Dropzone.com: Reviews

Front Desk Staff Almost Ruined First Jump Experience

Skydive Hawaii Rated 2 by: cmchavez on 2011-06-30

Pros: Location and jump staff
Cons: Front Desk Staff

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If you jump with these guys, be prepared to deal with their front desk receptionist\cashier, Blossom. She was extremely rude and unprofessional and very much took away from the great experience that the actual skydive jump was. While our intention was to tip our tandem partners after the jump, even before we got suited up in the skydiving equipment, Blossom made it a point to mention to us several times that its a standard practice to tip the staff.

The tandem jump partners were all very friendly and answered any questions we had on the ground and once we were in the air. The jump was great and the views of the various parts of the island were fantastic. All the members of our group agreed that portion of the activity was sooo much fun.

There are a few other skydive companies located at the same airport on the North Shore of Oahu; until Skydive Hawaii gets rid of Blossom, I'd recommend making your plans with someone else.

6 of 43 people found this review helpful:
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(Review ID:6541)

Horrible Staff

Skydive Hawaii Rated 1 by: dtellefsen on 2010-11-17

Pros: Great view, and great rental gear
Cons: The staff are extremely rude and not willing to work with newcomers... Unless you are a tandem

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The staff at SkyDive Hawaii is extremely rude to non-Tandem Customers. They find every reason to bump fun jumpers off a load so they can continue their Tandem Factory. Go next door to Pacific it is a much better experience for any level skydiver! here is a good example, a camera guy ran after a tandem customer and asked him "Why didn't you tip me dude? was there a problem with the photos?" the customer said "I did give a tip to the guy I jumped with" and the camera man responded "so where is my tip?" Really? is that what skydiving is about? I am a student that started with SkyDive Hawaiii and have been "bumped" off a load for every reason you can imagine, I went to Pacific and have never been turned away! GO TO PACIFIC, TRUST ME!!

23 of 65 people found this review helpful:
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(Review ID:6116)

Dropzone at the edge of paradise

Skydive Hawaii Rated 4 by: Balu on 2009-09-27

Pros: The scenery, friendly and helpful people and a comfortable caravan
Cons: Almost no fun jumpers, somestimes very windy, no rental gear

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This time me and my wife were travelling to Hawaii, and it was absolutely clear that we won't miss the chance to do a skydive there. We decided to go to Skydive Hawaii, because a friend of us worked there for a few months some time ago.

The day after our arrival at Honolulu we drove to Skydive Hawaii, which is a one hour ride from Waikiki. On that day it was too windy for us to jump, but the staff took the chance to do all the paperwork with us, so that we would ready when we come back. On that day we were told that they have no rental gear available. Somebody from the staff granted a exception for us, but be aware that this is normally not possible. So, if you go there, BRING YOUR OWN GEAR! And come as early in the morning as possible. The dropzone starts at 8:00 a.m. and at this time normally the wind is calm. Later at afternoon it may become too windy, even if already have a couple hundred of jumps.

One week later we came back, early in the morning this time. We checked in for the first load, which was a caravan of 11, 2 tandems, one video, three local jumpers and the two of us. So we had a very comfortable ride in a small caravan up to 13.000 feet. The caravan provides benches and buckles, and bars inside and outside the door. Thanks to the very good briefing the landing pattern was easily flown, and we were able to identify the outside landing spots from the air. There are a couple of them, so even if you got a bad spot or misjudged the wind, don't worry about the landing. Best would probably the beach, which is 40-50m wide. The landing are itself is sized as larger than a football field.

Food and drinks are provided by a food truck at reasonable prices and quality. Packing is done outside but in the shadow. Packjobs are available for six dollars. The only not so good thing is the number of fun jumpers at Skydive Hawaii. When we were there it was not enough to fill a caravan, so you have to wait fr the next group of tandems to arrive, before the next load gets ready. I don't know if that changes between seasons, maybe you should check this first if you want to do many jumps.

My overall rating is a recommendation, because there are no serious drawbacks, as long as you keep in mind to bring your own gear, and don't consider waiting times a big factor.

7 of 58 people found this review helpful:
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(Review ID:5400)

Very dissapointed!!

Skydive Hawaii Rated 2 by: vivjp on 2009-05-18

Pros: Great location
Cons: TANDEM FACTORY!!

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I've been to Skydive Hawaii about 7 times now, have not jumped once! I'm a licensed skydiver and I called earlier this week to see if I could get a check dive on Saturday, and they told me to come up. I told a bunch of friends, and talked them into going skydiving. Turns out, even though the weather was perfect and winds were about 5 mph, I would be the only one not able to jump that day. The staff is extremely rude, and couldn't care less about the people or the wait time. One of my friends asked a tandem instructors about how long it would be before he would be jumping, and the tandem instructor told him "I'll call you when its time, if you don't like it you can leave and reschedule".

If you want an idea of what its like to be at this drop zone, imagine being an extremely fat nerd back in high school, and that's the kind of cold shoulder you'll get at this place, until of course its time to jump and there tips are on the line.

