Account · Help

Home

Forums

Safety

Add a DZ Modify my DZ Drop Zone Locator New Listings

Dropzone Database: North America: United States: New York : Skydive Long Island : Reviews

has contributed 21 reviews

Information	Reviews	Events

Review Summary:

Average Rating:

Total Reviews: 21

Write a Review

100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Times	0	0	0	7	14
Rating	1	2	3	4	5

Pages: 1 2 3 [>] [>>]

(Review ID:5389)

0 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

First-class DZ; one of top three in the Northeast

Rated by: Douggarr on 2009-09-20 (user profile) (user reviews)

Review of: Skydive Long Island
Pros: Aircraft, landing area, facilities, personnel
Cons: Very few; huge tandem effort, especially in summer season

Professionalism
Vibe
Aircraft
Facilities
Services
Location

This comes with bias; I know the DZO -- Ray Maynard -- from the early days and we competed in Para-ski meets together. He's a first-rate skydiver, pilot, and knows how to run a drop zone as well as anybody. Finding the old Grumman field and getting the FAA and town fathers to agree to skydiving here was nothing less than a miracle. He's built it up into a place any skydiver can respect and call home. I've jumped all over -- including other countries -- and after a very long layoff, I made a couple of skydives here. It's a great place for students, first-timers, and sky gods alike. You have to love the two turbos, and Ray fires them up to make sure nobody waits too long for a load. Oh, and by the way, the views of Long Island from altitude are absolutely breathtaking and compare with any other place in the world.

Was this review helpful to you?

(Review ID:4577)

5 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

Overall Good place with some downside... At least the one Day I was there

Rated by: Pilotflier on 2008-06-12 (user profile) (user reviews)

Review of: Skydive Long Island
Pros: Aircraft, Aircraft, Aircraft, Rigger, Manifest, Scenery
Cons: Tandem Factory, No Food, Limited RW

Professionalism
Vibe
Aircraft
Facilities
Services
Location

Positives: This is my second time at LI, the first was about 3-4 years ago when they had small hangar and manifest building. Now the same hangar but it's opened up as a lounge due I suspect because they added two large tented, carpeted packing areas. Two FULL TIME Turbines, a King Air and a Caravan and they were moving pretty fast! manifest was fast and friendly, they know what they're doing.. no fumbling around.. which is good because on this particular Sat is was a tandem factory, there had to be 50 people lined up to jump.
Scenery- A BEAUTIFUL DZ to jump from, Center of Long Island and on a clear day you got the Atlantic on one side, Long Island sound on the other. I'd love to do a 14K sunset cross country from there!
Rigger: Spoke with Mike the rigger for awhile, nice guy.. very personable and willing to help in anyway!

Cons:
Way out in the sticks, if you plan on spending the day bring a cooler with your own food. They did have what looked to be a new food "cart" that looked to have a grill etc, but it was empty and not being used, again.. it looked brand new and I am guessing they recently got it but just not up and running yet (Just my guess.. could be wrong)
Not many places to hide from the sun, the day I went just happened to be miserably hot and humid, I think the heat index was about 106, so even in the shade is was miserable.
Jump staff was just to busy to be social, I don't think I spoke to a single instructor the entire time I was there, like I said, they were working their asses off getting tandems up. Due to this there was a lack of "Vibe". No evidence of after jumping activities, no bonfire pits etc, although the "Staff" fridge did have an assortment frosty cold beer. (None of which left the fridge while jumping which of course is a VERY GOOD THING!)
Beside myself I think there were 4 other fun jumpers so it made me wonder how many would stay till after jumps are over to sit around talk skydiving and drink a few beers.. (I couldn't stay due to travelling back home later that evening)

I know this seems like a very negative feedback, it's not meant to be. I WOULD and WILL go back, this time when it's cooler though! Hopefully then there will not be as many tandems going and a few more fun jumpers to do a little RW with and instructors that may actually have a few minutes to sit and get to meet the new people on the DZ.

Thanks again for a few good jumps!

Was this review helpful to you?

(Review ID:4573)

0 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

the vibe you get from these people is amazing!

Rated by: sunrea143 on 2008-06-10 (user profile) (user reviews)

Review of: Skydive Long Island
Pros: staff is awsome, the view is amazing, great for first tandem jumps
Cons: one bathroom... no where to wait out of the sun

Professionalism
Vibe
Aircraft
Facilities
Services
Location

Well I went when we were having a heat wave... the waiting area is outside, there isn't anywhere to get food and there is only one bathroom there.... but I think that they're trying to upgrade those areas... now for the pro's.... the staff was awesome really make you feel comfortable,the view is like no other out on the Island... would I go back??? Most Def.!!!

Was this review helpful to you?

(Review ID:4067)

2 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

The only dropzone on Long Island

Rated by: michalm21 on 2007-08-07 (user profile) (user reviews)

Review of: Skydive Long Island
Pros: Big landing area, beautiful view, good rigger, turbines, many loads
Cons: No coaching/organizing, still seems clicky

Professionalism
Vibe
Aircraft
Facilities
Services
Location

<p>My review from last year is below.
Although I haven't spent much time there this year (08) I have to admit the place is noticeably getting better. I've seen more fun jumpers, more loads, more smiles :) Thumbs up.</p>
<p>-----------------------------------------</p>
Let me start with positives, as I have a sentiment for this place.
It is a great place for a beginner looking for wide open spaces to land and great views. Most of the staff is good, friendly people, rigger is pretty good, and they're now flying King Air.
That's about it.

Comparing to other places around NYC area, this place
-lacks vibe (no parties,no bond fire, etc, same small group of regulars, some friendlier than others)
- lacks facilities (no place to eat, no lockers, awful packing area)
- gets you to only 10-11k 50-60% of the time. Lifts are $24 to 13k and $22 for 10-11k, quite pricey if you ask me.
- no organizing of any sort, no RW people to jump with
- everything is focused on # of tandems per day

My recommendation is to go and check it out by yourself, do a jump or two, enjoy the view. Then compare to places within similar distance from NYC like The Ranch, Sky's the Limit, or Cross Keys and you will not want to return to SDLI.

Was this review helpful to you?

(Review ID:3624)

4 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

Skydive Long Island (at Calverton) is a safe and fun operation.

Rated by: stormville73 on 2007-01-09 (user profile) (user reviews)

Review of: Skydive Long Island
Pros: Fun & welcoming staff. Easy ride via the LIE.
Cons: Could have better signage to the jump area. Calverton is a HUGE airport.

Professionalism
Vibe
Aircraft
Facilities
Services
Location

I�ve been involved with the sport for over thirty years and have seen DZs come & go. Skydive Long Island (at Calverton) is a safe and fun operation. It�s close to New York City but far enough out to enjoy a day or a weekend away from the hussel & bussel of the city. The D/Z operator, Ray Maynard is a Skydive Professional with decades of skydiving knowledge and wisdom.

Weather you�re looking to make your first tandem jump or your 1000th leap SDLI is the place to go.

Was this review helpful to you?

Pages: 1 2 3 [>] [>>]

Dropzone Database: Review

Useful Links:

Help About Us Advertise Privacy Terms of Service Contact Us

Skydiving | BASE Jumping | Rock Climbing

Outdoor Sports