If you love skydiving but feel like you need more free fall time, even from 18,000 feet, have you ever thought of skydiving from 30,000 feet? It’s possible! However, the process is a bit different than your standard dive, so your jump time will be longer. It may also be called HALO skydiving stands for
From exiting the plane to landing, skydiving from 30,000 feet takes about 7 minutes and 43 seconds to 9 minutes and 43 seconds, while the free fall time will take approximately 1 minute and 26 seconds. The total skydiving time depends on when you open the parachute, the parachute type, the weight of the jumpers, air resistance, and weather conditions.
Jumping from 30,000 feet slightly differs from your standard jump. Many know higher jumps as HALO jumps. If you have heard of HALO skydiving it can be a bit different than a normal jump, HALO means High Altitude, Low Opening. If you do a HALO jump you could have a quicker than normal 30,000 foot jump as some HALO jumps open their parachutes lower than the normal 4000-5000 foot opening, but many tour companies just use HALO in their marketing.
Below I will take you through the process and show you what a full day of a 30000 foot skydiving experience can look like.
How Fast Will You Free Fall When Skydiving from 30,000 Feet?
How fast you fall from 30,000 feet highly depends on the amount of air resistance. However, once you reach terminal velocity, you stay within that speed. The terminal velocity that is reached highly depends on the divers.
Most tandem skydiving teams will reach about 120 miles per hour; however, this can change. The speed depends on the body positions, whether a solo jump or tandem jump, as well as several other factors.
Below, I’ve put together a chart to help you get a rough estimate of the terminal velocity you can expect to reach. Please keep in mind that these are rough estimates and may be faster or slower depending on the build of the skydiver.
Expected Terminal Velocity For Solo Jumpers
Many solo skydivers will dive using the arch position or head-down flight. The table below will reflect the expected speeds for both:
| Weight (lb) | Arch Position | Head Down Position |
| 100 | 62 mph | 111 mph |
| 120 | 70 mph | 121 mph |
| 140 | 76 mph | 131 mph |
| 160 | 81 mph | 140 mph |
| 180 | 88 mph | 149 mph |
| 200 | 98 mph | 157 mph |
| 220 | 115 mph | 164 mph |
| 240 | 120 mph | 172 mph |
| 260 | 120 mph | 179 mph |
| 280 | 120 mph | 186 mph |
Expected Terminal Velocity For Tandem Jumpers
Tandem jumpers typically stay in the arch position for most of the fall. Below, the table reflects a rough estimate of the terminal velocity you can expect to hit.
| Weight (lb) | Terminal Velocity |
| 300 | 120 mph |
| 320 | 120 mph |
| 340 | 120 mph |
| 360 | 129 mph |
| 380 | 133 mph |
| 400 | 136 mph |
| 420 | 140 mph |
| 440 | 144 mph |
| 460 | 149 mph |
| 480 | 151 mph |
| 500 | 156 mph |
How Long Will You Free Fall from 30000 Feet?
The total time you freefall from 30,000 highly depends on the weather/wind and when you open the parachute.
For example, if you open the parachute around 5,000 feet, that’s 25,000 feet of freefall time. For that first 1,000 feet, it will take around 10 seconds to fall as you catch up to speed.
For the remainder of the 24,000 feet, this will take about 136.36 seconds, equaling approximately 146.36 seconds of total free fall time from a 30,000 foot jump.
After Opening the Parachute, How Long Until You Reach the Ground?
If your parachute opens at 5,000 feet, you can expect the remainder of the journey to last between 5 and 7 minutes. You typically float at 1 minute per 1000 feet or a bit longer.
However, the time highly depends on the weight your parachute is carrying, when you open the parachute, as well as the size of it.
A smaller parachute will not have as much drag force as a larger one, allowing you to descend more quicker. The speed of the descent also increases with swooping, and this won’t happen on a tandem dive unless there’s an in-air emergency.
What’s the Difference Between Skydiving at 30000 feet and 10000 feet?
You get far more free fall time when you jump from 30,000 feet. However, certain HALO jumps cost about $5,000, far more than the $250 to $300 for a 10,000-foot jump.
Also, because you’re at 30,000 feet, you will need to breathe pure oxygen for about a hour before takeoff and continue that oxygen supplementation on the way down to cut back on the risk of hypoxia. At 10,000 feet, you do not need oxygen since the air is not as thin.
