Frequently Asked Questions about tandem BASE jumping in Moab

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No you do not need any prior experience to be a student/passenger on a tandem BASE jump. We will teach you what you need to know to make your first successful tandem BASE jump.

Safety is a top priority for our first time tandem BASE jumpers, and also our instructors.

Tandem BASE jumping is the safest form of BASE jumping due to the style of deployment and technology used.

We implement the same style parachute deployment as most military jumps, called a "static line," in which a piece of brake cord (a small string designed to brake when it exceeds a loader greater than 80 pounds) is attached from an anchor to our deployment system before exiting the cliff. As the jumpers exit, the parachute is pulled open by the static line. This allows us to completely avoid the question people love to ask, “what happens if your parachute doesn’t open?!” This style deployment nearly eliminates the chance of any kind of malfunction.

Athletic attire is recommended- appropriate clothing and shoes for hiking. We are in the desert, bring water!

There is no maximum or minimum height.

There is no minimum weight requirement. The maximum weight is 200lbs and participants should be well proportioned.

You must be 18+ and able to sign consent for yourself.

Each site has a slightly different hike, the approximate hiking times are listed above in the exit point descriptions. Safely estimate a minimum of 4 hours for any excursion. Keep in mind this time estimate is approximate. Factors that increase or decrease time spent on the excursion can depend on the fitness level of the jumper, the wind, or the weather.

This experience is for a tandem BASE jump which requires no prior experience.

If you wish to jump alone, we are happy to point you down that road as well. To begin your solo BASE jumping journey, you'll need a mandatory 200 skydives. For 200 skydives including instruction, relatively decent second hand gear or gear rental, and licensing fees, the cost starts around +/- $22,000. Then you'll be ready for your BASE first jump course (fees are +/- $7,000 depending on travel and gear).

To get started, we can recommend skydiving facilities all over the world depending on where you live. If you're local check out Skydive Moab!

Each tandem BASE jumping instructor at Tandem Base Moab (TBM) has a minimum of 10,000 jumps.

Each instructor at TBM had a minimum of 1,000 tandem jumps out of an airplane before they took a single tandem BASE passenger.

BASE jumping is a sport where participants jump off of fixed objects, experience a brief freefall, deploy a parachute (in one way or another), then descend safely to the ground.

BASE is an acronym that stands for the fixed objects or "exit points" that participants of BASE jumping may "exit" or "leap" from.

B - Bridges

A - Antennas

S - Span (bridges)

E- Earth (cliffs)

Tandem - having two things arranged one in front of the other. A tandem BASE jumping experience is a BASE jump where two people "jump" off of an"exit point" together, strapped to one another during the entire descent. The trained professional is referred to as an "instructor", The instructor is in the back of the pair. The "front rider", or the passenger, is referred as a "student".

This "front rider" is a student because BASE jumping is a sport! It requires cooperation of the student and the instructor to have a successful tandem BASE jumping experience. The student can have a wonderful experience by following simple and important instructions from a qualified tandem BASE jumping instructor.

There has been been a 100% survival rate for tandem BASE jumping since the first experimental tandem BASE jump January 15, 1983. Because of this fact, tandem BASE jumping is technically considered "safer" than tandem skydiving. Seems like pretty good odds considering the fact that skydiving has been proven to be statistically safer than driving to work every day!

Ultimately, this decision is completely up to the tandem BASE jumping student.

Here at Tandem BASE Moab, all of our tandem BASE instructors are tandem rated instructors through the United States Parachute Association (USPA). Our tandem BASE jumping instructors here at Tandem BASE Moab have a minimum of 10,000 jumps. USPA only requires 500 jumps to be a USPA tandem rated instructor.

All of our instructors are also CPR, First Aid, and AED Certified by The American Red Cross Association. You can feel confident that your safety is the top priority to your BASE jumping Moab tour guides while navigating in this desert landscape.

Both the USPA and The American Red Cross Association certification(s) and/or license(s) criteria must be submitted every year.

USPA tandem masters (instructors) must be presented with a FAA Class 3 Medical Certificate or military or foreign equivalent. This certificate ensures that the potential tandem instructor has not only the required physical fitness, but also mental tenacity to perform tandem jumps. The reason we say potential tandem instructor is because it takes a lot more than a physical and mental test to maintain your tandem certification. This tandem rating renewal must be submitted every year, and you must maintain relevant currency.

500

10,000 + and counting.

Yes you can do tandem BASE jumping with little to no experience at Tandem BASE Moab!

Please be sure you choose a qualified tandem BASE jump instructor. Tandem BASE Moab has instructors with impeccable safety records and a variety of knowledge and certifications that will set you up for your first successful tandem BASE jump.

Yes, tandem BASE jumping (US) is legal in certain parts of the United States.

The three major cities in the United States where tandem BASE jumping is legal (as of 2023) are Moab (Utah), Twin Falls (Idaho), and Fayetteville (West Virginia). For your safety, it is imperative to go on your first BASE jump with a qualified instructor. Certain "exit points" are only legal during certain times of the year, or certain "exit points" may require permits in order to BASE jump legally in that particular area.