Water Landings

Perhaps it has been a while since you recieved water training or maybe you haven’t had any training yet. Either way, it is a good idea to think about what you may want to do in the event that you are faced with a water landing. The following information can be mostly found in USPA’s SIM (skydiver information manual) and is the theoretical portion of the water training class. Attending the practical portion of water training is highly recommended

When will you find yourself landing a parachute in the water?

Jumps that feature intentional water landings are very fun jumps and can be used to meet the USPA D license requirements .

Unintentional water landings typically occur due to:

  • Change in weather

  • Being unfamiliar with the area

  • Spotting error

  • Malfunctions

  • Emergency exit from aircraft

Who is most at risk of death as a result of a water landing?

  • Those without flotation devices: you should have one if you are jumping within a mile of a body of water and if you are making an intentional water jump, it’s preferable to use one that does not need to be inflated after entering the water

  • Those using incorrect procedures

  • People that land in very cold water

  • People that panic

Real life examples:

On August 28, 1967, seventeen skydivers drowned in Lake Erie after a series of mistakes had them jumping over solid overcast skies, 5 miles from the shoreline.  Two jumpers were rescued by a passing boat, but the others quickly drowned in the cold, choppy water


An incident report published in the September 2017 Parachutist told of a jumper that had an uneventful jump that ended with a parachute malfunction.  The jumper executed his emergency procedures low, made a 90-degree left turn, and landed in a pond near the airport.  Witnesses saw him surface, but then he slipped beneath the surface and never came up again after he appeared to be struggling.  The cause of death was reported as drowning by a coroner and investigators found that the jumper had been badly entangled in the suspension lines of his reserve parachute.

What you should do if a water landing is probable

Remember your landing priorities:

  1. Keep your wing level.

  2. Land in a clear, open area.

  3. Flare at least half way.

  4. Be prepared to PLF.


Decide up high where you want to land: typically, it’s best to land close to shore or to something that floats (boat, buoy, etc). If you will be landing in the ocean, land away from reefs and where the waves are breaking. Remember that you must still identify any obstacles in the area: trees, builidings, boats, power lines, etc.

Equipment considerations:

  • Disconnect RSL

  • Loosen or remove your chest strap

  • Open visor of full face helmets

  • Inflate flotation device, if you have one.

You may have heard that you should loosen your leg straps as well. We caution against doing so, as if you loosen them too much it can be difficult to reach your toggles. In addition, if you loosen your leg straps unevenly then you may give yourself a built in harness turn.


Should you plan to land into the wind?

Maybe.  If landing downwind or crosswind is safe to do and puts you closer to your desired target, then that could be a good plan (provided there is no other canopy traffic to worry about).  In addition, when the wind is light, landing slightly crosswind will help keep the parachute from falling on top of you.

What to do when a water landing is imminent

  • Flare at least half way and finish the flare when your feet touch the water: water can make it very difficult to judge height.

  • Take a deep breath before entering the water and as often as you can when in the water.

  • PLF into the water, as you don’t know the water depth or what onjects may be in the water

  • Cutaway if you are worried about currents or waves, but only when your feet are wet

What to do when you are in the water

  • Get out of your harness: let go of the toggles, bring your arms in, shrug off the shoulder straps, slip out of the leg straps, and swim down and away from the parachute (the quicker you can do this then the less likely you will become entangled with the lines)

  • If the parachute is over the top of your head, then bring one arm straight up out of the water to create an air pocket while you find a seam in the parachute.  Follow the seam to the edge of the parachute to get it off of you.

  • If your reserve is still packed in your container, it is possible that your container will remain buoyant for ~20 minutes.

Cold water considerations 

  • Water that is less than 70°F is considered cold

  • Activity will cause you to lose heat more rapidly as blood moves to the extremities and cools rapidly.

    Therefore, it may be better to float in order to conserve heat.

Christina Arango