Skydiving Vegas-style

I believe that you only live once, so why not do all the things you want to do before it's too late?  Skydiving counts in my books as one of the activities you should do when you're young, without commitments and with less fear.  A few years back, I went paragliding in Austria, and was a little regretful I didn't choose the skydiving option.  So I figured if I were to go skydiving, why not in Vegas?  

I found a few companies that offer skydiving around Vegas.  Given that my life is on the line and security first, I chose the company with the most trustworthy looking website, which happened to be Las Vegas Extreme Skydiving.  Initially, I wanted to skydive to a view of the sunset, but given there were only two pickup times for 7 AM and 11:30 AM from Tropical Casino, I settled for the earlier one, paid a deposit, and booked it!

After providing us with some safety instructions, suiting up, and signing a waiver, we were off for some tandem skydiving!  The instructors that jump with you record your jump from start to finish, in case you want to buy the video.  It was SO nerve-racking sitting on a long wooden bench in the little plane going up to 15,000 ft.  I could feel my heart beating so hard, I literally thought it would burst.  I ended up being the last person jumping out, after seeing all my friends go.

Getting ready to jump

It's quite interesting that you simply kneel close to the open door and simply let the wind draw you out.  The free fall was a crazy experience - the air, the wind, the pressure - in what seemed like forever (but really closer to 30 seconds).  Soon after, the parachute was out.  I got to navigate for a while and then we landed.  I hugged all my friends, and with the adrenaline rushing through my veins, it never felt so good to be alive!

A view of their mini airport

I received a certificate for my tandem jump.  Apparently, if you keep a record of all your jumps, after the 8th one, you are certified to make the jump yourself!  

After the jump!!!

Although I didn't get to catch a view of the strip on my jump, there was desert and mountains.  Aside from the waiting times (as only one group can jump at once), it was truly a phenomenal experience, and I would totally consider doing it again.