My wife and I live in NY. Our first experience in the skydiving world was this past summer (2008). We both went tandom and enjoyed it very much. One jump and we got hooked. After much research we planned a trip to Florida Skydiving Center to go through AFF and earn our Class A licenses. It was the best decision we ever made. I am a bit anal and was very apprehensive about shelling out a big chunk of change to someone that I only knew via a website. But there was not one minute of our ten day trip that was anything less than spectacular. For starters, the dz is easy to get to from either the Tampa or Orlando airports. Everyone (students, fun jumpers, coaches, instructors, S&TAs, manifest desk, riggers, packers and pilots) EVERYONE was extremely friendly and went out of their way to welcome us to their dz, skydiving and to be a part of their family. The equipment is very up to date and the facility is brand new! The packing area has a cushy soft rug that your knees will be thankful for. Large screen tv's with a vast skydiving dvd collection or digital cable will keep you busy when waiting for winds to calm or clouds to clear. Now for the AFF course. Safety is the main priority from the minute you walk in the door to your graduation jump. The instructors are more patient than teacher or professor I ever met and make sure you know and understand the flow of the dive and all maneuvers before your feet leave the ground. They want to introduce you to skydiving and make you a safe, smart and capable skydiver so you enjoy the sport for years to come. Its not about the money with these guys, its a passion for the sport. We can't recommend FSC enough. If you're going tandem, AFF or fun jumps you've got to go to Lake Wales for the best jump of your life. Also, for you experienced folks looking for coach or instructor ratings Xcelskydiving offers courses there.
