Skydive Carolina

Skydive Carolina is a big dropzone with a "small dropzone feel”. The close-knit community and inviting culture of SCPC is not one you will at just any dropzone. Experienced jumpers, students, tandems, and spectators alike are treated with respect and kindness by everyone – from the staff to the DZO’s. We have been made to feel like family since day 1 and have had nothing but great experiences since. Everyone is professional, focused on safety, and committed to making you feel welcome. Manifest is always on their A-game (shout out to LJ!) and the staff is always ready and willing to answer any questions or provide coaching. Skydive Carolina has it all: fast planes, great talent, lots of social events, and of course, CarolinaFest. I couldn’t recommend this DZ more!

After doing my first tandem at Skydive OBX I became obsessed and am so lucky to live just 20 minutes from Skydive Carolina! I immediately enrolled in their AFP course and am on level 7. All employees are so welcoming and friendly... there is definitely a huge sense of family. I'm so excited to get to know everyone more and join this awesome community. They hold large festivals every year, and I hope to be able to participate in their Halloween Boogie. The plane is huge and accomodates multiple jumpers each flight. I'm so comfortable with the gear and my instructors. Thank you, Skydive Carolina!

The place to go when you are in the Carolinas!

I'm still a student so you will get a student review. I started classes on vacation in florida at a small dz and loved it. Since then I have searched high and low to find the same atmosphere as how I started. I finally found it! Big dropzone without the cliques. Everyone was very freindly which for my wife (non jumper) made it a great family weekend. The only way this place can get better is by paying me to jump and not the other way around. Highly recommend!

I did a tandem here a few years back and was blown away by the professionalism. I felt like I was the most important person they had meet. Kudos to their team for their big focus on safety and having fun along the way. I moved to NC in July of 2014. I have been visiting the Dropzone almost every weekend. I have made over 100+ jumps here as a licensed skydiver and here is what I have to say:

1. Great Vibe- very safe, fun jumpers love it. the owners are awesome and staff seems like they love their job.
2. Very clean. You can judge a place by its bathrooms and other areas and theirs are spotless. Great feeling for anyone new to advanced to have clean showers and bathrooms every time. Their aircraft fleet is kept to the highest standards. They have a modified King Air, a Grand Caravan and a Cessna 182. I have flown it all 3 aircraft many times. The King Air will climb like a beast and they generally have it turning loads. The door is a little smaller than Caravan but the thing can climb like a champ! The Caravan has all the room you would ever need and then some. The door is big enough to launch some really big RW or head down, sit etc. We have 10+ ways out of the Caravan. The Cessna is smaller but good for Hop N Pops or days during the week with less activity. All of their planes and well kept and feel new inside.
3. Video/ Picture Staff very friendly and they can give really good advice for those looking to do what they do.
4. Have a good great store on site.
5. Some of the best Packers- very good openings and they can pack quick!
6. Fun after hours here as well. Come out and introduce yourself and you will be part of the crew.
7. Worth the drive from Charlotte, NC. I will keep coming back again and again.

I decided to make a trip down to Skydive Carolina for a day, which was about 2.5 hours away from where I live. I passed another closer DZ to get there, but I certainly did not regret it! Great vibe there and I was immediatly greeted by staff as well as other local fun jumpers, who were happy to introduce me to organizers and other fun jumpers.

The main aircraft that was flying when I was out there were a Caravan and a King Air, both of which looked very nice and seemed to be well-maintained. There is plenty of open, obsticle-free space to land in. A load of jumpers coming in for a landing were organized - all landing in one direction, not landing every which direction.

All in all it was a great experience, and I will most definatly be back in the future. I was recommended this DZ by a friend, and I would certainly recommend it to any of my friends if they find themselves in this corner of the world.

I was in the area visiting family and stopped by to jump on a Sunday. Had a good DZ orientation. Jumped on 3 loads with people ranging in experience level from 30 jumps to thousands. Very friendly people who didn't mind taking a stranger along for some fun. Only negative was that there was not organizing but that was due to this being the weekend of Nationals. Very impressed by my experience here and suspect I will be back (especially during the winter). They do fit 23 people on their Otter which is more than I am used to.

