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Dropzone Database: North America: United States: Florida : Skydive Miami : Reviews

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has contributed 33 reviews

Review Summary: Average Rating: Total Reviews: 33 Write a Review Show: All Ratings 5 Star Rated 4 Star Rated 3 Star Rated 2 Star Rated 1 Star Rated Sort by: Newest First Highest Rating First Most Useful First Display: 10 25 50 100

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(Review ID:5183)

5 of 12 people found the following review helpful: Closest DZ to Miami. Rated by: Nigel on 2009-06-18 (user profile) (user reviews) Review of: Skydive Miami   Pros: Very professional, very safe, very friendly Cons: It has flush toilets, for God's sake, what more could you want? A pool? A bigger gear shop? More fun jumpers maybe?

Professionalism   Vibe   Aircraft   Facilities   Services   Location

I've been in living in Miami for a year and jump at Skydive Miami whenever I can - which isn't too often.

Very professional, well managed DZ, focused on tandems; comfortable Caravan, often operated under-capacity, so climbs fast in comfort - tandem ops have their benefits.

There's an absolute emphasis on safety, quietly and unobtrusively enforced by Fred, the DZO and the staff. They'll have a quiet word in your ear if you do something stupid or dangerous, suggest how to avoid a recurrence.

The staff are mostly young, international, 100% professional, with minimal to zero wankerish behavior.

Despite only jumping occasionally, the staff and regulars always make me feel welcome, I've never not got on a load. Like most DZs the irreverent humor quotient is high, but SkyDive Miami is maybe a little higher than most.

I recommend this place: it's the closest DZ to Miami, is safe, friendly and a fun place to be on a week-end....

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(Review ID:5081)

18 of 28 people found the following review helpful: Licensed not welcome by instructors and cameras Rated by: evidrevo on 2009-05-03 (user profile) (user reviews) Review of: Skydive Miami   Pros: good location, good plane Cons: licensed not welcome, unfriendly staff

Professionalism   Vibe   Aircraft   Facilities   Services   Location

I agree with those who have said that this is probably a good place for tandem jumps and for a new student to learn how to skydive , but no place for fun jumpers. Professionality it is not how many jumps you have or how much you know but how professional you are. A previous review says: "This is my home DZ and it breaks my heart to see the way they treat me and my fellow fun jumpers . Theres not a family atmosphere at this dropzone at all ... Some of the Staff snaps at you for no apparent reason . They treat you like little kids and as a fun jumper its not fun at all . Remember the reason we all jump ? We jump to have fun . They will bump you for tandems or students all the time because tandems and student are there bread and butter and there treated like royalty . And once you get your license thats it they treat you likea piece of crap cuz your not there main source of income anymore and i'm not the only graduate fun jumper there that feels that way and the only person responsible for this is Fred the S&TA / operater , he sees whats happening with his fun jumpers going other place to jump and he does nothing about it cuz he only care about the tandems and students" At the time I did not understand why I was treated so disrespectfully, and was awfully bullied on the plane (for sitting in bad position, even though I said I was sorry), especially by the camera girl in the pink suit who many of you know how she is so I don't have to say it, but also some others joined her. At first I didn't know where all the crap that was being said came from (including "throwing someone off the plane with a broken neck"!), and it surprised me when, after some ridiculously immature bullying, I realized that it was on me. But after reading this and other reviews now it makes sense: some of the instructors and DVDs snap at you just because they don't get any money from you. It is their place, and they do not want you there, so they will give you crap about every little detail instead of helping you. I should have read these reviews before I went! I don't think it is Fred's fault, he is helpful and nice to everyone and operates the zone very well, but they need to start getting a hold on some of the staff if they ever really wanted licensed jumpers to go there. There are other nice professionals like Glenn the pilot and Sarah the assistant, and probably many others I don't know, but what happens before taking off, on the plane, and on the shuttle with the tandem instructors and cameras is very important for A-students and licensed jumpers, especially if you are not very experienced and might need some help. Manifest and riggers is not so important, so maybe you could just accept the cons.
After all fun jumpers are out there contributing to this sport too and sometimes bring friends for a tandem. I will not go back there.

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(Review ID:4845)

3 of 16 people found the following review helpful: Turbine aircraft, small dropzone feel Rated by: tatlmt on 2008-10-20 (user profile) (user reviews) Review of: Skydive Miami   Pros: Outstanding management, warm welcome Cons: tandems first, clouds off of the everglades

Professionalism   Vibe   Aircraft   Facilities   Services   Location

While traveling I stopped in for one day to jump and found both the staff and local jumpers to be very welcoming. People made a point of coming up and introducing themselves, the antithesis of cliquish. Yes, the tandems come first, but they have an appointment, and that is where the majority of the cash flow comes from. Let's get real, it is a business after all. It was a Saturday and I didn't have any problem getting manifested on loads.

The management was outstanding and they kept everybody informed via the PA as they went on and off of weather holds due to build ups moving over. I would highly recommend this dropzone to anyone who lives or visits the area.

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(Review ID:4501)

4 of 14 people found the following review helpful: Great First Time Rated by: rcb81579 on 2008-05-07 (user profile) (user reviews) Review of: Skydive Miami   Pros: Very Friendly Staff / Very by the Book Cons: Must be shuttled from the DZ back to the building

Professionalism   Vibe   Aircraft   Facilities   Services   Location

I am still an AFF Student and this was my first jump away from my home DZ. They were more than happy to work with me to ensure I knew my stuff and had all the documentation to allow me to jump as a student. I was a little on edge not knowing what to expect. The staff was great from the time we arrived till the time we left. At Skydive Miami SAFTEY is king. The winds were a bit to high to let a student up the day I went (19mph) but they were dedicated to making sure I had a great time. I ended up doing an IAF level 4 tandem. My instructor was great and made sure I had a blast. The view from the dive was out of this world. You can see from the Keys to the Everglades. I have read in other reviews that this DZ is a Tandem Factory and I can see how that might be the case on the weekends. During the week however it definitely is not. There were several fun jumpers there the day I went with only one tandem and me as a student. I highly recommend this DZ. Ill be back as soon as I have my A license.

