What is a tandem skydive?

Tandem skydiving is the easiest and safest way to experience freefall. You will be strapped to an experienced instructor who takes care of everything, allowing you to enjoy the experience to the fullest.

Is it safe to do a tandem skydive?

Yes, tandem skydiving is very safe. The instructors are highly qualified and use high-quality equipment that is regularly inspected and maintained. Safety is our absolute priority.

Do I need to do any special preparation before the jump?

No special preparation is required. We recommend eating lightly and staying hydrated. You will receive a short briefing before the jump.

Can you breathe during freefall?

Absolutely yes, there is plenty of air and you breathe normally.

How much does a parachute jump cost?

Our prices start at €180 and go up to €200, not including the cost of the video and photos, which are optional.

Is it possible that the parachute does not open?

During each jump, your dedicated instructor carries a reserve parachute for the remote case in which the main parachute has problems. We use state-of-the-art equipment and all jumps are supervised by certified, experienced instructors.

How long does a tandem jump take from start to finish?

The complete experience takes 2-3 hours, including check-in, briefing, waiting time and kitting up. The flight itself is shorter: about 25 minutes climbing to 4,200 metres, 50-60 seconds of freefall and 5-10 minutes under the open canopy.

What altitude do you jump from on a tandem skydive?

You exit the aircraft at 4,200 metres. The parachute is deployed at around 1,500 metres above the ground, after 50-60 seconds of freefall at roughly 200 km/h.

What do I actually have to do during the tandem jump?

Very little: at the exit you just arch your back and hold your arms in the position shown in the briefing, and on landing you lift your legs up and forward. Everything else — deployment, flying the canopy and the landing — is handled by the instructor.

Is there an upper age limit for a tandem jump?

No, there is no maximum age. The minimum age is 16, with parental consent until you come of age, and what really matters is being in general health compatible with the activity.

Can I do a tandem jump if I wear glasses or contact lenses?

Yes. Glasses go under the jump goggles, which are designed to fit over the frames, and contact lenses stay in place because your eyes are shielded from the wind anyway.

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What is tandem skydiving and how does it work in 2026

Updated on September 19, 2026 · 10 min read

Tandem skydiving: what it is and what it really means

Tandem skydiving is the simplest and most accessible way to try a skydive without any specific experience or training. If you're wondering what tandem skydiving is, it's a jump performed together with a certified instructor, to whom you are connected via a professional harness designed to ensure safety and stability throughout the flight.

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The great advantage is precisely this: you don't have to worry about technical or operational aspects. The instructor manages every step, while you can focus exclusively on the experience.

To fully understand what a tandem jump is, it is useful to start from the origin of the term. The word "tandem", now widespread through English, derives from the Latin _tandem_, meaning "finally" or "at last", but which was later adopted into English to refer to two elements arranged one behind the other and connected to function together, such as a tandem bicycle. In skydiving, this term is used specifically to describe a jump performed in pairs, in which the passenger is securely connected to the front of an instructor via a certified harness system, forming a single unit throughout the jump.

When talking about a tandem parachute, we mean a complete system composed of:

a parachute designed to support two people
a special harness that connects instructor and passenger
a qualified instructor who controls the entire jump

The tandem jump is, in practice, a guided experience that allows anyone to try freefall in complete safety, without having to take a full course or obtain a licence.

How a tandem parachute works: equipment, deployment and safety system

How a tandem parachute works Skydiving Academy

To really understand how tandem skydiving works, it's important to know the equipment used. The tandem system is specifically designed to support two people and is much larger and more robust than the one used for solo jumps.

The central element is the main parachute, contained in a technical backpack worn by the instructor. This parachute is designed to ensure stability, control and a smooth descent even with the combined weight of two people. When the right moment arrives, the instructor activates a deployment system that extracts a small pilot parachute, called a pilot chute, which in turn extracts the main parachute. Once opened, the parachute dramatically slows the speed and allows for a controlled descent.

The tandem system also includes a second reserve parachute, completely independent of the main one, designed to be used in case of need. Furthermore, the equipment is fitted with an automatic safety device that monitors altitude and speed and can activate the reserve parachute automatically if necessary.

Another key element is the tandem harness, which securely connects the passenger to the instructor at four main points: shoulders and legs. This system maintains a stable position during freefall and distributes weight evenly, ensuring comfort and safety. It is precisely thanks to this configuration that the tandem jump works so effectively even for those with no experience.

How long a tandem jump lasts, step by step

A tandem jump takes 2-3 hours in total, but the flight itself lasts only a few minutes. Here is every phase: altitude or duration, what you do and what the instructor does.

Phase	Altitude or duration	What you do	What the instructor does
Briefing and preparation	on the ground, before the flight	Listen to the briefing and kit up	Checks the gear and clips you in
Climb to altitude	about 25 minutes up to 4,200 metres	Enjoy the view	Re-checks the hooks and runs through the exit
Exit and freefall	50-60 seconds at around 200 km/h	Arch your back and open your arms	Stabilises the position and watches the altitude
Parachute deployment	at around 1,500 metres	Nothing: just stay relaxed	Releases the pilot chute and opens the canopy
Canopy flight	5-10 minutes	Take in the view and can steer	Flies the canopy and sets up the landing
Landing	end of the canopy flight	Lift your legs up and forward	Brakes the canopy and guides the touchdown

The link between you and the instructor is what makes all of this possible: your harness attaches to his at four points — two at the shoulders, two at leg height — with certified hooks, checked on the ground and checked again on board just before the exit. From then on you are a single unit: the instructor wears and operates the parachute, while you stay in front with the view wide open. Why the exit happens exactly at 4,200 metres is explained in the altitude you skydive from.

