Vannes, France

It is easy to jump a lot if you are willing to.
Background and gear checks are quick and thorough. You can easily hire a rig too. Staff is here for you whatever you may need.
The scenery is really beautiful at 4000m. and landing area is huge. You can easily hook up with formation or FF groups.

All facilities are there too! Camping, kitchen, bar, wifi...

If you find yourself in the region with an urge to jump, Vannes is the place to go for sure!

If you find yourself in the Brittany area of France -- a summer destination with great beaches, food-- and you want to jump this is the place. Like most French DZs, very professionally run, the "directeur technique" keeps a close eye on operations. They'll want to see your USPA card or equivalent and even if you're very experienced, ideally your logbook too. Its not uncommon for many jumpers in France to rent gear, or use gear that's part of their club. Therefore most major DZs have a nice selection in good condition (typically Parachutes de France), with AADs, usually some higher performance canopies too. I jumped a PDF canopy that was similar to a Stiletto 120.

From what I saw they do a lot of tandems but if you want to bring friend to do one, they'll have to get a medical authorization first, which is a hassle. (You won't have to if you have a USPA, BPA, or equivalent- this requirement is only for unlicensed jumpers.) Manifest can suggest some local MDs; or if they plan ahead have them bring a letter from their own doctor on letterhead authorizing them to jump.

Seemed like a good mix of freefly and formation skydiving. Landing area is huge and unobstructed. I jumped the porter, which is a nice, fast plane.

Weather can by iffy, even in summer. On the other, didn't seem like clouds and rain slowed things down much!
Would definitely go back.

In the past couple of years a new Directeur technique (Marin) has made this a whole new place to jump. Very friendly (although speaking a little French will help) and is set up as a club so they're not a tandem factory and gear hire is free for your first 50 jumps. They fly a Porter, and have just put in an order for a brand new one. Porters are very popular in France for good reason, and on a good day they can get up to 30 loads up. Guest planes are generally another Porter, occasionally a Skyvan or Twin Otter. The bar opening times can be a little sporadic (run by volunteers) but if you claim caffeine withdrawl they'll open up if they have time. Operate under FFP but no problem with USPA or BPA ratings, but be warned that, as with most French DZs, if you want to do a tandem you'll need a medical cert / letter from your doctor saying you're fit and healthy.

I found this DZ through this site and spent a day jumping there as I passed through. I found the atmosphere very friendly and extremely helpful. The facilities are good and it is easy to find off one of the main arterial routes through the region. There is a real club atmosphere and they purposefully keep it that way by capping the number of tandems. Cannot comment for students but as an experienced jumper with knowledge of french I thought the place was good.

Recommendations:
If you want to spend 2 weeks doing 10 lifts a day this may not be the place for you. Take advantage of the dollar exchange rate and go elsewhere. If you are passing through then it is definitely worthwhile.

Used to be my home DZ but things have changed, unfortunately for the worst once JP moved on as the Technical Director. Much prefer Granville now in this area of France.