-Professionalism: Yes! Yes! Yes! Excellent!

-Vibe: I felt welcomed from the beginning to the end. Everyone was very friendly; to a point it makes you feel that you actually know them. The only people that didn't ask if I wanted to jump with them were tandem students...!

-Aircraft: Otter - bench seats, no mating needed. seem fast compared to other otters; perhaps I'm being biased because it was an entertaining atmosphere going up....

-Facilities: Indoor carpeted packing area as well as equipment, store, manifest, etc... Extremely organized.... Extremely organized... Extremely organized...

-Services: they can only get better if it was free :)

-Location: GPS will send you to the main entrance of the Airport, must specify King Air Dr to find the place. If not familiar with the area, you WILL get lost, but ask around everyone in town seems to know the place!

Hopefully I didn't forget to mention this place is the best I have been so far... Thanks.

I have been jumping at Skydive Carolina for 12 years and I cannot think of a better place to call my "dz home". No where else will you find an impeccable safety record, professional & competent instructors, top notch videographers and there is always a freeflyer or bellyflyer ready to take you on a fun jump! I also cannot fail to mention we have a great place to eat, awesome riggers and our manifest girls are out of this world! I consider everyone at Skydive Carolina my family and if you are looking to make a first time jump or find a dz home...this is the place for you! Come on out and let's make a jump:)

I've been jumping 11 years and this DZ has just gotten better and better over that time. The facilities are continuously being improved and upgraded. The staff is always looking for new ways to improve the experience for first time jumpers and planning fun events for experienced skydivers. They have a safety record that's just amazing for a DZ that size. And last but not least, the sport jumpers there are the nicest people in the world.

I agree with you Shaggio! This particular instructor who was asked to leave (Damien), failed to mention that he was racially attacking the other instructor (who "man-handled" (HA!) his student to the door???) in front of the student and was messing with his gear as he was trying to hook the student up...as I have seen him do before, because he for some unknown reason he thinks this is funny.
Our drop zone is very professionally run. The DZ manager may not be Mr. Congeniality all the time, but safety is always his first concern, and he does a good job running the DZ (an under appreciated job that none of the rest of us want). For Damien, I could certainly see how this would rub him the wrong way, as he has very little regard for the safety of himself or anyone around him.
Our riggers, instructors, and staff at the drop zone are VERY qualified and the food is fine. Frankly Damien, I can't believe you would insult your FRIENDS like this (have you really thought about WHO you are slamming?) just because you are upset with the DZ manager who removed you for good reason! To that I say THANKS James, for keeping our DZ safe and drama free!

As a member of the video staff and a fun jumper at this drop zone I was going to leave the previous review alone but find that I just cant.

It was written by a disgruntled x tandem instructor who was recently asked to leave the dropzone with attitude related issues and he created an alternative profile to write his second bad review of the dropzone.

Its unfortunate that anyone with an internet connection can act like a 12 year old and write a review like this. They end up just hurting there fellow jumpers and the skydiving communinity.

At Skydive Carolina you will find a very quailifed staff of Tandem instructors, AFP instructors, Riggers and Video Flyers with an excellent track record for safety. You will also find a great group of fun jumpers and get just as much out of the positive vibe as you put into it.

If you are thinking of coming down to Skydive Carolina to fun jump we will welcome you with open arms. If you are thinking of learning to skydive or you just want to make a tandem jump to get your addreneline fix and experience our sport come on down! You wont be disapointed!!!

Blue skies!

Over a two year period this is my observation. No competent riggers. Toggles on the steering line came off on the student gear several times putting them in danger. To name one example.

The tandem instructors don't properly use the seat belts or wear them at all. another safety issue for everyone on the plane. I witnessed a tandem instructor, after a joke was told, fly off the handle and was screaming a cursing then manhandled her to the door. Not a good experience.

The resturant doesn't have a health rating.

The manger only has a low number of jumps no instructional rating but is teaching. oh My god! why?

The bunk house was reserved and I was told the key was left out for me to get. No one was there and there was no key. I was stuck with out a place to stay and they still tried to charge me for the room that night. They also had me share a room with someone and didn't tell me about it. Imagine going into the room and finding out you have a roommate when you didn't want one?

