Can You Skydive with a Disability?

Extreme sports are often associated with adrenaline, risk-taking, and intense physical activity. Daredevils in peak physical form careening down a mountain or riding a colossal wave are the poster children for adventure sports. But what about those who live with a disability? Everyone wants some spice in life, and while there are some skydiving medical restrictions, skydiving with a disability can be quite accessible! 

Read on to learn about the different accommodations that can be made for wheelchair users, people with paraplegia, and individuals who have sight- or hearing impairments. We’ll also consider what disqualifies you from skydiving, and address some frequently asked questions about heart conditions and weight restrictions. Let’s go!

Can You Skydive if You’re in a Wheelchair?

This may surprise you, but it is possible to skydive if you use a wheelchair daily. There are highly experienced jumpers who use wheelchairs on the ground and shred in the sky! Of course, certain considerations need to be taken to ensure the jump will be successful, but skydiving is often a freeing and liberating experience for people who use wheelchairs. 

Specially trained instructors know the ins and outs of skydiving with people who use wheelchairs, and there is even custom gear made to accommodate the unique needs of wheelchair users in the sky.  

Every jump is approached on a case-by-case basis, with individuals being assessed for mobility and potential for increased risk during the jump. If you’re unsure you’d be able to make a skydive, talk to your doctor, and then reach out to us to talk it through! 

Accessible Skydiving at WNY Skydiving

We here at WNY Skydiving believe that everyone belongs to the skydiving family. That’s why we’re excited to welcome paraplegic tandem students to WNY Skydiving. We take a little extra time in preparation, but that’s about the only difference from a regular tandem jump.

One thing for you to consider: there is the risk of bone injury, so it is strongly suggested you make this decision with your doctor.

Beyond that, if you complete that first tandem skydive, you demonstrate uncommon upper-body strength, and you’re keen to progress in the sport, we have some good news: in certain circumstances, paraplegic students can tackle the lifetime challenge of a solo skydiving certification. This, of course, requires significant preparation and ongoing conversation, but we’re happy to consult with you and your doctor about the possibility.

In addition to paraplegic skydiving, we offer our services to people living with a variety of disabilities. While we’re unable to offer solo skydiving certification courses for visually impaired people (because sight is integral to the process of solo training and solo jumping), we can expand a sight-impaired tandem student’s responsibilities on the skydive to parachute steering (which feels awesome).

And if you’re a deaf skydiving student who decides to go beyond the tandem level and commit to a first jump course, we can accommodate you! Note that communication is critical here. You’ll need a signing interpreter with knowledge of the sport of skydiving at your side for the duration of the four to six-hour course.

What Disqualifies You From Skydiving?

While a lot of disabilities and health issues can be accommodated, certain things might be a no-go when it comes to jumping out of airplanes. Here are the big ones:

• Chronic neck/spine injuries
• Some heart conditions (more on this below)
• Pregnancy
• Collapsed lung
• Unmanaged diabetes

Once again, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor if you are unsure about any aspect of your health and skydiving. You’ll enjoy your jump a lot more if you know you have the stamp of approval from a medical professional! 

Can you Skydive if You Have a Heart Condition?

Skydiving is all about the adrenaline – it comes on strong and it impacts your entire body. Including your heart. This is great if you have a heart healthy enough for intense physical activity, but it can mean increased risk for those living with heart conditions. 

An adrenaline rush comes with increased heart rate and heightened blood pressure, and it happens fast. This can put undue stress on your heart and even shock your cardiovascular system into bigger issues. 

But what about medically managed conditions? Can you skydive with a pacemaker? The unfortunate answer is: probably not. There are a lot of forces at play during a skydive, including increased G-force during parachute deployment, and this can cause pacemaker malfunction and arrhythmia. 

That’s not to say that no one with a heart condition can go skydiving. Mild or controlled heart issues may have minimal impact on your ability to skydive. The main rule is this: talk to your doctor about potential risks before taking the leap. 

How Much Can You Weigh and Still Skydive?

One of the most common questions we get has to do with skydiving weight limits. This is probably the restriction that impacts the most potential skydivers, but the weight limit is in place for good reason: safety. 

At WNY Skydiving, our tandem skydiving weight limit is 260 lbs, and those weighing over 200 lbs must be height/weight proportionate. Additionally, anyone who weighs more than 200 lbs and is less than 5’6” should call prior to making a reservation.

We’re strict on this limit because every aspect of the skydive – from the plane ride to the landing – is impacted by weight. Skydiving gear is designed and manufactured to be able to accommodate a wide range of weights and body types, but there are still those who fall outside of the limits of the equipment. 

Equipment manufacturers place hard limits on the use of their gear that are data-driven and informed by extensive research, so we make sure we’re following their expert advice on every jump. 

Got the all clear from your doc and are ready to liberate your soul and body and experience the freedom of the sky? Woohooo! Let’s do this! Book a tandem with us today!