Is Skydiving Scarier Than Riding a Roller Coaster?

Have you ever thought about how it would feel to jump out of an airplane?

It’s a pretty scary thought, right?

If the idea of skydiving scares you, you’re not alone. But what’s interesting is that after people jump, most tell us that skydiving is nowhere near as scary as other things they’ve tried, like roller coasters.

First, let’s discuss some ways skydiving compares to riding a roller coaster:

Height:

Both skydiving and roller coasters involve being high up in the air. Skydiving typically takes place at around 10,000-15,000 feet, while roller coasters can reach heights of up to 450 feet.

Speed:

Both skydiving and roller coasters can reach high speeds. Skydivers typically reach speeds of around 120 mph, while roller coasters can reach speeds of up to 200 mph.

Adrenaline rush:

Both skydiving and roller coasters can provide a major adrenaline rush. The feeling of free-falling or being pulled through twists and turns can be exhilarating for many people.

And of course, “Scariness”:

Skydiving and roller coasters can both be scary for some people. The fear of heights, the feeling of being out of control, and the anticipation of the experience can all contribute to the scariness of these activities.

While roller coasters are built to scare you, skydiving is a personal experience that usually results in pure joy. Let us explain…

WHAT’S SCARY ABOUT SKYDIVING?

OK, so this might sound like a pretty weird question. But when you break it down, it’s not the whole skydive that scares people. It’s not even the real-life skydive, if we’re honest. For more people, the scariest part of skydiving is the idea of doing it.

The anticipation of what’s to come is much more terrifying than the jump itself! When we try to imagine what skydiving will be like, we don’t have a frame of reference – we’ve never done anything like this before – so we start to worry about everything we don’t know. It’s a fear of the unknown.

With that said, when we ask people “is skydiving scary“, there is one part of the jump that most people reference – and that’s the exit. That moment in the door, looking out into the sky, the ground thousands of feet below… you’ll be forgiven for feeling a little apprehensive! But believe us when we say it’s one of the best things you’ll ever do.

DOES SKYDIVING FEEL LIKE FALLING?

That’s a good question. Technically, you are falling, and you are aware of that. Just look down and you’ll see the ground getting closer – there’s no mistaking the fact that you are falling through the sky!

It doesn’t feel like falling, though. You’d expect falling to feel like a big rush, very fast and loud. But the reality of skydiving is that once you reach your terminal velocity (around 10 seconds after exit), you feel more like you’re cushioned on the air.

Rather than feeling like falling, you feel like you’re floating. It’s an awesome experience and the closest you’ll get to knowing how birds feel!

DOES SKYDIVING FEEL LIKE A ROLLER COASTER?

In a discussion of skydiving vs. roller coasters, there are lots of similarities. That feeling in your stomach that you get as the roller coaster tips over a peak, for example, is pretty similar to the feeling you’ll get as you fall out of the airplane. The adrenaline burst you’ll feel as you fall through the air is a lot like the adrenaline you get as you zoom around the coaster track.

But that’s where the similarities end.

Here are some other key differences between skydiving and roller coasters:

Duration:

A tandem skydive will be about a 30 minute experience in total, while roller coasters usually last a few minutes.

Control:

In skydiving, you are in control of your own body and can choose how to move through the air. In roller coasters, you are at the mercy of the ride, which can take you on a wild ride of twists, turns, and drops.

Freefall:

Skydiving involves a period of freefall, where you fall through the air without any assistance. Roller coasters (thankfully) do not have a freefall section.

The View!:

Skydiving offers you the opportunity to see the world from a bird’s eye view. This is a truly unique and unforgettable experience. Check out some of our photos and videos to get an idea.

Stomach drop:

Roller coasters typically have a stomach-dropping feeling when you go over a hill or drop. Skydiving does not have this feeling because you are already in motion when you jump out of the plane.

While a roller coaster is designed to push your body to its limits, skydiving is a much smoother, much freer experience. It’s hard to describe, but if a roller coaster was the ocean, it would be choppy and rough, whereas skydiving is like a serene lake, much calmer and almost tranquil.

The experience you’ll get when you skydive is unlike anything you’ve done before. It’s almost impossible to describe in words. Another difference that we would like to point out is that all of our skydivers at Boston Skydive Center are Tandem Skydives. That means that you will ALWAYS have a licensed, experienced, and friendly skydiving expert strapped to you for your jumps! So, no pressure… just pure exhilaration and fun. If you’re ready for the life-changing experience of skydiving, we invite you to join us. Book a skydive, or contact us today for more details.