Types of Skydiving Courses

If you need an adrenaline rush, if you want to experience an exciting adventure, if you love sports and thrills, then it's time to take the leap. Skydiving is an aerial sport that's currently very popular, both for one-off experiences and for specialising in skydiving as a hobby or as a skill for certain professions.

If you want to do a tandem jump here are several options.



A great way to experience the thrill of skydiving is through a taster session. A skydiving taster is a one-day experience where you can try your luck and decide whether to take it further. If you're convinced and want to learn more about skydiving, there are various courses that will help you discover the secrets of skydiving and improve your technique.

While each school may establish different categories for skydiving courses, there are 3 generic ones for beginners (AFF, Tandem and Static Line) and several advanced skydiving courses for those who are already experienced jumpers.

Below, we explain what each one involves:




This is the most traditional form of skydiving. Here, the instructor and student jump, fall and land together. Both are connected via a special harness that attaches the student to the instructor's parachute. This course has 2 phases:

a) Tandem phase: with a minimum of 5 tandem jumps from 4000 metres altitude, designed to help the student learn freefall stability techniques, complete turns in both directions, deploy the parachute, manoeuvre and land - all with direct assistance from the instructor.

b) Solo phase: between 10 and 15 jumps from 2000 to 4000 metres to reinforce what was learned in the previous phase, but this time solo. However, some jumps with the instructor are still required in this second phase.





This is the most effective method in terms of speed and safety. Created in the late 70s in the USA, its expansion began in the 80s.

This is an intensive, personalised course. The student is observed throughout by instructors (initially 2, then 1) to correct any mistakes and teach parachute flight techniques.

The AFF consists of 1 theory class (about 6 hours) and 7 practical levels, separated by 7 to 10 jumps. The theory covers basic jump methods, equipment knowledge and use, emergency procedures in flight, exit techniques, in-flight communication, parachute deployment, post-deployment flight, and the final approach and landing. After the theory comes practice, beginning with a tandem jump followed by 7 more. The first 3 jumps are supervised by 2 instructors, the remaining 4 by 1 instructor. To progress between levels, students must complete specific sequences at each stage. Instructors decide whether objectives have been met and if the student can advance.



In the AFF course, the student jumps solo from the very beginning. Instructors will assist during the approximately one-minute freefall, but the student handles parachute deployment alone. For landing guidance, the student carries a ground-to-air radio. Equipment safety is paramount, featuring an automatic activation device.

Upon completing the AFF course - where you'll learn the fundamentals every skydiver needs to practise this aerial sport in any discipline - you receive a qualification recognised by the International Aeronautical Federation and the Royal Spanish Aeronautical Federation, allowing you to skydive anywhere in the world.



This course involves 30 jumps from 1000 to 1500 metres, where the student remains connected to the aircraft by a static line. The parachute features an automatic deployment system attached to this line.

This method teaches the technique for exiting the aircraft. Once mastered, the student progresses to freefall, deploying their parachute when jumping from 1500 to 3000 metres.




These courses are for students who've completed the initial training phase of the previous courses. Advanced skydiving courses teach new skills with the parachute. The topics can vary widely, covering specific techniques depending on your preferences.

• Advanced group jumping courses: Learn to jump in formation and gain greater movement fluidity. Improve your exit technique, learn group approach methods, practise moving forward, backward, up and down, execute combined movements, collaborate with the group, learn separation for parachute deployment, and understand basic group flight rules.

• Advanced Freefall Formation Skydiving (FFS) course where, by jumping in groups, you'll learn to create formations in the air.

• Advanced Freefly Jumping course, teaching new flight positions like Belly to Earth (BTE), Head Down, Standfly, Sitfly or Backfly.

Whichever skydiving course you choose, we recommend that before every jump you check your equipment, consider wind conditions (especially during early jumps when you're still mastering positioning as it can cause loss of control), and maintain self-control and emotional balance. For tandem jumps, these assessments are made by the instructor.



The requirements: minimum age is 16, with under-18s needing parental consent. No extraordinary physical condition is required, though basic fitness is necessary and cardiac problems are prohibitive. Remember not to consume any substances that might affect your normal bodily functions before jumping. If you've recently donated blood or been scuba diving, inform your instructor as pressure changes may affect your eligibility to jump.

Skydiving requires basic equipment: 2 parachutes (main and reserve), jumpsuit, helmet, gloves, goggles, altimeter and an automatic activation device.


If you're adventurous and considering a skydiving course, don't leap into the unknown - here's all the information you need to choose the course that best matches your experience and goals.