So first time sky divers - was it ever brought up that wearing a diaper or other form of protection is typical / understood by the veteran tandem skydiver you are with the first time? Sure a DL would like this but even if not a DL, wetting yourself (or worse having a #2 come out during your descent) the first time due to the rush of “scariness”, may be common?
I’m a fairly seasoned sky-diver but wear a diaper every time because I do almost all the time anyway, and will be wearing one on the trip to the airfield. The force of the air on your abdomen can cause accidents if already prone to them. Your instructor will be none the wiser with regular clothes and a jump suit on on top. Go for it and enjoy!
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Thanks for the great input. I figured the instructor would notice, especially in tandem as they are sandwiched next to you, with a thick disposable on. I doubt I would have any sudden release as I rarely have accidents at night let alone none during the day (knock on wood) but it is skydiving…an activity I have neve done so no way to tell for sure how my body would react at this first time event. Maybe my training underwear and plastic underpants would suffice.
As a seasoned jumper here, I can agree that wearing protection of some sort would be understood by the tandem master, especially if you have a weak bladder. Having spent years at the drop zone and helping with tandems from time to time, it’s one that I’ve seen people come down in all states. I’ve seen people giddy with excitement, scared half to death, people who have thrown up, lost bladder control, and even some who have passed out. A lot of it will depend on your body’s reaction to the extreme stimuli that comes with skydiving.
Don’t eat a big meal beforehand, but do have some food. If you’re the sort of person who loves roller coasters and other thrill rides, you may get hooked.
Blue skies!
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I was a Royal Marine Commando and when we did HALO (High Altitude Low Opening) training and real drops it was not unusual to see various adult disposable nappies make an appearance around the barracks, nobody thought anything about it all there was usually some good natured teasing. the only time I used one for a halo jump was when I was trying to requalify after picking up a spinal injury during the Falklands conflict (1982) and was already experiencing more bladder problems than i had in the prior 9 years.
For those that don’t know a military Halo jump is normally 5.6 miles above the ground or higher and you jump using special facemasks and on oxygen. If it is a land insertion you will normally open your chute under 1000 feet (typically 600 with a landing velocity of around 40mph) for a water insertion chute opening can be as low as 400 ft and you jettison your chute at around 50ft up so you don’t end up drowning in your shroud lines like a US seal team did. It is by far one of the most dangerous insertion methods there is and fatalities in both training and for real are expected. In training you normally only carry your main Chute and and emergency chute. Towards the end of training you start to carry a small battle load anad weapons and ammo. in real jumps you can be carrying 70Kg extra kit as well as your main and reserve chutes, oxygen and for water insertions 2 rebreather sets.
Civilians do not normally do HALO jumps, but can jump from 17,000 feet with an experienced jumpmaster, even then you will reach terminal velocity of around 120mph. Military jumpers in an initial head down streamlined position can achieve speeds of upto 310Mph. There is a theory in most of the units that use HALO is not only does it stand for High altitufe low opening, but if you get it wrong you get your own personal HALO presented to you by St Micheal at the pearly gates. There are also various songs that have ben coined over the years since the 2nd World War about jumping.
most are now considered childrens songs - https://www.metrolyrics.com/aint-gonna-jump-no-more-lyrics-children.html. but i have seenn the results of what is called a roman candle (rare complication when opening chutes) The guy panicked and didn’t go through his cutaway procedures and switch to his reserve. It is not a pleasant site. A Halo jump that goes wrong normally leaves a crater and not much more to return to relatives.
So yes if this is your first jump wear a nappy and waterproof pants.
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Highest I’ve gone for a jump was 23,000 feet! Never opened below 2,000. At those altitudes, you definitely need the bailout bottle–there’s not enough O2 in your system to keep you from going seriously hypoxic and possibly unconscious before you get low enough to have enough O2 in the atmosphere to sustain you well.
I’m feeling like a noob with a 16,000 ft max and my newly obtained B-license. I’m hoping to do a tandem HALO this year.
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