Freefall, skydiving in Dubai – How I Went Bananas

Freefall in Dubai had long been on my bucket list. I’ve always felt most comfortable in wide, open space where I could take in vast landscapes from above. Perhaps this stems from my childhood which I spent on hiking in the mountains. Being a tiny dot in a vast area gives me a deep sense of inner peace.

That’s why, at some point, it occurred to me, why not remove one more element from this equation—completely detach myself from the ground under my feet, and jump out of a plane with a parachute? For a long time, I was pushing this idea to the back of my mind. The thought of skydiving excited me immensely, but it was like saving the best part of a meal for last. I knew that once I did it, there likely wouldn’t be anything more thrilling in the air left for me to experience.

Then the moment came when I took my first jump. It was incredible—better than I had ever imagined. While I could envision freefall, I’d never really thought about the act of jumping out of the plane itself. That moment was a game changer for me. For those afraid of the jump, this could be the scariest part. But right after, there’s a surge of adrenaline so intense that fear disappears completely.

Later I jumped two more times, and I confirmed what I’d suspected: the emotions and mystery connected with the first jump can’t be repeated. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience. However, I noticed something interesting—subsequent jumps weren’t as extremely thrilling, but they offered me greater awareness of what was happening around me. I could focus more on what I saw and felt, it wasn’t just an adrenaline rush. However, I still craved that thrill. My last jump, in particular, stood out. My instructor agreed to set a record for flips right after exiting the plane. He specifically used his private camera for this, which is why the video below was recorded from two perspectives.

Generally, after jumping out of the plane, instructors sometimes need to perform such thing to stabilize the tandem flight. For me, this part was the most thrilling—I felt a complete sense of weightlessness as the world spun around me like a whirlwind. It was like a roller coaster, but in the sky.

After these three jumps, I took a longer break. But at the beginning of this year, the thought came back to me… It’s that feeling when you know you have to do something, or it’ll drive you crazy! 😄

This time, I decided to go all in and tick skydiving over the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai off my bucket list. Seeing the Palm Jumeirah is similar to viewing the Empire State Building in NYC—you need the right perspective to fully appreciate it. The only way is from above. Hence, a helicopter ride in New York was a natural consequence, while in Dubai the only option was skydiving.

Skydiving: The Technical Side

The entire process begins with a short training session. The instructor explains the exit position, holding onto the harness, and waiting for a tap on the shoulder after the jump, signaling that it’s safe to move your arms freely. You’re also taught a so called “banana position”—a special position of the body during free fall where you arch your head and legs backward, creating a cradle-like shape. This position ensures flight stability and comfort. Falling at 200 km/h makes it impossible to hold your head down due to the air pressure, which makes breathing difficult. The training ends with instructions before landing, when you bend your knees and extend your legs forward.

Next, you’re strapped into your harness and introduced to your camera operator. At Skydive Dubai, there’s an additional interview. Don’t worry when they ask if you have any last words for loved ones—I joked that I’d save my breath till landing! 😄

After that, you board the plane. The flight lasts about 15–20 minutes. At an altitude of about 10 000 feet, the instructor attaches your harness to theirs and ensures everything is secure. You’re also given goggles. At around 13 000 feet, the plane doors open, and when the signal turns green, it’s time to jump.

Jumpers exit one by one. This moment is the most exhilarating—you see others jump ahead of you, and then it’s your turn to stand at the edge, looking down. It’s a surreal feeling, realising what you’re about to do. Many people freeze with fear, but the truth is that we fear the unknown the most. The key is not to overthink and approach it like a task which has to be done. Limits exist only in our minds, and we can overcome them.

However, for those paralyzed by fear, closing your eyes or focusing solely on the camera operator can help. I guarantee that after landing, you won’t regret it. There is no room in the airplane, and personally, I have never encountered a situation where someone backed out at that moment. I’m not even sure if it would be technically possible to let other jumpers go first.

