I'm an ex Skydiver who is now Paramotoring.
I obviously agree with the previous comments regarding training etc....
The fundamental difference is one is a wing and the other is a basically a parachute!
In 10 years of skydiving I never heard the word thermal, as long as the wind was below 20knots all was good at any time of the day.
I have personally found my past experience helpful in as much as they both basically work with the same principles... once your flying!