The list goes on and on. They also have two listings on this website. Wondering what they are trying to hide with two listings. on the other listing The advertised price for 20.00 to 14 is only on thursdays.


Rest rooms are clean and most of the instructors other than the one guy are very friendly. Other staff are nice too. The owner I never saw and the manger seemed condescending and I got the hint that he was used to talking over people. Sort of in the same way a used car salesman would try to sell you a lemon.

I recently traveled to Skydive Carolina, in Chester South Carolina and was highly impressed. I would highly recommend this dropzone to anyone thinking about a skydive.

First and foremost, they are SAFETY oriented. For anyone who has never been to a dropzone, this is a quality that you want!!!

Generally, I am the quiet guy that just sits back and watches people. What I observed were instructors and staff that care about teaching and coaching young skydivers. I saw tandem instructors that kept their students SAFE before boarding the aircraft, while in the aircraft and after the jump. They checked the equipment at least 3 times prior to exiting the aircraft. I also noticed an outstanding relationship between the DZO, staff and the customers.

On my arrival, I met the DZO, “James,” for all of 5 minutes and a general introduction. He advised me where I could stow my gear and made me feel welcome. He went out of his way to make me feel comfortable in a comfortable environment.

Some of the qualities that I look for in a dropzone are: Professionalism – Beginning with my introduction to the DZO and my first encounter with the ladies in manifest, and the gear store. I was amazed. Everyone was helpful, pleasant, very professional and NICE…they go above and beyond. The “Vibe” This was a very nice environment to be immersed. Never did I feel out of place. I can’t really say that I saw any cliques…”…however, I did see many of the same people hanging with each other. Would I consider these cliques??? Not really…I see it more as friends spending time together. Regardless, everyone was very friendly, upbeat and inviting. The Aircraft – They appeared to be well maintained, clean and SAFE. The pilots were friendly, and they are……. well, pilots (thank you for the rides to altitude). Facilities – Did I mention clean and well maintained? The hanger has plenty of room for packing. The canopy compression specialist are quick and friendly. The bathroom(s) were CLEAN, as were the showers. There was what some people call a snack bar/grill, but it is really a restaurant. GREAT FOOD. There is a huge and nice landing area that is well maintained. The facility as a whole is well maintained. Location – Skydive Carolina is centrally located with easy access if you are in the Charlotte, NC area. It is a hop and a skip if you are further west or east. (well worth the hop and skip). The Services – rigging, load organizers, packers, instructors, coaches, videographers, and a gear shop (friendly staff). They are professionals in every way that go the extra mile.

As someone who has been in the sport, I am looking for certain things with the first being safety, outstanding instruction, a sense of belonging and did I mention fun. I had all of these while visiting this dropzone. This is a place everyone can enjoy. If you are just getting into the sport and want great instructors, or if you are a fun jumper and want a wonderful experience, this is the place. I hope to see you there!!!

I visited Skydive Carolina right around the 4th of July. I really enjoyed it. The landing area is huge and the staff is very nice. After a good orientation I got together with some belly flyers and made some nice jumps.

Skydive Carolina in Chester, SC is a great place to jump. The staff are very professional and have unprecedented knowledge and experience in the sport. The scenery is gorgeous as you look over forests, lakes, and green fields. On a good day you can see Charlotte. I waited 4 hours before I got to jump my first time, but it was well worth it.

This DZ has just about everything you would expect a DZ to offer. There are no cons that I can name. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to experience a tandem or to get an A-license. Everyone is very nice and considerate. I've made a lot of friends at the DZ. Met a lot of interesting people. The instructors make the process of learning actually very easy considering the fact that I was learning to jump out of an airplane, something you really don't know how to prepare yourself for, but I learned to listen and do what I was told and everything went 100% smooth through every jump all the way to my A-license.

We were at Chester for the CaSL Meet #2, and the experience is one I'll treasure for a good long while. The staff were all courteous and helpful, the facilities were excellent and the landing area was enormous. They've got camp sites available, as well as RV hookups (call ahead). We truly enjoyed our brief stay at Skydive Carolina. It's just too bad it's so far away, or we'd visit more often.

Thanks to the staff and jumpers of Skydive Carolina for a wonderful visit!

