Do you have a wild streak? Everyone knows it. Love trying new adventures? That too. But there’s a difference between practising all kinds of extreme sports with a professional and becoming the expert who guides the experience. So, if you’re thinking of becoming a skydiver, it’s wise to learn everything about this thrilling profession.
Being a professional skydiver goes beyond just loving or hating the rush of adrenaline. First, you’ll need training in the type of skydiving you want to pursue. Here you’ll find the skydiving courses every beginner should know to reach their goal.
But with so many questions arising when considering training to work in the world of skydiving, we’ve summarised the most pressing ones:
- Is there work in skydiving?
- Which skydiving role is most in demand professionally?
- What’s the first step to becoming a skydiver?
- How much does a skydiving course cost?
- How long does it take to become a professional skydiver?
- Can I take a few skydiving courses and start working in a short time?
- What do I need to do to become a rigger?
- What’s the best skydiving course available?
1. In any developed country, skydiving is a highly regarded practice, but you’ll need to decide whether to pursue it full-time or part-time. Full-timers usually start by jumping with a school, and their progression allows them to become instructors, working in the drop zone as part of the skydiving team.
However, if you opt for part-time skydiving, you can focus on weekends—balancing it with another job—or become a skydiving "nomad", travelling to different countries during peak seasons to fully immerse yourself.
2. Skydiving offers several career paths: aerial photography, instructor, packer, rigger... Most roles are in high demand at skydiving centres, but if you’re committing full-time, note that work slows in winter.
3. If you’re set on becoming a professional skydiver, your first step is enrolling in the AFF course (or PAC in Spanish), where you’ll learn to jump solo and earn your international skydiving licence.
This is the fastest way to master techniques from the first jump, learning from experts. After completing its 7 (or 8) levels, you’ll enter a consolidation phase to practise autonomous skydiving before jumping with others.
4. Course costs vary by expertise level, averaging £500–£4,000. Training alone, however, is just the start—equipment rental, maintenance, or buying your own gear can push total costs to £15,000–£20,000. As always, it depends on your commitment.
5. If you dedicate yourself fully, you could become a skydiving instructor in 1–2 years.
6. Skydiving takes time. To be an instructor or tandem master, you’ll need at least 600 free-fall jumps and to pass the relevant course.
7. Skydiving schools will announce rigging course dates. These run year-round but may be limited by demand or expert availability.
8. Without a doubt, the Accelerated Freefall (AFF/PAC) course is the most comprehensive and the first step to becoming a certified skydiver. It’s the safest and most complete way to enter the sport.
Safety must come first in skydiving. Always heed expert advice, and if you’re convinced this is your dream career—go for it! Nothing should stop you.
One final tip: choose a skydiving centre near your home or where you can jump regularly. Consistency, as always, is key to reaching your goal. When will you start your skydiving journey?