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(Review ID:4396)

7 of 19 people found the following review helpful: Tandem Factory For First-Time Jumpers! Rated by: cdcollura on 2008-03-12 (user profile) (user reviews) Review of: Skydive Miami   Pros: Fast Turbine Aircraft, Large landing Area Cons: Tandem Factory, Attitude, Expensive

Professionalism   Vibe   Aircraft   Facilities   Services   Location

This place is great for your first jump, especially tandem, and that's what it essentially is, a "tandem factory". As an experienced fun jumper I make the extra trip to Air Adventures (Clewiston).

SD Miami is rather expensive and the staff can be rude at times. Loads are often backed-up with long waits to get on. The attitude and click-iness can be attributed to the location (near Miami).

For first-time jumpers / tourists, you WILL be treated like a king. Fun jumpers and experienced groups should go elsewhere.

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(Review ID:4313)

6 of 19 people found the following review helpful: A great place to learn and continue Rated by: pmurban on 2008-01-18 (user profile) (user reviews) Review of: Skydive Miami   Pros: Great place to go to learn. Great teachers Cons: No acomidations on site for overnighters

Professionalism   Vibe   Aircraft   Facilities   Services   Location

This is a Great place to Learn how to Skydive. All of the staff and the instructers are there to teach you properly and safley. The Packers and rigers work hard and I trust them with my life. Great place to hang out and not be another number. Medium size dropzones and everybody knows everybody. Lots of belly fliers but the freefly crowd is growing. If you freefly It would be great to see more of you here.

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(Review ID:3972)

3 of 13 people found the following review helpful: Not a skydiving mill. Lots of tandems but lots of fun jumpers. Rated by: joe1939 on 2007-07-02 (user profile) (user reviews) Review of: Skydive Miami   Pros: Professionalism,great Caraven aircraft, large drop zone, perfect customer service,always new gear to rent. Cons: None.

Professionalism   Vibe   Aircraft   Facilities   Services   Location

Last time jumped:1977; Para Commander. Next jump:Tandem,February 2004 (27 years). Celebrated my 65th birthday. Square:the best equipment I ever jumped. AFF in March 2004. Jumping again ever since. Dropzone is ideal,very large landing area. Staff extraordinarily professional and friendly. No Sky Gods, no cliques. Fred, owner is my hero!

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(Review ID:3864)

3 of 13 people found the following review helpful: First time jumpers or experienced jumpers this is a great place! Rated by: wrathchild on 2007-05-16 (user profile) (user reviews) Review of: Skydive Miami   Pros: Friendly staff, well mantained equipment. Cons: No cup holders in plane.

Professionalism   Vibe   Aircraft   Facilities   Services   Location

I did my first jump in November of 2006 and signed up for the IAF course the same day. I mostly jumped on Sundays and it took me awhile to get through the course because a lot of days I would be grounded due to high winds. I was impressed by the DZO Fred who does everything by the book and always puts safety first. He always took the time to answer my questions even after a very busy day and never rushed me. My instructor Greg was top notch during every aspect of my training. He is a true profesional who really cares about his students.
As far as the dropzone itself is concerned, you can't go wrong jumping here. Kat who works manifest is the most organized person I've ever met. She really keeps those busy days running smoothly. The packers are a bunch of fun guys who will keep you laughing all day. Even though I was a student they treated me like I was one of their own. The videographers excel at what they do. One of them, Caroline, even videoed me during my training just to show me where I could improve.
Everyone from the pilots to the ground crew make this an A+ dropzone. The view on a clear day is spectacular and the landing area is huge. So in my opinion wheather you want to jump once or a lifetime Skydive Miami is a great place to do it!

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(Review ID:2272)

8 of 15 people found the following review helpful: Great for learning - but go elsewhere for serious jumps Rated by: skydivertracy on 2006-08-23 (user profile) (user reviews) Review of: Skydive Miami   Pros: nice people, A/C packing area Cons: Jump price ($24), small packing area, tons-o-tandems

Professionalism   Vibe   Aircraft   Facilities   Services   Location

I live in Miami and definitely go to SDM if I don't feel like driving up to Sebastian ----BUT-----and it's a big "but", I don't go with the idea that I will get in a lot of jumps. It's usually at least 1-2 hour wait once we get there to get on a load. The staff is SUPER - very helpful & friendly. I would feel very confident on recommending an interested student to learn there (although the rates are higher than other places). Safety is first - this place is strictly by the book!

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(Review ID:3202)

5 of 12 people found the following review helpful: commercial DZ, small amout of jumpers. Rated by: maddiver on 2006-06-25 (user profile) (user reviews) Review of: Skydive Miami   Pros: really proffesional Cons: tandem factory,

Professionalism   Vibe   Aircraft   Facilities   Services   Location

If you have some freind who whant to jump in tandem, that is the place. Commercial, fast in fast out, with a good experiance.
If you are a licence skydiver, you are going to be welcome but not a lot a skydiver, the majority of the jumpers are the packers. but the plane will go up and you will jump.

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