Should I Go Bungee Jumping?

So you've decided to go bungee jumping but are worried about the risks and dangers associated with bungee jumping. Well you should be, it's called an extreme sport for a reason. That being said however, I guarantee that accidents and deaths associated with bungee jumping are far less than you would probably imagine. In fact, when I went to bungee jump in at the Great Canadian Bungee in Ottawa, they said they had never so much as had an injury, let alone an accident or death. You are more likely to die of a car crash than bungee jumping, to put it into perspective. However, you need to consider a few things about yourself before going bungee jumping.

If you have a heart condition or any other kind of physical problems, you should consider consulting a physician beforehand. If you are overweight, underweight, ill, or anything related to that, I would also suggest doing so as well. Personally, I would say have some experience with thrill rides and such before you go bungee jumping. Going on roller coasters and such helps a lot getting used to the feeling of falling, and won't shock your body as much. I would not recommend someone to go bungee jumping who has never been on any thrill rides or has been exposed to such heights/speeds.

The entire procedure is fairly simple and takes roughly around 20 minutes, with the jump part itself only being a minute. Basically, you go up to the crane, they secure you with all of the gear, and then you just anxiously await your turn as you see people ahead of you plummet whatever hundred feet. When I went, they secured me by the bottom of my legs around my foot, although I believe there was also a harness attached to my torso. For a detailed description of the procedure, watch the video below.

It's really hard to describe the feeling. I want to say "falling," but it's not like any falling you've ever experienced before. It's NOT like a roller coaster, or a drop-zone tower, or any of the fake bungee jumping setups they have at amusement parks. It's a total free-fall, and I kid you not, it feels like your life is literally being sucked out of you when you're falling. It's really hard to describe, it's a kind of divine feeling you have to feel for yourself.

They say afterward you're supposed to feel euphoric and have an endorphin rush afterwards. This didn't really apply to me, I was more shaken up than anything, but I'm sure a lot of people feel this way. Ultimately, I would say the experience was unique at best. I wouldn't say I enjoyed it, but probably just because I was so damn scared. For a full overview of my experience, watch the video below.