, there are two primary concerns.
First, do we have a parachute system which you can both legally use and safely land?
Second, if you are going to be at the top-end of the safe weight range for a particular parachute, are you in relatively good shape? An imperfect landing will be much less likely to injure an athletic person. If this is unclear, consider the difference between a 5'10" linebacker who weighs 240lbs, and a 5'10" 240lb couch potato. If the linebacker has a bad landing, he'll probably brush himself off and get up. The couch potato may very well injure himself substantially, lacking both the strength to withstand landing and coordination to do a good Parachute Landing Fall (PLF).
Our Weight Limitations policy is as follows:
· Less than 200 lbs-- No restrictions
· 200-230 lbs-- Participation may be dictated by your physical fitness and/or wind conditions.
***NOTE: An additional charge of $1.00 per pound over 200 will be applied.
WHAT ARE THE AGE REQUIREMENTS?
You may sign your own liability release and jump with Skydive South Texas if you are 18 years of age; persons over 65 require doctor's consent.
WHERE CAN I LEARN TO SKYDIVE AND GET MY LICENSE?
CLICK ON THE PHOTO!
Many of our staff work full-time at major skydiving centers across the country. If they don’t work somewhere near you, they probably know someone who does! We can refer you to skydiving schools whose mission is to provide instruction all the way to your A-License, including the following:
- Skydive San Marcos (Fentress, TX) www.skydivesanmarcos.com
- Skydive Houston (Eagle Lake, TX) www.skydivehouston.com
- Skydive Chicago (Ottawa, IL) www.skydivechicago.com
- Skydive Dallas (Whitewright, TX) www.skydivedallas.com
- Emerald Coast Skydiving (Elberta AL) www.emeraldskydive.com
- Skydive Arizona (Eloy AZ) www.skydivearizona.com
- Skydive Louisiana (Shreveport LA) www.skydivelouisiana.net
These are just a few of our favorites. There are hundreds more across the United States and abroad.
Be sure to tell them you were referred by Skydive South Texas. Once you complete Level 8, you can join us on the Island!
SO, ARE YOU READY TO SKYDIVE?!?
Click HERE to make your Reservation!!