Tandem Skydiving FAQs

We operate out of the John C. Tune (JWN) general aviation airport, about a 10-minute drive from central Nashville. The address is 220 Tune Airport Drive, Suite 120, Nashville, TN 37209.

Follow the signs for Go Skydive Nashville and you’ll be guided by our Manifest (front desk) staff upon check-in. You’ll complete paperwork, ground training, and meet your instructor at our office. Once cleared for your skydive, we’ll escort you through airport security and gate operations.

Parking is free but limited at JWN. If you’re bringing a friend or skydiving with a group, please carpool and limit vehicles to one per group.

It’s a short flight up, over the airport, to reach altitude (14,000 feet). The landing spot is just off the airport property. Our team will drive you back to the airport after your skydive.

No, sorry. We are a tandem only facility.

Tandem skydiving means an experienced professional is with you the whole way down. You are securely attached to your instructor — hence, you jump in tandem. The expert controls your flight, parachute, and landing. First-time jumpers always skydive with a freefall master – a Go Skydive Nashville instructor certified by the United States Parachute Association. Check out our tandem skydiving page to learn more about how it works.

Comfort and practicality are important when choosing your skydive attire. If it’s a hot day when you step outside, you’ll be fine with lightweight pants and a T-shirt in the air but a thin extra layer won’t hurt. In the fall, spring, and on chilly days, we recommend warmer attire, particularly layers, leggings, or form-fitting athletic clothing. Avoid boots, flip-flops, loose accessories, and any clothing that is bulky or features excess material, like a hood. Please choose jeans or clothing you don’t mind getting dirty.

Nourishing yourself is an important part of preparing for your skydive! Eat a normal breakfast or lunch on the day of your jump. Don’t eat quantities much larger than your usual amount and avoid extremely greasy food or items loaded with dairy. Drink plenty of water the night before and in the days before your experience. You cannot consume alcohol on the day of your jump and we strongly urge you to avoid it the night before (hangovers at 14,000 feet suck, quite honestly). A small amount of coffee or caffeine is fine before you skydive but too much can make you feel extra jittery combined with nervous energy and anticipation.

Bring your driver’s license, passport, or government-issued ID. You can bring spectators, friends, or family (they’ll stay on the ground and watch). Don’t bring pets. Feel free to bring a light snack and your water bottle for a quick fuel-up as we prep your flight and parachute (or for right after your jump). Personal items like purses, phones, keys, etc., all stay in a secure location before you board the aircraft. You can’t take a camera or wear a device for video/photos during your jump – but we’ll have you covered with an experienced skydiving photographer documenting your experience.

Please arrive 30 minutes before your reservation time. Depending on the weather and other logistics, your time at Go Skydive Nashville could last up to four or five hours on the day of your jump. At check-in, you’ll complete paperwork before undergoing some ground training. You’ll meet with your instructor – the professional you’re attached to during the jump – who will go over your gear and walk you through what to expect before hopping on our aircraft.

Yes. For the tandem skydiving equipment we use, participants must be 230 lbs or less. This is not intended to be a barrier or discriminatory but relates to manufacturing guidelines from the makers of our skydiving equipment. In addition, there is a $50 added fee for participants weighing between 200 and 230 lbs.

If you have health concerns (most commonly: blood pressure, respiratory, pregnancy, or mobility issues), talk with your doctor before booking. Give us a call to reschedule, as well, if you’re experiencing a sinus-related illness before your jump. Changes in air pressure are often very painful if you’re congested or have a cold.

Skydivers must be at least 18 years old, and a government-issued ID is required at check-in.

Go Skydive Nashville closely monitors weather conditions and will not operate our aircraft or conduct jumps in adverse weather, including rain or strong wind. Many times, we can delay and still conduct your skydive on your scheduled day, once the weather clears. If we are rained out, you can select a new date and time, with your deposit being transferred to the new booking.

After the plane ride to altitude, less than 10 minutes! And most of that is a gentle, scenic parachute ride. You’ll be shocked at how much adrenaline, exhilaration, and awe is packed into a 35-second freefall. Because you’re moving fast (120 miles per hour fast) the jump from the plane before the parachute deploys is relatively quick. The plane ride up is about 15 minutes.

If you’re worried about staying safe, keep a few things in mind about parachutes. For starters, parachutes are packed at Go Skydive Nashville with multiple redundancies and our professionals are trained in emergency protocols. In the unlikely event the main parachute malfunctions or there’s a problem, the instructor will deploy the backup or reserve parachute. Both the reserve and main canopy are handled by specially trained riggers. Reserve canopies, as they are used far less often, are inspected and repacked every 180 days by a rigger approved and rated by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. The reserve canopy is there in case the main parachute is inoperable. The most recent reporting by the United States Parachute Association found that 12% of the members it surveyed (professional jumpers, dropzone instructors, etc.) had used their reserve canopy in a 12-month period.

Skydiving is an extreme sport and just like other physical activities, there’s some inherent risk. At our dropzone, we prioritize training, methodical safety checks, and employing the best equipment and staff available. Nationwide, interest in skydiving among professionals and first-time jumpers has increased steadily since the early 2000s. In that timeframe, the rate of skydiving deaths (fatalities per 100,000 jumps) has steadily declined, according to U.S. Parachute Association data. In 2023, for example, a total of 10 skydiving deaths were reported in the U.S. – a record low since official data-keeping started in 1961.

Go Skydive Nashville flies a Cessna 182 Skylane, which is a single-engine light aircraft perfect for the short flight to altitude for your jump.

Sorry, no. We follow the U.S. Parachute Association’s mandate that restricts the use of photography equipment by non-instructors or experienced jumpers. The only skydivers permitted to use a camera in the skies are those with at least 200 jumps under their harness. But we know documenting your skydive is important! That’s why we provide professional photography. More details are below and on our tandem skydiving media package page. Take all the photos you want on the ground!

We’ve got you! Your instructor will use a hand-cam to capture every thrilling second of your skydiving experience. Our media package includes photos of you skydiving – smile for the camera! – as well as video footage, which will be emailed to you soon after your jump. Check out our media package page for pricing information.

In the air, no. The way we film and produce still photos precludes the ability to get more than one participant in the shot. We’ll be happy to help you pose for a group shot on the ground in our dropzone, on the aircraft, or after landing. But we can’t accommodate more than one skydiver per media package.