Afraid of heights and still want to learn to skydive?

Last updated: 4 December 2025

Core of the story:
Learning to skydive with a fear of heights is possible. In freefall your brain works differently than it does on a balcony or at the edge of a cliff. Many students actually experience calm. With good coaching, a clear structure and trust, you can take this step at your own pace.

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Skydiving with a fear of heights? Yes, you can

Many people think that skydiving with a fear of heights is impossible. The picture in their head is usually shaky knees, sweaty hands and a body that freezes the moment you look down. Understandable if the only situations you know are a balcony, a ladder or a glass floor.

Fear of heights mainly shows up when you feel a direct connection with the ground. You see the drop below you, your brain does the maths and says this is intense. Your body then reacts with tension. That is normal and nothing to be ashamed of.

When you skydive, the world looks very different. Especially during a course like the AFF course, where you are coached step by step. You do not have to do it alone and you definitely do not have to act tough. The most important thing is that you are honest about what you find scary.

In the air your brain works differently

In a plane at around four thousand metres there is no balcony, no staircase and no edge you can fall from. You no longer see separate trees or cars, only patterns. Your eyes mainly see space and horizon, not direct depth under your feet.

Because of that, your brain reacts very differently than it does on a high building. The classic panic reactions, like trembling legs or the urge to step back, are often much weaker. It almost sounds strange, but many people with a fear of heights feel mainly calm in freefall.

During the first jumps of an AFF course I hear it all the time: “I am afraid of heights, but once I was in the air I actually felt very calm.” That is exactly why learning to skydive with a fear of heights works out much better in real life than people expect beforehand.

Skydiving is not a ladder

You do not have to stand wobbly on a narrow edge like on a staircase or balcony. When you skydive you step into a plane with a clear plan, clear instructions and people next to you who do this every day. That structure creates trust.

Beforehand you know exactly what is going to happen. In the briefing we practise the movements, your body position, emergency procedures and even what you can say to yourself when it feels intense. You literally take that preparation with you into the aircraft.

Many people are afraid that the moment at the door will be completely overwhelming. In practice it is often the opposite. Your breathing is steady, you hear your instructor counting, you do what you have rehearsed and then you are gone. No chaos, but focus. And yes, the nerves are still there, but that is fine. They keep you sharp and make you experience everything more intensely.

Practical tips if you are afraid of heights

Not sure whether your fear of heights will get in the way? With a few simple choices you can make things much easier for yourself.

• Say it out loud. Tell us when you sign up and again during the briefing that you are afraid of heights. Then we can take it into account in the way we build things up and in the pace.
• Focus on the checklist, not the altitude. Think in actions: body position, check, deploy. The more concrete your focus, the less space there is for worst-case scenarios.
• Keep breathing. It sounds simple, but a slow exhale at the door makes a huge difference. Your body follows your breathing.
• Use the preparation. Watch videos, ask questions and, if you like, book a wind tunnel session before your course. The more familiar something feels, the less threatening it becomes.
• Give yourself permission to be scared. You do not have to prove anything. You are allowed to find it scary and still do it.

With Airboss you learn to skydive during a skydive holiday in Royan (France) or in Morocco. That means a full week in the same rhythm, with the same group and instructors who watch you grow from jump to jump. That helps a lot when your mind occasionally runs away with you.

It often does more than you think

Skydiving is not only a physical challenge. It also sets something in motion in your mind. You literally step outside your comfort zone and most people take that feeling home with them.

After their course many students say they feel more confident. They say yes to new things more easily, travel with less stress or finally give that presentation they have been avoiding for years. The idea is simple: if I can do this, what else is possible?

Your fear of heights may not disappear completely. It does not have to. The difference is that you have experienced that you can do more than the little voice in your head suggests. That realisation tends to stick.

Having doubts? Ask your questions

Dreaming of learning to skydive, but worried that your fear of heights will ruin it? Do not let those doubts circle around in your head on their own. Ask your questions, send an email, give us a call or send a WhatsApp message. You are definitely not the only one dealing with this.

Want to know where and when you can start? Take a look at our skydive holidays in France and Morocco or contact us with no obligation. We will think along with you without any pressure.

More inspiration for your skydiving journey

• ➔ Your first skydive: from hesitation to euphoria
• ➔ Wind tunnel training: build skills faster before your course
• ➔ Skydiving and stress: how your mind works in freefall

Want to explore more about skydiving, training options and holidays?
Have a look at the Airboss homepage for all possibilities.

“Most of the things we are afraid of only exist in our heads.”