What I like most about Skydive Orange: Skydive Orange has a great sense of Community. This is evident at your first visit, when you come for your first AFF jump. The professional staff gives you the feeling of being personally attached to this particular drop zone. The instructors, coaches, licensed jumpers and even other students coming to Skydive Orange are part of a family. You are welcomed and given the undivided attention of all in this unique group. The number of people working with students made my progress safe, quick and easy. Another surprising aspect of jumping with Skydive Orange is that, although I was jumping with instructors and coaches who have made hundreds or thousands of jumps, I always felt that jumping with me was not another “routine” matter but that they really enjoyed working with me. The same regarding the number of students: although there are many people learning how to skydive, I always felt as if I was the only student. Advice for other student skydivers: Of course, the first order of business is safety. Whether a one-time "bucket list" jumper, or someone like me who fell in love with skydiving and decided to seek a license, Skydive Orange trains you by building a routine that will ensure each and every jump is as safe as can be. Do not worry about weather. Although I had to wait on the ground some days because of the wind, clouds or cold temperatures, there were always plenty of things you can do on the ground: training for each "category" or step toward your license (e.g., learning and practicing canopy packing). If the weather is wonderful you can just go and enjoy jumping instead of trying to get your ground part of the training. Also, do not worry if you need to repeat any jumps because you did not accomplish the goals of a single jump. Each time I had to get another jump I was always able to get it, and I enjoyed each and every one. You will be pleasantly surprised how hard your instructors are willing to work with you to help you improve your skills.
Advice you wish you had been given: I wonder if I would have gone for my first jump if I had known that skydiving is so much fun and that this sport is really addictive. All my friends complain that all I want to talk about is skydiving. The advice I would give to busy people: even if it is hard for you to take a day off on regular basis, as was my case, you can still go through AFF program. The training is individualized so you learn at your own pace. Additional days of jumping, like national holidays, really helped me to get my A-license faster.
What I don't like about Skydive Orange: It is not open 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
What I like most about Skydive Orange: Here’s my top 3:
Advice for other students: Pre-pay if you can. I didn’t and now wish I had 12 free skydives to look forward to! Don’t bail on a weather hold – I had plenty of days waiting 7 hours having a blast with the crew in the hangar. Sometimes you get to jump on the last load once the wind has died down. Other times you get to learn a ton from hanging out all day and asking stupid questions.
Advice you wish you’d been given: Make sure to get a video or two in the early days of learning. The usual feedback from your instructors plus the video is invaluable.