Bungee jumping is one of the most accessible extreme sports.
That might sound crazy if you’ve never done it and it seems really scary, but in fact, it’s really simple to do compared to things like skydiving.
Indeed, it’s so simple that people start to wonder about the places they might bungee jump from—what about a hot air balloon, for instance?
Bungee jumping from a hot air balloon is entirely possible, and many commercial bungee jumping companies do offer such a service. However, they’re highly dependent on weather conditions. You can only do it in the most favorable of conditions, otherwise it is too dangerous. But it is entirely possible.
So, bungee jumping from a hot air balloon is indeed a thing you can do.
But the reality and practicality of whether you will be able to do it is another question.
You’ll need to find somewhere accessible to you that offers the service, and get the right conditions to do it.
Let’s find out more.
Is bungee jumping from a hot air balloon possible?
It certainly is possible, yes.
You can bungee jump from a hot air balloon in many bungee jumping and extreme sports centers if they offer such a service.
You certainly don’t want to try and rig up a hot air balloon bungee jump on your own.
You’ll need to be licensed and have permits for such an activity, which any company that offers such jumps will do.
Once you’ve found somewhere that offers the chance to bungee jump from a hot air balloon, there are then going to be some other things you’ll need to consider.
Firstly, as I mentioned, is the weather conditions.
Any responsible bungee jumping school will only do such a jump in the most absolutely perfect conditions.
If there is the slightest unfavorable wind, or any sign of rain or thunder, then no such jumps will go ahead.
It’s just too dangerous, as the wind could move the balloon during a jump.
Indeed, hot air ballooning in bad weather just by itself is not a good idea.
So, the weather is the first thing you’ve got to contend with.
The other factor is the cost of the bungee jumping outlet.
A lot of the time, the policy will be that they will not go up in the balloon, even in favorable weather conditions, if there are not enough people who want to go up.
It’s just not economical for them, typically.
So, while the answer is yes, it’s not going to be easy to do.
Is it dangerous?
Is bungee jumping from a hot air balloon dangerous?
Well, it certainly isn’t without any risks.
That said, again, this is why any bungee jumping center will only allow jumps to go ahead in the most perfect of conditions.
It’s a risk reduction technique that is really vital to keep the activity safe.
That said, there are some obvious potential dangers.
Firstly, bungee jumping from a moving object can mean you need to be a lot more careful about where you jump.
Even on an otherwise calm day, a sudden gust of wind might move the hot air balloon unexpectedly.
Again, though, these dangers are more or less eliminated by conscientious bungee jump operators.
Safety is always the number one most important thing.
For the most part, though, bungee jumping from a hot air balloon is just as safe as bungee jumping anywhere—as long as the safety precautions are taken in the first place.
How else can you make the activity safe?
How can you be safe when bungee jumping from a hot air balloon?
The best piece of advice you can get on this question is to always listen very carefully to the instructors.
Make sure you hear and understand everything they have to say, and that you remember all of it as you go for the jump.
General safety pointers are things like wearing appropriate clothing.
You don’t want to wear anything too baggy that will potentially get tangled up in the buckle or harness of the bungee cord.
Don’t play with your phone too much before and certainly not during.
Make sure you give everyone else plenty of space and you stay back until it’s your turn.
And always be sure to seek out responsible companies.
How can I bungee jump from a hot air balloon?
How to actually find somewhere that will allow you to do this, then?
Well, as I’ve said, it won’t be easy.
You might need to travel a long way, as it’s obviously quite a niche activity.
Not every bungee jumping school will offer the chance to do it.
So, the only real answer is that you’ll need to be willing to travel, potentially a long way.
There may only be a handful of places in the country that make such a service available.
Even then, you may need to be prepared to wait around in that area until the conditions are favorable.
Call as many places as you can and see if you can work something out.
This is a pretty niche activity, then, and though it is certainly offered by more than a few places, you’ll have to do a bit of searching to find one near you.
When you do find it, you’re then going to have to wait for the best possible conditions to do it.
It’s obviously quite a dangerous thing to do, if not done right.