What the instructor does during the tandem jump

During a tandem parachute jump it is important to know that the instructor is responsible for every technical aspect of the experience. From the initial preparation, he carefully checks the equipment, verifies that the harness is properly fastened and ensures everything is ready for the jump. During the exit from the plane, he maintains the correct position and stabilises the freefall, allowing the passenger to experience it naturally and safely.

When the moment of deployment arrives, the instructor activates the parachute and controls the descent using special handles that allow him to steer and slow the parachute. This makes it possible to manage speed, direction and landing with precision.

Throughout the flight, his role is to ensure complete control and allow the passenger to focus exclusively on the experience.

How the first tandem jump works for those with no experience

If you're wondering how the first tandem jump works, the answer is reassuring: it's designed specifically for those who have never jumped before. In fact, as explained in our complete guide to your first tandem jump, tandem skydiving is an introductory experience that requires no prior experience nor any specific physical preparation. The entire experience is designed to allow even beginners to try skydiving in a simple, gradual way, fully guided by a qualified instructor.

Knowing how the tandem jump works for beginners helps you understand that your role is minimal from a technical standpoint. Your main task is to relax, follow the simple instructions you receive and enjoy every moment of the experience.

Who can do a tandem jump?

Anyone aged 16 or over (with parental consent until they come of age) and in normal health can do a tandem jump: there is no upper age limit and no athletic preparation is required.

No experience or course is needed, because technically the passenger has almost nothing to do. People who wear glasses or contact lenses can jump too: we cover it in skydiving with glasses or contact lenses. If you have a specific medical condition, write to us before booking and we'll look at it together.

How much does a tandem jump cost?

A tandem jump at the Accademia di Paracadutismo costs €180 from Monday to Friday and €200 at weekends. The price covers the briefing, the equipment, the climb to 4,200 metres and the jump with a certified instructor; photos and video are optional. Compare every option on the prices page, or book your jump.

What does a tandem jump feel like?

For the first two or three seconds after the exit you feel a sharp acceleration, then the sensation changes: at around 200 km/h the air becomes a solid cushion and it stops feeling like falling and starts feeling like being held up.

The wind is loud and the landscape below seems to move slowly, because it is still so far away. After 50-60 seconds the canopy opens and everything goes suddenly quiet: the 5-10 minutes that follow are the calmest, most scenic part of the experience. The real figures are explained in how long freefall lasts and how fast you go.

Why tandem is the best way to try skydiving

Tandem skydiving is considered the gateway to the world of skydiving because it eliminates all the technical complexities. Compared to other modes, tandem offers clear advantages:

it does not require complex training
the instructor manages every phase
the experience is accessible to beginners
it allows you to immediately experience real freefall

For this reason, when someone asks how to do tandem skydiving, the answer is simple: just rely on an authorised centre and a qualified instructor and book your jump.

Now that you know what tandem skydiving is and how it works, it's easier to understand why it's the ideal way to approach this activity. The equipment, harness and instructor control work together to create a seamless, guided experience from start to finish. Your only job is to live in the moment and truly discover what it means to fly.

If you are wondering what happens should the main parachute fail to open, the full sequence — reserve, automatic device and the instructor's role — is explained in the deep dive on how safe skydiving really is.

If you are planning your jump from outside Italy, the complete guide to tandem skydiving in Italy gathers everything you need on the dropzone, timings and how to reach us.

Frequently asked questions

What is a tandem skydive?: Tandem skydiving is the easiest and safest way to experience freefall. You will be strapped to an experienced instructor who takes care of everything, allowing you to enjoy the experience to the fullest.
Is it safe to do a tandem skydive?: Yes, tandem skydiving is very safe. The instructors are highly qualified and use high-quality equipment that is regularly inspected and maintained. Safety is our absolute priority.
Do I need to do any special preparation before the jump?: No special preparation is required. We recommend eating lightly and staying hydrated. You will receive a short briefing before the jump.
Can you breathe during freefall?: Absolutely yes, there is plenty of air and you breathe normally.
How much does a parachute jump cost?: Our prices start at €180 and go up to €200, not including the cost of the video and photos, which are optional.
Is it possible that the parachute does not open?: During each jump, your dedicated instructor carries a reserve parachute for the remote case in which the main parachute has problems. We use state-of-the-art equipment and all jumps are supervised by certified, experienced instructors.
How long does a tandem jump take from start to finish?: The complete experience takes 2-3 hours, including check-in, briefing, waiting time and kitting up. The flight itself is shorter: about 25 minutes climbing to 4,200 metres, 50-60 seconds of freefall and 5-10 minutes under the open canopy.
What altitude do you jump from on a tandem skydive?: You exit the aircraft at 4,200 metres. The parachute is deployed at around 1,500 metres above the ground, after 50-60 seconds of freefall at roughly 200 km/h.
What do I actually have to do during the tandem jump?: Very little: at the exit you just arch your back and hold your arms in the position shown in the briefing, and on landing you lift your legs up and forward. Everything else — deployment, flying the canopy and the landing — is handled by the instructor.
Is there an upper age limit for a tandem jump?: No, there is no maximum age. The minimum age is 16, with parental consent until you come of age, and what really matters is being in general health compatible with the activity.
Can I do a tandem jump if I wear glasses or contact lenses?: Yes. Glasses go under the jump goggles, which are designed to fit over the frames, and contact lenses stay in place because your eyes are shielded from the wind anyway.