Skydiving was only recognised as a sport in 1950, even though the first jump was successfully carried out in 1897, by an American, Tom Baldwin. Today, skydiving is not just for adrenaline junkies and thrill-seekers. Many people enjoy it as a stress busting hobby, however counter intuitive this may sound. But, once you are in the air your mind is focused on the jump alone, and terrestrial worries evaporate. There are about 20 different skydiving clubs around Barcelona. Most of these are located in Empuriabrava, the biggest drop zone in Europe. First-time jumpers will do a tandem jump strapped to the chest of a qualified instructor, during which the freefall period typically lasts for about 55 seconds. Check out www.skydiveworldwide.com for videos of past jumps from the Empuriabrava drop zone.