The Freefall and Parachute Deployment

After exiting the plane and stabilising your position, the instructor deploys a small drogue parachute, allowing you to enjoy a longer freefall. It slows you down from about 190 mph to 124 mph.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and the freefall lasts only about 60 seconds. At approximately 5 000 feet, the main parachute is deployed. Before opening, the instructor may signal you to grab the harness, but this isn’t always necessary. Once the parachute opens, you feel a sharp upward pull.

After freefall, when the parachute is fully opened and secured, and you feel relaxed and safe, the instructor loosens some straps to improve balance and position for a smoother landing. This creates a brief downward motion. It’s a standard and safe procedure, with adjustments made only at specific harness points. You’re always securely attached to the instructor. After this operation, we have about 5 minutes to admire the breathtaking panorama and enjoy the peaceful flight.

At the point you can also try steering the parachute. Control is achieved using two toggles attached to the parachute canopy. Pulling the left toggle causes a turn to the left, while pulling the right one turns you to the right. Of course, for those craving an extra adrenaline rush at this stage, there’s an option to spice things up. A quick and sharp turn generates gravitational forces of up to even 5G. This results in significant altitude loss as part of the lift force is converted into centrifugal force and descent speed. Such manoeuvres are performed at higher altitudes since sharp turns at lower heights can be extremely risky.

What are the sensations during a sharp turn? These maneuvers are very dynamic and are accompanied by a brief sensation of significantly increased body weight, a feeling of being pressed into the harness, short  chest compression, dizziness, and ears clogging. While short-term G-forces are safe for healthy individuals, they come with distinct sensations that not everyone may tolerate well.

Landing

At an altitude of approximately 400 meters, the instructor begins preparing for landing. It is crucial to maintain the correct legs position by bending your knees and pointing them forward. This reduces the risk of injury during landing. The landing is performed in a semi-seated position and requires several meters to come to a complete stop.

Is Skydiving Safe?

Skydiving is one of the safest extreme sports. According to USPA –  United States Parachute Association, data from 2023, the risk of fatality during a skydive is about 0.003% (3 deaths per 100,000 jumps). Advanced equipment, like automatic activation devices (AADs), ensures additional safety by deploying the reserve parachute automatically if needed. They usually deploy at an altitude of 2300 feet to ensure a safe landing. Moreover, tandem instructors are highly experienced skydivers, with some having completed tens of thousands of jumps. Each jump is preceded by a thorough equipment inspection and carried out in strict adherence to all safety procedures.

My feelings

Skydiving remains a magical experience for me, offering unique emotions every time. Nothing else in the world compares to the thrill of freefall. I love that moment when I jump out of the plane and feel as though I’m in a void—surrounded by space stretching endlessly to the horizon. There’s so much to see, yet no tangible point of reference. Flying in the air holds something truly magical, and absolutely nothing else in the world compares to the emotions it brings.

The Experience Over the Palm Jumeirah

I booked a morning jump when the air was cooler and clearer. My goal was to fly over the emerald waters of the Persian Gulf and the artificial island—the Palm Jumeirah.

The Palm Jumeirah covers 5.72 square kilometres and is the world’s largest artificial island. Its foundations were created using 7 million tons of rock from the nearby Hajar Mountains. Construction required 120 million cubic meters of sand from the seabed, forming the island. The entire project cost $12 billion and involved satellite-guided precision to achieve its symmetrical shape.

While my main aim was to admire this architectural marvel during freefall, I realized it wasn’t possible. The jump takes place just beneath the island, and in the banana position, your eyes are fixed on the horizon. Still, Dubai’s scale and architecture are breathtaking.

However, this is the moment when our expectations significantly differ from reality. After the parachute was opened, I could finally see the island and the coastline of the Persian Gulf. Yet, to my surprise, I prefer jumping in Chrcynno near Warsaw, where I made my previous three jumps. The atmosphere feels more laid-back, and the instructors have more personalized  approach. After all, if I were to be one of the 3 out of 100,000 jumps, I’d probably prefer it to happen on home soil. 😉