If you are making your first jump here are some things you need to know:
EAT NORMALY - Not eating can make you more sick than you would otherwise be. BELIEVE ME! Wear comfortable pants, long shorts and a shirt with no collar and tennis shoes.

Why jump out of a perfectly good airplane?
Skydiving is an experience that is hard to explain to someone who has not experienced it. It is a beautiful and exhilarating experience that and will leave you feeling accomplished and full of energy. You will discover that people really can fly!

What is the age limit for skydiving?
You must be at least 18 years old to skydive. After that, you can skydive at any age. At Skydive East Texas, we have had tandem students from 18 to 90 years of age. 

Is there a weight limit for Tandem Skydives?
The weight limit at Skydive East Texas is 215 lbs. for men and 180lbs. for women.

How fast do you fall?
During freefall you will be flying over the earth at approximately 120 miles per hour.  

Does it feel like your falling?
Freefall is a tremendous yet indescribable experience.  For the most part, it's not like a roller coaster and it really doesn't feel like your falling. A lot of people compare freefall to flying and feeling like you are on top of the whole world. I know it sounds strange but skydiving is just something that each person has to experience for themselves. Because you are already in motion when you leave the plane there is no stomach dropping sensation. You feel more like you are flying.

What if the canopy doesn't open? 
In the case that your main canopy does not open, or there is a malfunction that would interfere with the safety of the skydiver, the main canopy is released and a reserve canopy is deployed. The reserve canopy is inspected and repacked by a licensed professional FAA rigger every 120 days to ensure that it is in good working condition in the event that it is needed. In addition every Tandem and student rig is equipped with an automatic activation device that will deploy should it be needed.

How do you learn to skydive? 
East Texas Skydiving Club now offers the Tandem Progression Course (Instructor Assisted Freefall Course)  
This course offers the excitement of freefall on each jump, with the security of learning with an instructor at your side. It is convenient for those who do a tandem and decide to continue their training since your first tandem is also your IAF Level 1. The training for the IAF course begins with a series of 5 tandems and a ground school course that requires body position, flying techniques, emergency situations, equipment orientation and parachute deployment, canopy control, steering, and landing techniques. This course has a strong practical emphasis on the mastery of key skydiving skills. Once students are able to demonstrate all important procedures at a satisfactory standard, they are ready to jump solo, with the assistance of certified jumpmasters flying next to them in the air. Before each skydive, students receive one-on-one training, which includes exit procedure, freefall sequence, and deployment instruction. Each jump is made from an altitude up to 11,000 feet, allowing for freefall time of about 35-45 seconds. With the security and assistance of their instructor, students use their freefall time to fly their body, perform altitude awareness checks, and deploy their own parachute. The duration of the excitement then extends to a  5 to 8 minute canopy ride. Each skydive is completed with a return to the airport grounds and a soft landing. After each skydive, students receive a one-on-one debriefing session and logbook entry time with their instructor. Each jump level is priced individually. Each level must be passed in order to go on to the next one.