Divya Surepalli, 37, has become the first licensed civilian woman skydiver from Andhra Pradesh. She joins a small group of fewer than 20 licensed women skydivers across India. Divya, originally from Visakhapatnam and holding a postgraduate degree in Environmental Engineering from Germany, first thought about skydiving years ago. During a trip to the US, she nearly made a tandem jump, but bad weather stopped it. This inspired her to train seriously and get certified. She traveled with Shweta Parmar, one of India’s earliest civilian women skydivers, to Moscow’s Drop Zone Krutitcy for an Accelerated Freefall (AFF) course. After finishing part of the course, bad weather forced her to move to Thailand to complete her training. To get an A license, Divya had to complete at least 25 jumps and pass several skill tests. She completed 29 jumps and met all requirements, allowing her to skydive solo worldwide without direct supervision. Her journey wasn’t smooth. A severe spin during freefall shook her confidence, but her instructor Alex Troshyn encouraged her to continue. In Thailand, tricky winds made landing risky. Divya once had to choose between hitting an asbestos roof, landing in a swamp, or crashing into trees. She safely landed in the trees. Another time, she avoided electric poles with a last-minute move. She says clear thinking under pressure is vital. Convincing her family, especially her mother, took time. Her mother now asks Divya to video call before and after every jump to check on her safety. Skydiving in India is costly and difficult. Only one drop zone offers tandem jumps, and none issue civilian licenses. Most must travel abroad to qualify. Divya estimates her license cost around ₹5 lakh. The sport is male dominated and has stereotypes, but she found some men supportive. Divya describes herself as shy and quiet, different from a typical skydiver. The sport changed her outlook and helped her focus on what matters. She now connects with other civilian women skydivers in India for advice and support. Fitness and daily runs keep her ready. For Divya, skydiving is about persistence and finishing what weather once delayed, not just thrill seeking.