A video showing a towering skydiver paired with a much shorter instructor has gone viral on Instagram.
The video, captured on the Caribbean island of St. Martin, was shared by John Whitaker (@coolwhitaker). The clip, which has had 4.9 million views since it was posted in June, has sparked waves of laughter among users on Instagram.
The caption over the video reads: “POV [point of view]: You’re about to skydive and you’re twice the size of your instructor.” In the clip, Whitaker, fitted in a skydiving harness, stands next to his instructor, who appears significantly shorter while seated at the edge of the plane.
The footage then cuts to the pair being strapped together, with Whitaker seated above the instructor in a tandem skydiving position. In one frame, he flashes a thumbs-up sign while reclining inside the aircraft just moments before their dive.
The viral moment comes amid a global travel boom. The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) reports that about 300 million tourists traveled internationally in the first quarter of 2025—14 million more than the same period last year. This reflects what the UNWTO called a period of “robust and sustained travel demand” despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainty.
‘The Way He Rode on His Back’
The viral video later shows a shot of the pair during their freefall, with the instructor securely harnessed to Whitaker as they descend through the sky. The sequence ends with the pair landing on a beach—though not without viewers noticing one last comical moment.
User kalihikes pointed out that the instructor’s “feet are still in the air when you land.”
“The way he rode on his back,” said dahlonega_june. Another commenter, heidi.g.j, joked: “The landing with him hanging on like he’s your new school back pack.”
Others admired the lighthearted vibe. “He probably felt safe with you,” wrote user milana_yakubova1. Meanwhile, shebasnug was amused by Whitaker’s way of landing, noting: “Your knees bending as soon as you start landing.”
Beyond the humor, the clip resonated with tall viewers who had wondered whether skydiving was even an option for them.
“I was just wondering if it was possible for me to skydive with how tall I am but I think I will be fine,” wrote user cya_on_the_flipside.
User joe.vanderwiel said: “I had the same experience. My instructor was half my size and I was able to wear him like a back pack. He was still able to get me out of the plane though.”
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via Instagram. This video has not been independently verified.
Do you have a travel-related video or story to share? Let us know via [email protected] and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
The post Hysterics as Man Plans Skydive, Then Quickly Realizes There’s a Problem appeared first on Newsweek.