Read our guide on how long it takes to skydive from 10,000 feet and see our detailed table showing different free fall times.
Feel free to read my other article on how long it takes to skydive from 14000 feet here.
How Long Does It Take to Skydive Tandem at 30000 Feet? (Is it Possible?)
Skydiving tandem from 30,000 feet will still take around 7 minutes and 43 seconds to 9 minutes and 43 seconds from the time you jump out of the plane until the time you land.
This includes nearly two and a half minutes of freefall time. Parachutes typically open around 5,000 feet, no matter how high you’re jumping from.
The parachute ride will last between 5 to 7 minutes, depending on the weight of the jumpers, the parachute used, and the weather.
Can Beginners Skydive from 30000 Feet?
Beginners can most definitely skydive from 30,000 feet; however, they will need to obtain an FAA Class 3 Medical or an equivalent. This is something the facility does not provide and will cost you about $100.
On the other hand, a beginner cannot do this as a solo jump. They will need the FAA Class 3 Medical and the USPA-C License.
Learn all you need to know about skydiving licenses here.
How Long Is a Full Day of Skydiving from 30000 Feet?
A full day of skydiving from 30,000 feet differs from the time it takes to dive from 18,000 feet. This jump requires special training, which will most likely be a two-day process. However, this depends on the facility.
These jumps also automatically include photos and videos, as well as the certificate of completion. So, the check-in process differs quite a bit between a standard jump and a halo jump.
This looks the same for everyone, both beginners and regulars. You can only skip the first day if you are a certified instructor.
Here is a breakdown of the process to skydive from 30000 feet:
First-Day Training: 4 to 6 Hours
Most facilities will ask you to come the day before your scheduled skydive. For about 4 to 6 hours, you will go through breathing techniques and standard safety practices when skydiving.
Furthermore, you will spend the rest of your time trying on your gear and ensuring everything fits appropriately.
Day Of Jump: Meet At Required Location: 15 Minutes
Some facilities prefer you to meet them at the office, while others will ask you to meet them at the drop zone. There is no check-in process today, as the completed training on the day prior more or less counts as your check-in. (This will differ, so please ask for instructions.)
Pre-Flight Oxygen: 1 Hour
You will need to breathe pure oxygen for about an hour before your jump. This is when you will also practice the breathing techniques you learned the day before.
Flight To Altitude: 30 Minutes
The flight itself will take around a half hour. This includes boarding and takeoff. Sometimes this will take longer as the pilot must ensure they’re cleared for 30,000 feet.
Free Fall Time: 2 Minutes 43 Seconds
Your free fall during a halo jump will be unlike anything you’ve ever experienced. You have over two whole minutes to experience the maximum amount of free fall time you possibly can.
Remember to practice your breathing techniques during this time, as you will still be using the oxygen until you land.
Parachute Flight: 5 to 7 Minutes
Your parachute will most likely deploy at around 5,000 feet, which means that it will take you between 5 and 7 minutes to reach your drop zone. Your adrenaline rush will slowly dissipate during this time.
Post-Flight Monitoring: 1 Hour
Some facilities will prefer you stick around for an additional hour to ensure you do not suffer any residual effects after the jump. Some individuals will feel dizzy, nauseous, or experience a little bit of fatigue when the oxygen is removed.
Your instructor will remove the gear and wait until you can adjust until you travel back to the facility from the drop zone.
During this time, they will also process your videos, photos, and certificate so that you won’t have to wait any longer after this before you’re cleared to go home!
Final Thoughts
A skydive from 30,000 feet is like no other. You get to experience the longest free fall possible and must attend extended safety training and the medical certificate.
While there is much more involved in a jump from this altitude, it’s for your safety as well as the safety of your instructor. Remember to follow protocol, but most of all, have fun!
Like skydiving but interested in more fun action sports? You have to read 25 Activities Like Skydiving for Adrenaline Junkies to find more sports that fit your lifestyle!
Jamie is the founder of Action Sporter. He is the chief zipline writer and the lead editor. He has 5 years of zipline experience being a tour guide in Newfoundland. Most of the time you can find Jamie adventure traveling, hiking, skiing, skateboarding, or anything action related!
