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Dropzone Database: North America: United States: California : Skydive Santa Barbara : Reviews

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has contributed 11 reviews

Review Summary: Average Rating: Total Reviews: 11 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:5202)

3 of 9 people found the following review helpful: Great place with a good overall feel, weather conditions play a big part Rated by: dof101 on 2009-06-25 (user profile) (user reviews) Review of: Skydive Santa Barbara   Pros: Great View, Experienced Instructors, Good Atmosphere Cons: Marine layer can take time to clear and prevailing winds

Professionalism   Vibe   Aircraft   Facilities   Services   Location

Like many skydivers I did my first tandem and got hooked! I had a couple weeks free so I immediately got setup with my AFF training at this place. The staff were great, professional and incredibly friendly. The only downside is the unpredictability of the weather... (Hence why I've haven't given location a '5') Winds tend to pick up most days by the afternoon and marine layer can take a fair amount of time to clear in the mornings, sometimes by 7, sometimes not at all. Although this gives plenty of time to chat to staff and waiting jumpers, made some life long friends there!

For A licence and above there is a nice gravelly soft landing area, and for sub A-license students like me there is a HUGE sandy river bed where we can do plenty of PLFs :) ('parachute landing falls' for those not in the know!)

There are usually 3 or so full time jump masters and photographer on weekdays, and double/triple that on the weekends. I've hung around there long enough during my training to see that weekends need to be booked! Solo jumpers (like me now :-D ) tend to be fine as you can essentially just hop onto any load with space... On the weekends usually the 208 Cessna is running which will hold well over a dozen people.

As a last word of advice if you are there on a busy day and get pictures/videos, they have the option to get it SENT to you. Use it! Despite how good modern technology is, processing huge batches of videos takes time and the last thing you want to do after such a good time is sit around and wait. Go enjoy the high! Take it from me it lasts for days!

Overall: BIG THUMBS UP!

Hope you enjoy this place as much as I am!

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(Review ID:4755)

13 of 21 people found the following review helpful: They overbooked, forgot about us and were rude about it Rated by: deidre217 on 2008-09-01 (user profile) (user reviews) Review of: Skydive Santa Barbara   Pros: I hear the scenery is great, but I wouldn 't actually know. Cons: Horrible customer service!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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I have never been treated so poorly before. Upon arriving at the hanger it was clear that the office staff was overwhelmed by the number of people there, although everyone was there by appointment. Waivers were out on a table, so my husband grabbed two and we began filling them out. As I read through the waiver I came to a place about being given opportunity to assess the equipment. Since we had yet to speak with anyone that worked there, I was uncertain whether we were to have already looked at the equipment, or if that opportunity would come later. So before signing, I decided to ask. My inquiry was not met with a helping hand. Rather, the manager mumbled about how long it would take and then in a very demeaning tone asked me, "Would you even understand it all anyway?" I was so shocked. I stood there dumbfounded and then when she went back to her work I just returned to filling out the waiver. I could go on and on about how rude they were to us. But I will just shorten it and say, we stood around for 5 hours in a hanger with very limited seating never once having been approached by the staff there. The only time we were helped was when we sought them out and every time they sent us away saying we would need to wait another hour. We had an appointment at 1pm and finally at 6 the manager called us over to tell us that they would not be able to get us up. After a myriad of excuses and even trying to blame us for the mishap, we went home with nothing but cash back in our pockets. In the end it was clear that they had simply forgotten about us and let those scheduled after us jump instead. I would not recommend this place to anyone.

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(Review ID:4085)

5 of 16 people found the following review helpful: Buffered by gorgoeus ocean views and a staff that is incredibly knowledgeable and outgoing, this is Rated by: thestalkmore on 2007-08-16 (user profile) (user reviews) Review of: Skydive Santa Barbara   Pros: Staff are incredibly amicable and personable, Experience is obvious Cons: It's nothing but a drop zone and doesn't claim to be anything else.

Professionalism   Vibe   Aircraft   Facilities   Services   Location

I embarked on my first tandem jump on the day I turned 18. That experience was phenomenal. Within 20 minutes I was on a load on their Convoy with the incredibly hilarious and engaging Mauro, a veteran jumper and instructor from Italy. My experience was so incredibly that exactly one month later I decided to start my progression towards my A license and complete my AFF training before heading off to college. I walked in on a Monday, told Grey (the only staffer representing the female gender at SSB) my intentions, and was on another load in a matter of minutes to complete my Tandem level 2.
That afternoon Grey decided to teach my my FJC and even stayed past closing to complete it with me. That Wednesday I began my AFF and now(Thursday night) I have complete levels 1-4. Mauro and DZO Dave even volunteered to come in an hour early tomorrow morning to make sure I got my jumps in before the wind picks up around mid day.

Overall this is a fantastic place to jump, learn to jump, or watch your friends revolutionize their lives. The scenery is unparalleled and though the DZ isn't exceptionally furnished, it doesn't exude a sense of dilapidation, but rather an appropriate air of spartanism and austerity--for those who feel like being pampered isn't appropriate during an activity as adventurous as skydiving. I cannot recommend this DZ with any less enthusiasm.

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(Review ID:3913)

3 of 12 people found the following review helpful: A friendly local DZ that loves to welcome people to the wonderful sport of skydiving! Rated by: Dvr4fun on 2007-06-05 (user profile) (user reviews) Review of: Skydive Santa Barbara   Pros: A very friendly and professional DropZone. Cons: Smaller packing area.

Professionalism   Vibe   Aircraft   Facilities   Services   Location

I learned to skydive at Skydive Santa Barbara and loved every moment, they are willing to take the extra time to answer any questions.
The ocean views are gorgeous!
I loved the large landing areas that helped the new canopy pilot in me.
The DZO (Dave Hughes) is a former champion Skydiver who can be a wealth of knowledge to learn from.


