Last summer, at 15,000 feet over the Nevada high desert, my tandem instructor Hank leaned over mid-freefall, cupped his hands around his mouth to yell over the 120 mph wind, and asked if I wanted to try a slow barrel roll. I'd only done two low-altitude (10,000-foot) tandems before, and I'd spent the entire 60-second freefall of those jumps white-knuckling the harness, too scared to open my eyes. But Hank had walked me through every part of the jump beforehand, asked if I was comfortable with maneuvers, and promised to keep the roll gentle. I nodded, and for the next 45 seconds, we corkscrewed through wispy cirrus clouds, the desert stretching out 4 miles below us, and I didn't even think to be scared.
Two weeks later, a friend of mine did a 14,500-foot tandem at the same drop zone with an instructor I'll call Jake. She'd specifically requested no spins or sharp turns, because she'd heard high-altitude freefall was longer and more disorienting than low-altitude jumps. Jake brushed her off, did three fast spins in the first 30 seconds of freefall, and ignored her when she yelled that she was uncomfortable. She spent the rest of the freefall with her eyes squeezed shut, and couldn't wait to get out of the harness when we landed. The difference? She didn't vet her instructor for high-altitude jumps, where small choices make a huge difference to the experience, and even to your safety.
High-altitude tandem jumps (usually defined as 13,500 feet and above, with supplemental oxygen required for exits above 15,000 feet at most recreational drop zones) are a whole different ballgame than standard 10,000-foot jumps. You're in freefall for 60 to 90 seconds instead of 30, the air is thinner and colder, the plane ride up is longer, and you have more variables to account for if something goes wrong. Picking the right instructor isn't just a nice-to-have---it's the single most important choice you'll make for your jump. Here's exactly how to vet the right person, no fluff, no generic advice, just what actually works.
First, Verify Their High-Altitude Specific Credentials (Not Just a Basic Tandem Rating)
Any licensed tandem instructor can technically take you up to 13,500 feet with a basic USPA (or your local governing body's) tandem rating, but jumps above that threshold require extra, specialized training that not all instructors have. When you're vetting a potential instructor, ask three specific questions first:
- Do you have a formal high-altitude endorsement from your local skydiving governing body? This endorsement requires extra training on hypoxia recognition, supplemental oxygen system operation and troubleshooting, high-altitude emergency procedures (like main parachute malfunctions at higher exit altitudes, where you have more time to correct issues but also more risk of hypoxia if you delay deployment), and emergency landing protocols for remote terrain (since high-altitude jumps often drift 2 to 5 miles further from the drop zone than low-altitude jumps).
- How many high-altitude tandem jumps have you completed, specifically? An instructor with 500 total tandems but only 30 high-altitude jumps is far less experienced for this type of jump than an instructor with 300 total tandems and 280 high-altitude jumps. High-altitude jumps have unique variables that you only get familiar with by doing them repeatedly: wind shear at higher altitudes, how to adjust your freefall position to avoid drifting off-course, how to talk a nervous passenger through the thinner air.
- Are you trained to operate the specific oxygen system our drop zone uses for 15,000+ foot exits? Don't assume all instructors are familiar with every brand of portable oxygen regulator---ask them to walk you through how it works during your pre-jump briefing, and make sure they can explain how to troubleshoot a faulty regulator mid-flight, not just how to put it on.
A lot of drop zones have a small roster of instructors who specialize exclusively in high-altitude jumps, and those are almost always your best bet. If you're booking a high-altitude slot, ask the front desk staff to assign you one of those specialists, rather than a generalist who only does high-altitude jumps once a month.
Prioritize Instructors Who Center Passenger Comfort Over Stunt Showoffs
High-altitude freefall is longer, colder, and more disorienting than low-altitude freefall, especially for first-timers. The right instructor will adjust their entire approach to match your comfort level, not use the longer freefall time to cram in as many tricks as possible to show off for other jumpers on the plane. When you talk to your instructor ahead of the jump (most drop zones let you request a specific instructor or message them beforehand), ask these questions to gauge their approach:
- Do you ask passengers what they want out of the jump before exit? A good instructor will ask if you want a scenic, gentle jump, or if you're open to mild maneuvers like slow turns or a gentle backflip, instead of assuming every passenger wants to do spins and barrel rolls.
- How do you handle nervous first-time jumpers on high-altitude jumps? A good answer will include things like: "I walk them through exactly what to expect on the plane ride up, what the oxygen mask will feel like, that they might feel a little lightheaded for 10 seconds after exit before the wind hits them, and I check in with them multiple times during freefall to make sure they're okay." A bad answer will be something like, "Oh, they'll be fine, everyone gets over it once we're falling."
- Can I control small parts of the jump if I want to? A lot of instructors let nervous passengers pull the parachute deploy cord themselves, or choose when to start the gentle turns, if that makes you more comfortable. If an instructor brushes off this request, that's a red flag.