Long story short, this place is a Tandem Factory, and the customer is a high paying meat sack!!

17 of 58 people found this review helpful:
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(Review ID:5116)

Waited 5 h

Skydive Hawaii Rated 3 by: thorvick on 2009-05-12

Pros: Beautiful place
Cons: Too busy, too noisy, too industrial... You feel like cattle

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I wish I had chosen another day or perhaps another skydive center. Although the experience was amazing (first timer) and I'm looking into skydive training now, I wouldn't recommend that place. I went there because I thought they were the only one on Oahu and this place had been suggested by a friend (who has had a great time there).

I booked online for a Saturday and when my friend and I got there it was crazy, super busy, super loud, very impersonal. We waited 2 h and finally decided to ask when we were going to jump. We had to wait another 2.5 h before getting ready. Had we known, we could have done other things in the meantime. I was supposed to get a photographer for my dive but the (unfortunate) guy had landed badly just before our turn and wasn't able to jump anymore. I finally went for my tandem and the nice guy told me that the photographer had certainly some psychological issues and had been turned down after having asked to do tandems. Very reassuring! Very professional...

Anyway, the skydive experience was great and the tandem guy very friendly, but the structure of the center is messy and not very friendly. I think they should consider their customer like people and not animals and they should tell you when there is a waiting time of 4.5 h so you can go to the beach and come back.

Last but not least, they are very expensive and when you add photos (75$) and video (100$) or both (150$), be ready to tip. They will be very pushy and remind you a great number of times that you're supposed to tip the photo and/or the video guy(s)!

Looking into Pacific for training now.

15 of 54 people found this review helpful:
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(Review ID:5104)

Why the turbulence with Pacific??? there is enough fun to go around.

Skydive Hawaii Rated 2 by: imbasen321 on 2009-01-29

Pros: Location, facilities
Cons: Most people there have horrible attitudes

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I went to Hawaii last year in Jan, took my rig with me in hopes of making 20 or 30 jumps. Went into Skydive Hawaii ( I had 9500+ jumps then ) and was met with alot of scarcasm because someone had seen me at Pacific the day before jumping. I was pretty much told that if I started jumping at Pacific that I should stay there. I was also hassled the day before from Skydive Hawaii regulars about my landings ( which are pretty fast ) Anyway, enough drama. If you are a fun jumper or an instructor from the mainland, keep it to yourself and go to Pacific. Guy and his people are friendly and professional, granted, sometimes they are too busy to sit and talk but they don't treat you like an outsider.

12 of 74 people found this review helpful:
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(Review ID:4959)

MAD CRAZY MIND BLOWING!!

Skydive Hawaii Rated 5 by: zappdog on 2008-08-25

Pros: scenery
Cons: ride out

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I've finally got to do it after years of talking about it. My wife and I finally did it and what can I say!! MAD CRAZY MIND BLOWING!!! she was soo scared we jumped. Knots in the stomach, butterflies feeling sick you name it we had it. We spent 2 hours before the jump and then I was sure the flight was going to be cancelled as the skies were grey over an rain over the dropzone (I was relieved and disappointed) then all of sudden the sky clear up I my heart dropped. I have to say that during all of this my wife was strangely calm and relaxed. We met Tom and Jake who our instructors and they instantly put us at ease. I wasn�t sure what to expect but I have to give the guys high credits on their presentation of not only themselves but the thorough schooling we got befor the jump.
then it was time to get in the aircraft on the tarmac. We turned a few heads at the airport and we strolde by the school. Our aircraft was much smaller than any aircraft my wife has bin on. we taxied out for take off. We took off and circled the island dropzone and the views from the air were awesome. after a few minutes we were at 4000ft and over the water. In no time we were over land again and gazing out at some of the most incredible scenery I have ever seen. 8 thousands feet below the land skape was like a photo. Before I got too comfortable it was time for the door to open! If you have ever been in an aircraft with the door open before you will understand my alarm! The wind came rushing in and everything changed. Tom was telling me to do things but I simply wasn�t listening. I felt myself move but looking back wife she had no idea how I felt. I was hanging out of the aircraft at 11000ft! More commands from Tom but I was listening now then we were out! I have no idea how to explain how freefall feels. YES I DO!!!! It�s like floating but at high speed with noise, like you putting your head out a car window at 80 mph. I saw Tom give me the thumbs up. It was without a doubt the most amazing thing I had ever done. The parachute opened and once again everything changed. We were floating over ocean and green fields and life was good. Tom was videoing me the the whole time shook my hand and assured me I'd done a great job and then he came in for an easy landing with both feet firmly on the ground. I have to say a huge thanks to all the team at Skydive Hawaii for helping us fulfill what was for me one of the most amazing time of my life.
my wife Jen is still in awh.

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(Review ID:4735)

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Average Rating : 3.68/5

Review Summary:

first tandem jump

Awesome place and people