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(Review ID:3173)

10 of 16 people found the following review helpful: Great location, atmosphere can use some work Rated by: irmaster on 2006-06-17 (user profile) (user reviews) Review of: Skydive Santa Barbara   Pros: Most scenic DZ I've been at Cons: Tandem factory, strong winds

Professionalism   Vibe   Aircraft   Facilities   Services   Location

If there are no tandems, you can just about forget getting on a load. The staff can be friendly but unless you are female they almost exclusively focus their attention on tandems. It's really a no frills DZ with very basic facilities. The Caravan gets to altitude very quickly and the views are the most gorgeous of any DZ I've been at. Professionalism can definetly use some work. Screw up once and the tandem masters will think you are worthless for months. No one will help (except if you're female) unless you ask for it. Staff can be pushy at times if they feel you are in the way of their tandems.

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(Review ID:2793)

1 of 10 people found the following review helpful: Skydive Rated by: packing_jarrett on 2006-01-03 (user profile) (user reviews) Review of: Skydive Santa Barbara   Pros: Nice Planes, Nice Ocean Views, Nice People Cons: Landing area is hard dirt

Professionalism   Vibe   Aircraft   Facilities   Services   Location

My first time coming here to jump. I filled out the waiver and was on a load within 15 minutes. It was nice being in the caravan with only 5 people. Kind of a tandem factory but they had time when the instructors got off at the end of work for some upjumper loads. The landing area was hard dirt and gusty at times but thats the only thing I can complain about.

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(Review ID:994)

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful: Beautiful view- tandem factory Rated by: fields on 2005-10-22 (user profile) (user reviews) Review of: Skydive Santa Barbara   Pros: beautiful view, uncrowded sky, nice people Cons: geared for tandems, fog, strong wind, no grass landing area

Professionalism   Vibe   Aircraft   Facilities   Services   Location

Beware, it is actually 45 minutes from Santa Barbara. It is in Lompoc, within Santa Barbara County. However the drive from Santa Barbara is quite nice. Half is along the coast on the 101, then rolling hills along highway 1 to Lompoc. There is no traffic to worry about.

They have a 206 and 208.

This place bangs out tandems. Some of the staff have not been to a real DZ where two otters are turning with fun jumpers. Their mission is geared towards keeping tandems and instructors happy.


When the fog retreats completely, the view is spectacular. There is pacific ocean to the west and south. To the south the Channel Islands are often visible. Usually we fly out over Surf Beach on the way to altitude.

Lompoc is know for it's flower farming - summer times is especially colorful from the air. I also keep an eye out for soaring red tail hawks over the groves.

The landing area is beside the airport. There is an experienced area which is a pea pit in hard packed dirt or the dry river bed which is wide, sandy, and forgiving. The winds are usually strong, but very uniform in direction- straight off the ocean (from the west).

It can be challenging place to learn because of morning fog. There is a often only a narrow window of time before the winds pick up and the students are "winded". It is highly encouraged that you knock off as many student jumps as you can, when the conditions are suitable. Persistence pays off. I don't mean to imply it is always windy, often conditions are ideal, I guess I just empathize with the poor students that spend time on the ground, I try to give them a SIM to study, but a DZ can be a hard place to study.

Several people on the staff are riggers so it is quite easy to stay in date.

There is great Thai, Mongolian BBQ, Mexican, and pizza nearby. In town there are lots of wall murals/paintings. There is a mission with long windy hiking trails. Access to the beach is limited certain times of year because of a endangered bird (snowy plover).

Summer time temperatures are actually quite nice, similar to Santa Barbara, because of the influence of a marine layer. Often this can be noticed on canopy at about 1500ft, you feel the air get cooler and moist.

Winter is chilly, but worth it for the view. The ocean, green hills, clouds, and snowy mountains on the horizon.

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(Review ID:2162)

2 of 9 people found the following review helpful: Nice little spot to make great jumps. Rated by: Daisho on 2005-03-17 (user profile) (user reviews) Review of: Skydive Santa Barbara   Pros: Nice People, *Great Ocean Views :o)* Cons: Nothing

Professionalism   Vibe   Aircraft   Facilities   Services   Location

Have been there in August 2004 for the first time. People gave me a warm welcome and helped with everything I needed. Immediately found people to jump with.
Nice little dropzone! Try it out when you are there.

Thanks again ... I'll be back :o)

Blue Sky
Karsten


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(Review ID:1523)

4 of 11 people found the following review helpful: First time jumpers! Rated by: jdunklin2002 on 2004-05-14 (user profile) (user reviews) Review of: Skydive Santa Barbara   Pros: Great view,great people Cons: Sometimes windy

I just started jumping at Sky Dive Santa Barbara(5 weeks ago)I dont know how it is any place else but the people here are the greatest.From the tandem masters to the ground school and AFF instructors everyone is treated like family.Ive been jumping five weeks and have 22 jumps with everything but my oral exam done for my A licence!if you want to learn this is the place to do it!

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(Review ID:961)

3 of 10 people found the following review helpful: Gotta Love Skydive Santa Barbara Rated by: stoneycase on 2003-07-10 (user profile) (user reviews) Review of: Skydive Santa Barbara   Pros: Smaller Atmosphere, Awesome View, Hot Women :) Cons: Little Windy

Great dropzone, awesome staff. The best people you will ever meet; no matter if you are a student or experienced jumper. You'll get an awesome ocean view on the way down and land in the softest landing area. Totally reccomend checking this dropzone out. C206 will get you to altitude and if your lucky enough to get Dave as the pilot...hang on. Thanks to everyone at Skydive Santa Barbara for getting me hooked! See you next weekend!

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