All our skydiving instructors have undergone rigorous training and have obtained national USPA certification. We are proud to be a United States Parachute Association (USPA) group member drop zone and we strictly adhere to all FAA and USPA guidelines on safety. Safety is our top priority. All of our tandem/student parachutes are equipped with computerized Automatic Activation Devices (AAD). Although it is the skydiver’s responsibility to deploy their parachute, the AAD is designed to activate the parachute automatically should the skydiver be incapable of doing so. The United States Parachute Association (USPA) keeps detailed safety records and is a great resource to check out if you are curious about the safety of skydiving.

For our regular weekend operations, New Mexico Skydive is open for jump operations year-round on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. From the spring to early fall, we typically open at 7:00 am or 8:00 am. From late fall through the winter, we typically open at 8:00 am or 9:00 am.

The drop zone will only be closed if the weather is bad enough to prevent jump operations. This includes high winds, rain, snow, and low cloud cover.

We require at least 48 hours notice of cancellation if you wish to reschedule your reservation.

If the weather does not permit safe jumping, we will reschedule for another time. It’s important to note that weather conditions in Albuquerque are often different than they are in Belen. Please plan on coming down to the drop zone unless you hear otherwise from us. If the weather forces us to cancel, we will do our best to call you that morning and save you the drive down if possible.

USPA Dropzones members, such as Viva Skydive, have an age requirement of at least 18 years old. This is because individuals aged 18 and up are considered legal adults in the US, and also for safety reasons.

Unfortunately, you MUST be at least 18 years old to skydive, NO EXCEPTIONS. Everyone who skydives signs a waiver, which is a legally binding contract, specifically a Release of Rights and Assumption of Risk Agreement. Minors are not allowed to enter into legal contracts, regardless of who signs on their behalf.

Everyone who skydives with us is required to bring identification with a photo and birthdate. We WILL card you.

The maximum weight a tandem jumper can be is 230lbs. This is to be within the equipment manufacturers requirements.

An instructor will talk you through a short ground instruction. You will have over 30 seconds of free fall and you will jump attached to a highly experienced Tandem Instructor.

Yes, the prices listed include everything for a tandem jump and include tax.

Dress in seasonably comfortable clothing. In the winter, we recommend you dress in layers so you can adjust for the temperature of the day. For summer, shorts and a T-shirt are fine. Lace-up shoes (like tennis shoes) are recommended. No boots, especially boots with hooks, and no open-toed or slip-on shoes (as they tend to fly off in freefall). We will provide you with a jumpsuit and goggles to wear in freefall.

Everyone is provided goggles for their skydive, and we have goggles that can go over prescription glasses. We do have lockers on site to store your personal items temporarily, or you can leave them safely in your car.

It's a good idea to eat a light meal or snack before you head to the drop zone.

No. You will not be allowed to skydive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

When you arrive at the drop zone, we will ask you to fill out a Release of Rights and Assumption of Risk Agreement. The paperwork you fill out can only be completed onsite and must be witnessed by a representative of New Mexico Skydive. Once the waiver is complete and your payment has been collected, you will watch a safety video before meeting up with one of our instructors.

Absolutely! We welcome anyone to visit our skydiving center. Ask us questions! We're happy to share information. Amenities in Belen are about a 10-minute drive away, so you may want to bring snacks and drinks along with you to keep your group comfortable. We love dogs, but for safety reasons, we DO NOT ALLOW PETS inside our facilities (except for service animals). We also love kids, but if you bring children, they must be under adult supervision at all times.

Tipping is never expected but always appreciated.

You will jump from approximately 10,000 feet AGL (Above Ground Level). Freefall averages 120 miles per hour. Our tandem jumps average about 30 seconds of freefall.

You must be in good health to participate in skydiving activities. If you cannot bend your knees completely, kneel, or sit on your heels easily, you may not be able to do a tandem skydive. If you are concerned about health questions, we strongly advise you to consult a physician before engaging in skydiving activities.

We will never force you to make a jump, but we do have some policies to keep in mind.

If at any point, prior to boarding the plane, you decide not to jump, just let us know, and we will refund your payment minus the non-refundable deposit.

In the rare event you decide not to jump while you are on the plane, please be advised you will not be refunded for any portion of the jump. Once the plane leaves the ground, we consider our services to have been rendered whether you decide to jump or not.

The anticipation of leaving the airplane and freefall is much scarier than the jump itself. Many people are under the impression that when you jump out of the plane initially you get that stomach drop feeling, but you don’t experience that feeling.

Does skydiving feel like going down a rollercoaster? When you leave the plane you are leaving from a moving object, the plane is moving forward and you are not leaving from a stagnant object , you don’t experience the stomach drop feeling!

The adrenaline filled sport is know to release the “ feel good” chemicals in your brain such as serotonin and endorphins which make you feel really happy!

Watching tandem videos can be helpful. Seeing people from all ages enjoying the thrilling experience can ease some nerves. Also, watching the videos and doing some research will help you feel more prepared for skydiving.