I meant to write this a long time ago. Better late than never, right?

Back in 2016, on a Friday in May, I went skydiving for the first time. Leading up to that day, I was terrified, but I had a feeling I would love the airborne part if I could somehow willingly leap out of the plane. Sure enough, I was right. That 60-second freefall from 15,000 feet above the ground was worth facing my fear.

Then, in May 2018, I decided to face another fear: bungee jumping. I mean, why not? If I enjoyed skydiving, how bad could it be? Again, I was right. Once I got past the fear of that initial, intimidating jump, freefalling through the air felt incredible!

Differences Between Skydiving and Bungee Jumping

If I had to choose a favorite, I’m not sure I could. I’d do either again in a heartbeat—though skydiving is a far more accessible option for me.

I actually did skydive a second time. I also tried canyon swinging, which is very similar to bungee jumping, in my opinion. So, rather than talk favorites, it might help if I describe the differences between these activities.

Height and Time Difference

First, the obvious. Skydiving offers a much higher freefall. Jump altitudes range from 12,000 to 18,000 feet. At 12,000 feet, the freefall is approximately 30 seconds. At 18,000 feet, it’s 90 seconds. Both times, I opted for 15,000 feet and had a full minute of freefall before my instructor opened the parachute. The slow drift down to earth took approximately five more minutes.

Bungee jumping was over in a blink. (Not really, but almost!) From leap to last bounce, the entire process takes less than a minute. Personally, I would have preferred more airtime, but the pure adrenaline rush made up for it.

According to Google, typical beginner bungee jump heights range from 150 to 300 feet. I bungeed from 439 feet (equivalent to a 40-story building). But, I didn’t choose the jump for the height. I chose it for the location.

Location, Location, Location

This might be a personal preference, but I strongly believe the location of your jump—whether skydiving or bungee jumping—makes a major difference.

For my first skydive, I chose a spot near Florida’s space coast because I wanted a view of the ocean. It did not disappoint.

For my bungee experience, I researched numerous locations, including Costa Rica and Colorado. But I was sold on Switzerland the moment I saw an Instagram friend’s photo. Bungee jumping out of a gondola over a lake in the Alps? Sign me up!

Solo vs. Tandem

Technically, you can bungee jump linked to another person, but the more common way is to go it alone. Skydiving, on the other hand, requires a tandem jump unless you become licensed for solo dives.

Physical Process

During the skydiving freefall, your body will be in a horizontal position that feels like you’re floating. Then, when the parachute opens, you sit upright with your feet dangling till you reach the ground.

Bungee jumping starts with a jump out, away from the ledge, which puts your body in a horizontal position for a split second before you start to nosedive. From there, you remain vertical and upside down until removed from the bungee cord—which does not take long.

This likely goes without saying, but if you don’t enjoy being upside down or have a medical condition that makes inversion risky, you may want to stick with skydiving.

Which Is Scarier: Skydiving or Bungee Jumping?

I won’t sugarcoat it. I was equally terrified when I said yes to both of these activities. But, in the minutes leading up to each jump, bungee jumping scared me far more.

Just before I jumped out of the plane, my nerves were gone and I felt ready. Just before I jumped out of that gondola, I was physically shaking so intensely that the person next to me noticed. I couldn’t hide it and I couldn’t stop it. I didn’t let it stop me, though!

Why did bungee jumping scare me more? That’s a fantastic question and one I’ve pondered for years. Here are my best guesses:

1. There is no parachute. When skydiving, the parachute can psychologically feel like a safety net.
2. The earth is much closer and more tangible. From thousands of feet in the air, the ground almost doesn’t seem real which makes the fear of hitting it harder to take seriously.

If the idea of willing your body to fall hundreds (or thousands) of feet in the air has your fear meter maxed out, let me share a few thoughts that helped me:

• The anticipation is far scarier than the reality.
• You will be glad you did this when it’s over.
• Stop thinking and just jump.

Which Is Safer: Skydiving or Bungee Jumping?

This is purely my opinion, but neither felt more or less safe to me. Here are a few thoughts I have about each experience.

Skydiving Safety

At first, signing close to a dozen waivers had me questioning whether I was, indeed, signing my life away. But, I signed them anyway. Putting on the gear made me feel safer because every step was explained, every strap was tightened, and the strength of each piece was tested. By the time I boarded the plane, my level of trust had increased.

I also believe skydiving with a tandem instructor can create a greater impression of safety because you are literally connected to an “expert” who would also like to reach the ground safely.

Bungee Jumping Safety

To bungee jump, I also signed several waivers. And once the paperwork was squared away, our group was outfitted with harnesses for our torsos and legs. Great care went into selecting harnesses that best fit our body sizes. We were also asked our weight to determine which cord would be used for our individual jumps. It was all very calculated and made me feel safe.

We were also given detailed instructions before jumping—regarding how to jump (out not down) and what to do when the “yo-yo” rebounding finally stopped.

Pro Tip

Of course, no two skydiving or bungee jumping locations will be exactly alike. My advice is to do your research and select an experience that clearly indicates time for safety instruction and the proper outfitting of equipment. This will require arriving over an hour before your scheduled jump, but the extra time is worth the peace of mind.

Whether you choose skydiving, bungee jumping, or both, the thrill is real and the freedom felt when freefalling is something I truly believe you never forget. If you are an adventurer, like me—or even remotely curious—I encourage you to take the leap!

Leave a comment if you have a question. I’m happy to share more.