Anna is a co-founder of Adventure in You and has been traveling the world for the last 9 years. She has spent time living in Thailand, Mexico, Indonesia, and Spain and is our local expert in these areas. Her expertise on travel, gear, and building businesses have been featured on Foundr, Business Insider, Yahoo Travel, and more.
Being the little thrill seeker that I am, I woke up on my birthday, deciding I wanted to jump out of a plane. You know how other girls want to have a big party with friends, or go on a shopping spree, or even a spa day? No, not me. I wanted to spend my 26th birthday jumping of an airplane to skydive.
I was in California at that time, during the middle of my yearlong backpacking trip. Luckily, I was able to book a jump on the last minute in a super awesome spot. Everything seemed like a blur, and the only thing I really remember doing was eating a big slice of cake for breakfast (don’t judge me-it was my birthday!) and soon, I found myself on a tiny propeller plane between Half Moon Bay and Sta. Cruz Beach, attached to an instructor who didn’t seem the least bit scared.
I went with a school called Sky Dive Surf City who were pretty awesome. The girl at the reception was very helpful and reassuring. She helped calm my ever increasing paranoia that the chute would not deploy.
This school boasted the best ocean view jumps closest to San Francisco and San Jose (a perfect activity for any Pacific Coast Highway itinerary) and everyone in the team was highly professional and knew what they were doing – quite an important bit if you’re jumping off a plane! They set you up with all the right equipment, give you a basic overview of what you need to do, and soon, I was high up in the air ready to jump.
It was one of those moments where I felt no fear-or so I thought. I was psyched to be up on an airplane, looking on to the beautiful coastline. Apart from being sat down on the floor and having a massive gap to where a door should be, it was like every other plane ride I’ve been on. I was quietly enjoying the stunning views of the ocean, then, out of nowhere, our pilot gives the go signal. My instructor tells me to start sliding towards the airplane door. Right at that moment, it hit me. What do you mean slide towards the airplane door??
My heart was thumping a million miles an hour, I could hardly hear myself or my instructor due to the noise outside. Soon, I found myself, along with the instructor who was very reassuring, at the edge of the airplane with my feet dangling out. At that point, whenever I was ready, I was to hurl myself out of the plane, doing a front flip. I took a deep breath, started playing an epic soundtrack in my head, and let out the biggest scream of my life.
P.S. It is very hard to keep a photogenic face when you are jumping off an airplane.
As soon as we started cruising, I was having the time of my life! Although I do feel bad for the instructor who had to put up with my screaming the entire time (I think if he heard me shout “THIS IS AWESOME” one more time, he would have unattached himself from me if he could!) As you reach a certain point, your palms stop sweating and you calmly take in the view. It was incredible! I could see both Half Moon Bay Beach as well as Sta. Cruz Beach. The sight of the ocean immediately calmed my nerves! Soon, it was time to deploy our parachute, the instructor gave instructions and soon, we were gliding with the chute as he expertly cruised along. He gave me control of the chute and told me which direction to steer.
The entire experience was beyond exhilarating and in my opinion went by too fast. Before I knew it I was down on the field, giving fist pumps and high fives to everyone that I saw. The free fall, which seemed so fast yet so slow at the same time was exactly how I imagined flying to be! Complete freedom as every single part of my body sped down. Wind in my face and the most amazing view of the coast. This was definitely a great big tick off my bucket list!
Skydiving is just one of those epic must do things that you have to do at least once in your lifetime. The exhilarating feeling and the incomparable feeling of accomplishment after you complete a jump. So whether it’s a bucket list item that you want to get off your list or you just wake up one day with the sudden urge to jump off a plane, my recommendation is to just do it!
amazing! i have always wanted to do this and have no idea why i never did do it! now that i have two kids i guess i will wait until they are old enough to come with me!
I’m way too scared of heights to jump out of a plane but it must be an incredible feeling. What a view! It looks like you had an amazing time. Great photos
Great post! I went sky diving in Santa Barbara, CA a couple of years ago. My brother asked me to go because it was his birthday. Otherwise, I probably never would have done it — but I’m so thankful that I did!
It looks like you had the time of your life! Would you ever do it again?
P.S. I LOVE the adventure meter. I’ve had a few “don’t tell your mum” incidents lol.
Hahaha!! Thank you! My mum phoned me to actually asked what things i’ve done would fall under that category! :p I would definitely do it again!!! Closest thing to flying.
Haha, the lack of photogenic grace is forgivable at that height I think, but that massive grin of Joy at the end says it all really! Which height did you dive from?
10,000 ft. -the others were a bit outside of my backpacker’s budget! Hahaha! I pitty the instructor as all he could hear were shrill shrieks of excitement.
amazing! i have always wanted to do this and have no idea why i never did do it! now that i have two kids i guess i will wait until they are old enough to come with me!
I really am not sure I will ever be able to do such a thing! But that is a cool way to celebrate a birthday!
I’m way too scared of heights to jump out of a plane but it must be an incredible feeling. What a view! It looks like you had an amazing time. Great photos
Awesome birthday treat! Got to do this someday!
Your way more game than I am! I don’t know that I could ever do anything as scary as this, although you make it look like so much fun.
Haha! Thanks @trustedtraveller:disqus. I had a blast!
Great post! I went sky diving in Santa Barbara, CA a couple of years ago. My brother asked me to go because it was his birthday. Otherwise, I probably never would have done it — but I’m so thankful that I did!
It looks like you had the time of your life! Would you ever do it again?
P.S. I LOVE the adventure meter. I’ve had a few “don’t tell your mum” incidents lol.
Hahaha!! Thank you! My mum phoned me to actually asked what things i’ve done would fall under that category! :p I would definitely do it again!!! Closest thing to flying.
So cool! I would love to do this myself!
That must have been one awesome experience. Honestly, I don’t think I can do it. Maybe I can. But you did it!
You most definitely can! Its the closest thing to flying and the feeling is incredible!
Maybe one day!
You make it look like a lot of fun, you clearly enjoyed it a lot from that smile.
Wow! The thrill in your face made me grin! What a fun birthday gift to yourself!
Haha, the lack of photogenic grace is forgivable at that height I think, but that massive grin of Joy at the end says it all really! Which height did you dive from?
10,000 ft. -the others were a bit outside of my backpacker’s budget! Hahaha! I pitty the instructor as all he could hear were shrill shrieks of excitement.