Guest blog: Skydiving tips for first-time jumpers in Dubai
Looking to take the leap at Skydive Dubai? Here are some tips for skydiving in Dubai from Bayut’s very own skydiving professional, Karim Khaled!
MY JOURNEY TO BECOMING A PROFESSIONAL SKYDIVER
If you told me five years ago, that I would be jumping off planes as a weekend hobby in the future and sharing tips for skydiving in Dubai as a professional skydiver, I would have most likely called you crazy. Even today most of my friends still can’t believe that I am jumping out of planes every other weekend.
Since I can remember, I have always had a fear of heights. It was something I always wanted to overcome. Whenever I would step onto my balcony in my apartment in Dubai Marina, I could see skydivers soaring through the sky which left me in awe. I often wondered if I would be able to conquer this fear and have an experience like those skydivers.
The opportunity to face my fear of heights, came in when I travelled to Lebanon and took a swing at paragliding. The adrenaline rush I had in the sky was amazing. The experience made me realise that my fear was insignificant and was holding me back from living my life to its complete potential.
Once I got back from my trip to Lebanon, I felt a burning desire to re-live the amazing experience I had while paragliding, and so I immediately decided to book a Tandem Skydive at Skydive Dubai. I had my fair share of trepidations before making the jump, but I knew I was in good hands. From the moment I jumped off the plane on my first skydive in Dubai, I was hooked to the rush and I knew there was no going back.
Following my first skydive in Dubai, in November 2016 my cousin and I travelled to Sardinia in Italy and enrolled for the Accelerated Freefall (AFF) course which trains you to skydive solo. I had to do a total of seven jumps with an instructor with the eighth one being the solo jump. Following that, I completed another 25 solo jumps and got the USPA license to become a certified skydiver. From 2016 to now, I have completed over 280 jumps in various cities including Dubai, Italy, Germany, Egypt and Kenya.
Doing all this was not easy though. When I wanted to go for the AFF course, my parents thought I was crazy and strictly forbade it. But I can understand their concerns. Skydiving is not a simple sport like football or volleyball and shouldn’t be taken lightly. If it’s something you really want to do, make sure you are certain.
Skydiving in Dubai is actually the perfect way to assess whether or not this sport is for you. Skydive Dubai’s dropzone is one of the safest dropzones in the world and is managed by a team of thorough professionals.
If you’d like to take this leap, here are some tips for skydiving in Dubai that may help you during your first skydiving experience.
PRO TIPS FOR SKYDIVING IN DUBAI
1. PREPARE YOURSELF MENTALLY
Having your mind in the right place is one of the most important tips for skydiving in Dubai. Skydiving is a major feat, and if you’re not ready to do it, take some time and evaluate what it involves. No matter where you go skydiving, make sure to do your research about what the drop zone is like, what facilities are at the drop zone and how long the entire process will take. This will help you get rid of that any uncertainty. If you are skydiving in Dubai, check out this review of Skydive Dubai.
2. DONT OVERTHINK IT
While being in the right frame of mind is important, you shouldn’t overthink it. Skydiving is a worthwhile experience which you won’t regret. To help ease into the idea remember, skydiving is a relatively safer sport when compared to sports like base jumping. In a tandem jump, you will be latched to a professional skydiver who knows hows to handle any situation. Just like the saying goes the “point of maximum danger is the point of minimum fear” – you can only conquer your fear if you do the things that scare you most. If you overthink it, you can miss out on an experience of a lifetime.
3. DRESS COMFORTABLY
Wearing comfortable clothing is one of the most obvious tips for preparing for your first skydive. Avoid jeans and any tight clothing that can restrict your movement. Opt for sweats a comfy cotton T-shirt and of course sports shoes.
4. MAKE SURE TO EAT RIGHT THE DAY OF YOUR JUMP
Having a good meal on the day of the jump is one of the most important tips for skydiving in Dubai. Have enough so you have the energy to conquer the skies. Eating too little or can make you lightheaded, while overeating can make you feel nauseous. I usually go for a sandwich and coffee a few hours before my jump.
5. STAY SAFE
From the moment I get into my gear till I make the jump, the only thing I think about is is the jump itself. I try to visualise what body position I will be and re-run my safety training. As a first-time skydiver, you should do the same, remember your initial training and always follow the directions of your instructor.
6. ENJOY EVERY MOMENT
I can guarantee that skydiving will be an absolutely blissful experience. Whether or not you will be doing this again, treat your first skydive as a landmark event. Soaring in the sky is not something everyone has the chance to do, so savour every moment and don’t let fear stop you.
ABOUT KARIM KHALED
Karim Khaled, who recently joined Bayut as a Sales Account Manager is a licensed skydiver who has a record of over 280 jumps since he first jumped in 2016. His aim is to one day become the best and continue practising the sport in Egypt on a regular basis. Karim’s usual weekend plan involves skydiving, but when he is not jumping out of a plane you can find him immersed in a book or at the beach, swimming.
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