Also, check reviews specifically for high-altitude jumps with that instructor. Drop zone Google reviews, local skydiving Facebook groups, and TikTok/Instagram reviews from passengers will almost always mention if an instructor is pushy, ignores passenger requests, or prioritizes stunts over comfort.
Vet Their High-Altitude Emergency Protocol Track Record
High-altitude jumps have unique risks that don't exist at 10,000 feet: hypoxia from thinner air, main parachute malfunctions at higher altitudes where you have more time to correct issues but also more risk if the instructor panics, and off-field landings in remote, hard-to-access terrain. No instructor will ever tell you they've never had an emergency, but the right instructor will be transparent about their experience handling high-altitude-specific issues. Ask them these three questions:
- Have you ever had a high-altitude emergency during a tandem jump? If yes, what happened, and how did you handle it? A good instructor will be honest about it, walk you through exactly what they did to fix the issue, and explain what they learned from it. A bad instructor will lie and say they've never had any problems, or make excuses for a mistake they made.
- What's your go-to procedure if the main parachute fails at 8,000 feet during a 15,000-foot exit jump? The correct answer will be specific to the drop zone's altitude cutoffs: for example, at my local DZ, the rule is if the main fails above 6,000 feet, you have time to troubleshoot for 2 seconds, then deploy the reserve; if it fails below 6,000, you deploy the reserve immediately. A good instructor will know the exact cutoffs for the DZ you're jumping at, not give a vague answer.
- Do you carry a satellite communicator for off-field landings? High-altitude jumps often drift 3+ miles from the DZ if there's high wind, and many drop zones are located in remote areas with no cell service. A good instructor will carry a Garmin inReach or similar device to call for help if you land in a hard-to-access spot, and will have a plan for navigating back to the DZ if you land off-field.
Also, make sure they do a full, unrushed pre-jump gear check with you, including the oxygen system, harness, and parachute deployment handles. Instructors who rush through pre-jump checks for high-altitude jumps are cutting corners, and that's a major red flag.
Match Their Jumper Style To Your Goals For The Jump
The "perfect" instructor for a 19-year-old adrenaline junkie who wants to do spins and backflips the entire freefall is not the same as the perfect instructor for a 45-year-old first-timer who wants to take in the view and cross skydiving off their bucket list. Before you book, be clear about what you want out of the jump, and make sure the instructor is aligned with that. If you want a scenic, chill jump: Ask if they default to gentle, slow turns and let you take photos/video if you want, or if they do fast, sharp maneuvers by default. Ask if they'll slow down for you if you want to take in the view for longer before deploying the parachute. If you want an adrenaline rush: Ask if they're comfortable doing multiple spins, backflips, or even a head-down hover for a few seconds if you're comfortable with it (note: most drop zones have rules about how many maneuvers you can do on a tandem, so make sure they follow those rules). If you have specific needs: If you have a fear of heights, asthma, a bad back, or are disabled, ask if they have experience working with passengers with those needs. A good instructor will have experience adjusting the harness for people with back issues, adjusting oxygen flow for people with respiratory issues, or talking a nervous passenger through the jump step by step.
A quick pro tip here: If you can, message the instructor ahead of time to introduce yourself and tell them what you're looking for. Most instructors are happy to chat with passengers beforehand, and you'll get a good sense of their vibe from the conversation. If they're dismissive of your concerns or don't respond to messages, book someone else.
Red Flags to Walk Away From Immediately
- They refuse to answer questions about their high-altitude training or experience
- They brush off your concerns about the cold, oxygen, or fear of heights
- They brag about doing "crazy" high-altitude jumps with inexperienced passengers, or say they "always push people to do more than they're comfortable with"
- They rush through the pre-jump gear check, or don't let you inspect the harness and oxygen system yourself
- They refuse to adjust the jump to your comfort level, or make fun of you for being nervous
- The drop zone tries to assign you an instructor who only does low-altitude jumps when you booked a high-altitude slot
Last month, I did a 16,000-foot tandem over the Rocky Mountains with an instructor named Lila, who I vetted using all these steps. She had 320 high-altitude tandems under her belt, asked me beforehand if I wanted a scenic jump or mild maneuvers, walked me through the oxygen system twice, and even brought extra hand warmers for me because I'd mentioned I get cold easily. Halfway through freefall, she pointed out a moose drinking from an alpine lake 2 miles below us, and let me adjust my goggles to get a better look before we deployed the parachute. We drifted 4 miles from the DZ because of high winds, but she had a satellite communicator, and navigated us back to the landing area in 20 minutes, even stopping to point out a family of mountain goats on the way.
The right high-altitude instructor doesn't just keep you safe---they turn a 90-second freefall into the best adventure of your life. Take the 10 minutes to vet them beforehand, and you'll spend the entire jump thinking about the view, not worrying about whether your instructor knows what they're doing.