Nothing gets as disappointing in a skydiver’s book as a skydive cancellation, especially due to unsuitable weather conditions. When you have spent a great deal of time thinking, planning, and at times even daydreaming about the experience…all you want to do is try it! Can you skydive in the rain? Professional skydivers are aware that certain weather conditions can hamper this activity. Such as the clouds that affect visibility, wind chills, and more can dictate whether or not you can skydive. For this and much more, here is everything you should know about skydiving in the rain:
Can You Skydive in the Rain?
While many enjoy the rainy the season, this doesn’t exactly apply to skydivers. As it turns out, there are some laws in place for skydiving if the weather isn’t clear skies. If this is your first time skydiving, these rules are in place so you enjoy the experience with little-to-no risk. Skydiving while it is raining can be a rather unpleasant experience. Here are some reasons why:
1. It Hurts!
As any skydiver will attest to, this is the primary reason why going for skydiving while it is raining is a terrible idea. What you need to understand is that when you are skydiving while it is raining, the relatively little drops from above are not patting you gently! The pointy ends of a raindrop are hitting you as you drop past them towards the ground.
2. Your Clothes Will be Soaked, and the Wind Will Make You Chilly
As the droplets hit you, your clothes will be wet. It’s rather unpleasant to be skydiving at fast speeds, with wet clothes. The wind going through your wet clothing will make you rather cold, too. The rain can also add extra weight to your parachute.
3. Unexpected Delays:
Naturally, rain, of course, comes from the clouds; and if you are familiar with several skydiving terms, you know about ‘weather holds.’ In essence, this is a delay at the scheduled drop zone which is mandated by the FAA rules when it is raining. When there is rain, the aircrafts carrying skydivers ‘loads’ will apparently wait for a green light to proceed when the weather is assessed as clear enough to allow departure. This wait may potentially mean hours of anxious waiting. The best time of day to skydive will be when the weather has cleared and the temperatures aren’t too high.
Bottom Line
Rain, unfortunately, can turn an otherwise exciting skydive experience into a gloomy, unbearable affair. Why? Looking at the reasons as mentioned earlier of why you shouldn’t do it, the rain can influence what makes skydiving fun. Having said so, it is then apparent that the answer to can you skydive in the rain is probably not.