Team Luckiest Guy at Raeford

I jumped here in October of 93 with two friends for our first jumps. We had the times of our lives. The facilities were top notch and the tandem masters were fantastic. We were in their hands and it was a first class experience. Anyone who wishes to skydive for the first time should definitely give these folks the chance to show you what its all about.

The staff of Sky Dive Carolina are hands down some of the most caring and delightful friends anyone could have. They started me in this wonderful sport and with the time and patience they spent with me alone gives them a CLASS A Rating in my eyes. Keep up the great work Danny.

Blue Skies Forever

I did my first Tandem jump at another DZ and then Skydive Carolina was recommended ot me bu two friends. From the initial phone call they let me know what to expect and how much it would cost. I did my second tandem there then started their AFF program. The classroom training was excellent, the practical training seemed thorough ( do it till it's right) and the staff always made time to answer questions no matter how busy they were( even if I asked as they were passing by on the their way to load). They made sure I was safe and tried to keep me relaxed. ALthough I don't have a lot of experience with other DZs, I am confident they will take good care of me and make sure I am ready. As I was watching a load land the owner was taking an experienced diver to task about safety and a "questionable " approach over the hangar. They are all about their customers.

many jumps later and a much much better understanding of the sport and DZ operations. I realize that Skydive Carolina is nothing like what I wrote above. from jumping at some other places it all the same the same the staff give what new jumpers think is flack, good advice because they care. how does the saying go? if I knew then what I know now. what most young or new skydivers don't realize about emerging into the sport is that they are young and dumn. uh I mean inexperienced. and that was what happened to me. I was young and dumn and didn't understand alot of why things are the way they are. since the last review there have been some great changes at skydive carolina. monthly they have Casa weekend. special events like high altitude jumps and night jumps. the cafe has had an overhaul and the two best cooks, in my opinion, any DZ has ever seen.

I haven't been around long enough to experience what DZ's really suck and what DZ's are really great. I have been around long enough to know what I like and what I don't like. if you ever come by Chester they have a great packing area, landing area and they have the big birds that get to altitude fast. I like that about a DZ. I would give it all up just to have some friendly people that didn't treat you like they were almighty and your were thier kid. What your about to read is my personal experience. Everyone makes mistakes, no one is perfect. I was told that all jumpers have landed a little funcky at times. Even the up jumpers. the first time I do it I get chewed out by the DZO like I was three. He told me everything I already new had happened after I picked myself up to get off the tarmac. he asked what happened then didn't let me answer when I began to. the Manifest manager did the same. but was a little calmer about it. Ever since then I have had the best relationship with the DZ. I took a reserve canopy and container that didn't match with pack volumes. I had no ideaat this point I didn't know about that stuff at the time. again the DZO acted like I was a moron when I went to pick up my gear. later after several more jumps and I am almost A licensed. I have my own gear and I go to a boogie. My gear was assembled by a rigger (my Dad) and packed for my first jump with it. the instructors swarmed me and all at once were harrasing me for my pack job. when I told them a rigger did it they acted as if I was lying. then I told them it was my Dad and they kinda shut up. fact is they were embarass for talking junk about my family. Some of the insrtuctors thier are cool but most act like if it isn't done thier way then your wrong. there are many different right ways to get a rig packed in this sport. skydive carolina doesn't advertise the right prices. on the web site is a price and then they charge you another. they claim 18 to 13.5K I was charged 20 bucks for using a visa check. they failed to mention the extra charge when i gave them my card to hold an open tab. same thing with my student jumps. on the wed was advertised one 130.00 for level 7 and charged me 150.00 I went to other DZ'z to do my coach jumps because of this and when I come back to doa clear and pull they wouldn't let me because there wasn't a coach available. I did my hop n pop for 10 bucks at another DZ and made sure I had a witness who was experienced. I have a feeling that chester likes to price gouge. I told the manifest manager that it was the last thing I needed to get my pro card completed and she acted like I forged it. as if since I did jump there the whole time while getting my pro card filled out then I wasn't jumping at all. I was asked about my jump currency in a condensending tone. again being treated like a child with no integrity. again this is my personal experinece and not everyone there is like that. the staff has alot to be desired.