5-4: Water Landings 
Accidental water landings have caused a number of fatalities, usually because the jumper did not use flotation gear, used incorrect procedures, or landed in extremely cold water. USPA recommends water-landing training to improve chances for survival from both intentional and unintentional water landings.
The purpose of wet training (required for the USPA B license) is to expose the individual to a worst-case scenario in a controlled situation. Proper training should decrease the likelihood of panic, which should decrease the likelihood of drowning since drowning is usually brought on by panic.
Unintentional water entry may occur due to spotting error, radical wind changes, malfunctions, and landing under a reserve rather than a main. Intentional water jumps are preplanned jumps into a body of water.
The ISP includes training recommendations for unintentional water landings in the obstacle-landing training of Category A (the first-jump course). Chapter 4-1G contains a more complete and detailed briefing outline.
Dry (Theoretical Training)
A USPA S&TA, Examiner, or Instructor should sign documentation of this training, including the date and location, in the jumper’s logbook and A-license application or on a separate statement.
Theoretical training should include classroom lessons covering:
- techniques for avoiding water hazards
- how to compensate for poor depth perception over water
- preparation for water entry
- additional risks of water landings in cold water temperatures
- recovery after landing
Practice should combine both ground and training-harness drills and should continue until the jumper is able to perform the procedures in a realistic timeframe.
Wet (Practical Training)
After taking a class on theory, jumpers should undergo practical training in a suitable environment such as a swimming pool, lake, or other body of water at least six feet deep. This training meets the USPA B-License training requirements for intentional water landings and a USPA S&TA, Examiner, or Instructor should sign the documentation of it, including the date and location, in the jumper’s logbook.
Those conducting this training need to consider the safety of the participants. Safety personnel should include properly trained and certified lifeguards. If suitably qualified skydivers are not available, assistance may normally be solicited from the local American Red Cross or other recognized training organization. Flotation gear and other lifesaving apparatus is recommended for non-swimmers.
Participants may wear swimsuits for initial training but should wear normal jump clothing during final training to simulate water landings. For the non-swimmers, training should include basic skills covering breath control, bobbing, and front and back floating. For the swimmers, training should include all of the above, plus the breaststroke, sidestroke, backstroke, and treading water.
While wearing a parachute harness-and-container system and all associated equipment, the participant jumps into the water. The USPA Instructor should then cast an open canopy of any type over the jumper before any wave action subsides. The jumper should then perform the steps necessary to escape from the equipment and the water. Repeat this drill until proficient.
Any person intending to make an intentional water landing should hold a USPA A license, have undergone wet training for water landings, and be a swimmer. They should also undergo preparatory training within 60 days of the water jump. A USPA S&TA, Examiner, or Instructor should conduct this training and sign and document the date and location in the jumper’s logbook.
Theoretical training should include classroom lessons covering:
- preparations necessary for safe operations
- equipment to be used
- procedures for the actual jump
- recovery of jumpers and equipment
- care of equipment
In preparation, the BSRs require jumpers to obtain advice for the water jump from the local USPA S&TA or Examiner. Jumpers should also check the landing site for underwater hazards and use an altimeter for freefalls of 30 seconds or more.
Preparations should include no less than one recovery boat per jumper, or, if the aircraft drops one jumper per pass, one boat for every three jumpers. Boat personnel should include at least one qualified skydiver and stand-by swimmer with a face mask, swim fins, and experience in lifesaving techniques, including resuscitation.
Each jumper should receive a thorough briefing concerning the possible emergencies that may occur after water entry and the proper corrective procedures. Jumpers should open no lower than 3,000 feet AGL to provide ample time to prepare for water entry, especially when the landing area is a small body of water and the jumper must concentrate on both accuracy and water entry. A second jump run should not occur until all jumpers from the first pass are safely aboard the pickup boat(s).
In calm conditions with readily accessible pick-up boats, the best procedure is simply to inflate the flotation gear after canopy inflation and concentrate on landing in the proper area. In strong winds, choppy water conditions, in competitive water-jump events, or if the flotation gear cannot be inflated, separation from equipment after water entry is essential.
Water may damage some altimeters and automatic activation devices. When skydivers opt to jump without these standard instruments and AADs, they should use extra care.
D. Hazards Associated with High-Performance Water Landings
Although making high-performance landings over water may reduce injuries in cases of slight misjudgment, larger errors that cause the jumper to hit the water too hard will still cause serious injury or death. Jumpers should obtain coaching from an experienced high-performance canopy pilot familiar with high-performance landings across water prior to attempting them. Raised banks at the approach entry and exit from the body of water present a serious hazard. An injury upon landing in a water hazard can increase the jumper’s risk of drowning, so jumpers should approach high-performance landings involving water using the standard water-landing precautions, including the use of a flotation device. The area around the body of water should be clear of hazards and spectators in case high-speed contact with the water causes the jumper to lose control.
E. Water-Jump Safety Checks and Briefings
Jumpers should perform a complete gear check, paying particular attention to any additional equipment to be used or carried for the water jump (see more in Chapter 4-4).
Boat and ground crew briefings should include:
- communications procedures (smoke, radio, buoys, boats)
- wind limitations
- jump order
- control of spectators and other boats
- setting up the target
- maintenance of master log
- how to approach a jumper and canopy in the water (direction, proximity)