A parachute rig for sport diving consists of six basic parts. The two main parts are the parachute, known as the main canopy, and the drogue chute, which is a small chute used to pull out and open the main canopy. You throw out the drogue and it catches the wind and pulls on a 20-foot long piece of nylon webbing called the bridle. The bridle then pulls the main canopy out of the container, so it can inflate. There is a second parachute called the reserve, which is used in case the main canopy fails. The container is a backpack that holds the two chutes and also has thick shoulder and leg straps to keep the container attached to you. There are the lines which run from the parachute to the container called risers. Most parachutes have five sets of lines called the A, B, C, D and brake lines. There is also an automatic activation device (AAD) which is used if something goes wrong. The AAD automatically releases the reserve chute at about 750 feet. Ram-air canopies are the most common, which are square or rectangular chutes made out of lightweight nylon. Make sure your rig fits comfortably and you know exactly how all of its components work.
