Sky Diver

A sky diver is an individual who participates in the sport of skydiving, also known as parachuting. Skydiving involves exiting an aircraft at a significant altitude (typically 10,000 to 14,000 feet above ground level) and experiencing freefall before deploying a parachute to slow descent and land safely.

Sky divers typically wear specialized equipment including a jumpsuit, helmet, altimeter, and a parachute system that consists of a main parachute and a reserve parachute. They may also utilize equipment such as automatic activation devices (AADs) that automatically deploy the reserve parachute if the skydiver is unable to do so.

Skydiving can be performed as a recreational activity, a competitive sport, or as part of military or law enforcement operations. Different disciplines within skydiving include freeflying (performing acrobatic maneuvers during freefall), formation skydiving (creating formations with multiple sky divers), canopy piloting (performing high-speed maneuvers under canopy), and accuracy landing (landing as close as possible to a target).

Becoming a sky diver usually involves completing a training program, such as Accelerated Freefall (AFF) or static line progression. These programs teach essential skills including body position, altitude awareness, parachute deployment procedures, and emergency procedures. Licensing is often required to skydive independently and may vary depending on the country or organization.

Safety is a paramount concern in skydiving. Sky divers are trained to rigorously check their equipment, assess weather conditions, and adhere to established safety protocols. Regular maintenance and inspection of parachute systems are also crucial for preventing accidents.