Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 50; Flight Crew Total 7000; Flight Crew Type 3000
Distraction; Time Pressure; Situational Awareness
Conflict NMAC; Inflight Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Airspace Structure; Environment - Non Weather Related
Climbing VFR out of ZZZ enroute to ZZZ1 by way of FRETS Intersection; to VPLSR and the Special Flight Rules VFR corridor. Already on with VFR Flight Following on March Approach. Climbing; about to level off at 6;500 feet ; on a flight path towards FRETS which took me north of Lake Elsinore and the glider and parachute drop zones; I saw a skydiver immediately at my 12 o'clock; same altitude; under canopy (full canopy extension). As I saw him aggressively attempt to change direction with his canopy; I simultaneously banked my airplane aggressively to the right; which seemed the only evasive option; while also concerned more parachute jumpers may be above me; drifting down. I successfully avoided the parachute jumper; and saw no others. It was the closest mid-air; aircraft or otherwise; I have encountered. ATC gave me a vector to turn right to a heading of 360 within 90 seconds of the encounter I had with the jumper. I had not relayed anything to ATC. I obliged with the turn; and eventually was given on course heading a couple minutes later. After reviewing my charts countless times and my flight track/path upon landing; I still see I was well clear (I was both north and northeast of both areas) of the published glider and parachute areas.
Small aircraft pilot reported a NMAC with a skydiver.