If you’re considering making you first tandem skydive and is wondering about your jump altitude, this article will help you understand not only about the highest tandem skydive available in the Bay Area, but also about some fun facts involving your jump altitude.

Couple pointing up to the sky ready for the highest tandem skydive.

Tandem Skydiving Longest Freefall

While the highest skydive record set was at 135,898 feet (41.422Km), done by Alan Eustace in 2014, the highest tandem skydive that you can make is at 18,000 feet.

Ask any experienced skydiver and you’re get the same answer across the board. “What makes skydiving even more exhilarating is doing it at the highest altitude possible.” And that’s exactly what you can experience with Silicon Valley Skydiving when doing the highest tandem skydive in the SF Bay Area, California.

At this altitude you’ll enjoy a freefall of almost 90 seconds before your instructor deploys the parachute, which will give you plenty of time to enjoy this adrenalin rush along with all in one scenic view that only Silicon Valley Skydiving has to offer.

Can I jump at a lower altitude? Well of course you can! Now, should you?

Facts about tandem skydiving height

First thing you should know is that your instructor will always deploy the parachute at the same altitude, between 6,000 and 5,000 feet; Regardless of your exit altitude.

Let’s have a look how your freefall time differs depending on your exti altitude.

Exit altitude (ft) Freefall Distance (ft) Freefall time (sec.)

18,000 12,000 85 to 90

13,000 7,000 45 to 50

8,000 2,000 10 to 15

Infographic showing altitude comparison between the highest tandem skydive and some iconic buildings.

Fun Facts About the 18,000 feet Tandem Skydive

Have you ever stop to think about what is 18,000 feet in length? If not, let’s make some comparissons to help you vizualize what a thrill skydiving from this altitude is.

This jump is done almost at the altitude of Mt. Kilimanjaro which is 19,308 feet height, or almost two San Francisco Golden Gate Bridges.

To reach 18k feet you would have to pile up:

– 7 Burk Khalifa Skycrapers

– 11 Willis Towers (Chicago)

– 17 Eifel Towers

– 37 Great Pyramids of Giza

Why does Jump Altitude Matter?

Whoa, freefalling is just epic! It’s hard to put into words how incredible it feels to jump out of an airplane and let gravity do its thing. All the worries and stress you had before? They’ll disappear faster than a box of donuts at a cop convention. All that’s left is pure bliss and nothing else.

But did you know that freefalling is more than just falling through the air like a leaf? By using very simple aerodynamics, we can do all sorts of cool moves up there. Want to change your heading or spin around like a top? Tilt one arm down and the other up. Feel like zooming forward? Stick your legs straight out and off you go!

Have you ever seen those crazy skydivers forming shapes and flying in wild positions like they’re breakdancing in the sky, well, that’s all possible in freefall too. It’s like we have this giant playground up there, and we get to be the ones having all the fun. That’s just another reason why freefalling is the bomb dot com.

Let’s Jump!

If you’re ready, let’s get you up and flying. Come and book your jump!