Skydive Opelika (Opelika Skydiving Association) - Closed

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Boss. Totes boss.

Great place for fun jumpers. The staff is really helpful and well organized. Did a number of jumps during my visit without long wait times.

It doesn't matter who you are, where you came from, or what your experience level is, you'll be welcomed here and treated like you should be!
Plenty of gear rental available, and coaching/instruction is always at the ready. The guys who run this dropzone know so much you might say they invented skydiving, and you wouldn't be too far from the truth!
Buddy Blue, DZO, is D-597 and he invented the IAD method of instruction and he's a huge proponent of the static line method.

The most amazing thing about this dropzone that you can't find anywhere else is the atmosphere. If you show up to a commercial DZ, they'll see you as jump numbers and cash. Here, not a single person cares about those things. If you want to learn something new, just ask around and you'll find an experienced jumper who'll do his best to make sure that you learn what you need to.

Safety is extremely important here, so you can expect a full briefing on where to spot the plane and the landing pattern!

This was my first jump away from my home dz (i know BEER!) I was able to do 2 jumps with some awesome friendly jumpers. These people love skydiving and it shows. Safety was number one and fun was number 2,3 and 4! I will be skydiving here anytime I visit my Alma mater auburn! war eagle!

I recently had the opportunity to jump at Opelika over a two month period and I'm so glad I did. This DZ epitomizes what a DZ should be, and how it should operate. Many small DZ's talk about how they are in it for the sport, but their actions do not reflect their words. This DZ doesn't have to say anything. They ARE in it for the sport....as reflected in their AFF progression, prices, and personal attention given to students and up jumpers. Everyone on the DZ wants to get to know you....they all want to jump with you. No matter if you have 1,000 jumps or just coming off of AFF. They start the day flying one 182, but if the need arises they crank up the second aircraft.....nice.
My last jump of the last weekend I was going to be there, I rushed through a canopy change out and wasn't paying attention when I attached the three rings of the new canopy. Well, I loaded the canopy backwards.... (Embarrassed). I did a clear and pull at 3500 ft and had a great opening....all except that one important detail. I left the brakes stowed and asked myself, I said "Self....can I land this thing?" I did some rear riser turns.....180's and a couple of flares. I know there are people out there that will say that they would have landed it, but I made my choice.....no way was I prepared to land backwards. At about 2500 ft I made my decision and I initiated emergency procedures. After I landed under my reserve I noticed that a large portion of the DZ was already in the woods looking for my main. It took us two days, some lost car keys and with the help of the entire DZ I was back on schedule, with my entire rig in my possession, heading home to my wife and kids. They really took care of me.....thanks to all of the Alabama Gang for holding me together and revitalizing my love for this sport. You guys rock!

Started jumping at this DZ and have continued there. To say that I care for these people like family is an understatement. From the 1st jump student to the most experienced it is the place for the low pressure skydiving experience. Laid back atmosphere with safety minded instructors who know their stuff.
2 Cessna 182s keep the jumpers in the air. Experienced jumpers can take you on everything from the most challenging skydive or simple 2-ways.
The motto of the DZ is to "Have fun and be safe" and that pretty much sums it up.

Both me and the wife made our first S/L jump at Skydive Opelika. I have to say we were extremely impressed with the quality of instruction both from a practical and theoretical point of view. My wife had no plans of jumping prior to our arrival......... I felt so much more comfortable about jumping after the instruction. I don't know if I did everything right but came down and landed very smooth. Can't wait to do it again.

Buddy, JP and their crew have it going on.
These folks are practical, down to earth, and have NO problem sharing their experience. I was at another DZ 3 weeks prior and went through 1.5 hrs of ground school and did not get to jump due to weather. We had a solid 4 hours at Opelika and it was worth every minute (obviously!)
As a newbie I cannot comment too much on the equipment and such, other than it functioned flawlessly for all students involved. I cannot say enough about the excellent student instruction from JP.
If you get the chance check these folks out.

Not into the rat race of large, turbine DZ's? Don't want to drive all the way to Atlanta or Florida just to make a skydive? Buddy Blue, D-597, and his staff would love to show you a good time. Granted, this might be a slightly biased opinion as I am Buddy's son, but since I have lived in North Carolina (a Raeford jumper) for the past 16 years, I hardly count as a "local" anymore.
Buddy keeps two 182's in the air almost all of the time on this weekend and holiday-only DZ. It is VERY easy to find, just about one mile from I-85. The pace is very laid back; no computers or anything around here! The jumpers are a mix of old-school RW guys, a few freeflyers, and various others at different stages in their student or up-jumper training. A big deal here is doing two-cessna 8-ways at the end of the day. SL courses run every Saturday morning. New students get their knees in the breeze just after lunch. This is a Vector tandem DZ. There are two tandem rigs; both with EZ-384 mains (plus a 500 for the big boys). There is normally not a need to make reservations for tandems, but AFF needs to be arranged in advance.
My favorite things about the DZ are the swoop canals. These are natural drainage canals which parrallel the taxiway. One is shallow, maybe a foot deep; the other is a "Deland-esqe" ravine with about two and a half feet of water in the bottom. There is actually a third one which is perpendicular to the others that may be groomed by this Spring. A very popular pastime on the DZ, at least when I am around, is to make back-to-back-to-back loads and swoop. We pack right beside the canal and get picked up right on the taxiway by the pilot; NICE! Rates are a buck a grand, plus two bucks, so that means you can make a hook turn for five bucks (if you just MUST go all the way up to 3k). You can see photos of the deep canal at WWW.enclave.com in the photo section. A photo of me swooping the shallow one is listed on the www.skydiveopelika.com website.
Once again, this is not a big DZ. If you like the laid back, no pressure skydiving life, this is it. It is also a very safe place to learn how to skydive. There are lots of two-generation skydiving families on the DZ, and while you just may feel accepted at larger places, this place will make you feel like you are at home.

Chuck Blue
D-12501
Skydive Raeford