If you’ve ever gazed up at a starlit sky and dreamed of soaring through it, night skydiving offers a breathtaking way to turn that dream into reality. At Skydive Chicago, we’re proud to offer this exhilarating experience, combining the adrenaline of skydiving with the serene beauty of nightfall. But what exactly is night skydiving, and why do skydivers embrace this unique challenge? Let’s dive into the details (see what we did there ;).
What Is Night Skydiving?
Night skydiving involves jumping from an aircraft after sunset and free-falling through the darkness. The jump is completed with the aid of lights on both the gear and the ground to ensure visibility. We use special equipment, including glow sticks or LED lights attached to our gear, to them navigate and communicate during the jump.
The experience is different from daytime skydiving in several ways. The absence of daylight transforms the sky into an expansive, inky canvas, punctuated by the twinkling lights of distant stars and the jewel box of lights below. This creates an awe-inspiring backdrop for the freefall, offering a sense of tranquility and wonder that is unique to night jumps.
Why Do We Do It?
Night Skydiving For Licensing Requirements
Night skydiving isn’t just about the thrill; it’s also a critical component for those pursuing advanced skydiving licenses. To achieve a USPA (United States Parachute Association) D-license (the highest license), skydivers may choose to complete a certain number of night jumps as part of their training and certification. These jumps help develop skills, such as night-time navigation and accurate altitude awareness in low-light conditions. It’s a way to ensure that we are prepared for all scenarios and can handle diverse jumping conditions safely and competently. This is especially helpful to demonstration jumpers who may need to jump at night for a demo.
For the Fun of It
Beyond the practical requirements, night skydiving is incredibly fun and exhilarating. The sense of flying through the night sky, coupled with the stunning views of illuminated landscapes below, offers a unique thrill that daytime jumps simply can’t match. The challenge of navigating in the dark adds an extra layer of excitement and adventure, making each night jump a memorable experience.
Skydivers often describe the feeling of floating through the night sky as otherworldly. The lack of visual references from the ground can create a sensation of pure freedom and weightlessness. For many, night skydiving is not just a skill-building exercise but an opportunity to experience skydiving in a completely new and magical way.
Who Can Do Night Skydiving?
Night skydiving is an exhilarating experience open to B-licensed skydivers who have completed a minimum of 50 jumps. Participants must undergo specialized training for night jumps and use specific equipment such different types of lights (strobs, LED lights, etc). To do a night jump, a participant must have made at least 1 skydive during the same day as the night jump. Night jumps are conducted under the supervision of experienced instructors to ensure safety. (So to answer, no, we cannot do tandem skydiving at night.)
A Special Experience at Skydive Chicago
At Skydive Chicago, we’re committed to providing opportunities for night skydiving experiences for our licensed jumpers. Our team of experienced instructors ensure that every jump is conducted with the highest standards of professionalism.
Whether you’re a seasoned skydiver looking to add a new dimension to your jumps or a licensed skydiver aiming to meet your certification requirements, night skydiving at Skydive Chicago is an opportunity not to be missed. It’s a chance to experience the thrill of freefall in a whole new light—literally and figuratively.
