I made a Yelp account just for this review- and for a good a reason. The most amazing experience of my life! Everyone was very friendly; made me feel really comfortable when I felt the most vulnerable (easy to feel when you're falling out from a plane). If I could, I'd quit my job and live here for the rest of my life jumping out to the sky for the rest of my life... ... anyways, on a more surreal note, Quick tips for newbies like me: 1. If your navigation makes you pass the Byron airport, it's wrong. It's located in the Byron airport- first building you see. 2. Stop by at the ATM. Tips are cash only. Once you return to earth in one piece, you'll feel grateful. 3. They'll have a jumpsuit for you. No need to worry about being pretty... read more

Everything went great. Adam and Brad were amazing. However, the photos were all blurry :(((. All the frames in the video were blurry for some weird reason. I know this might be a 1 time malfunction but I felt like 120$ for video and photos were not worth for what I got. Disappointed about that. Would give 5 stars for the jump, only 2 stars for messing up the photos and video. EDIT: They did offer me an opportunity to jump again and refund the video cost. So 5 stars overall. read more

I took my boyfriend here for his birthday in February and our skydiving experience was nothing short of amazing. I believe everyone should get around to doing it at least once in their life!! read more

As a coordinator for a mentoroing program, I come across lots of different types of people with one common interest: volunteering to be a mentor. During one of my interviews with a prospective volunteer, I asked him why he was interested in being a "big brother." He told me that there were lots of guys around his age (early 30s) who were "broken" and had few hobbies, self-esteem, didn't know how to treat other people, etc. Preaching to the choir, dude, because you just described the majority of the men I date. After a recent unfortunate dating experience with one of said "broken" men, I decided that it was time for me to find more productive things to do, like check things off my bucket list. One of the items was to go skydiving. So I looked up a few skydiving places in the Bay Area, and Bay Area Skydiving seemed to be the easiest for me to get to. It took about an hour and 15 minutes without traffic (just getting to the freeway from the Marina took 15 minutes), and I decided to go for the earliest time - 10 AM - on a Friday. Gareth was my instructor and told me that they'd try to get us off the ground as soon as possible. Even though I arrived by 10, we still had to wait for everyone to sign waivers, gear up, make sure everything was in working order - including the plane - and after a brief instruction on what to do (i.e. where to put your hands, legs, head), we headed to the plane around 10:50, where we were strapped to our instructor and flown up 13,000 feet. The company itself was great overall - I was back on the ground and in my car around 11:30. They definitely kept everything running as smoothly as possible, but since I was in the first group of the day, I don't know how it would've been had I not gone early. As for my experience, let's just say that I learned that I have absolutely zero fear of heights, because it was honestly a semi-anti-climatic experience for me, as I didn't experience the exhilaration that I thought I would. I mean, it was cool to jump out of a plane, but I think a lot of the excitement comes from that little bit of fear, of which I had none. The instructor pulled one side of the parachute as we slowly spiraled down, and that made us spin around like crazy mid-air, and I felt nauseous after that point. Maybe my experience would've been better had I not felt like throwing up? Regardless, if you're looking for a unique time, definitely check out Bay Area Skydiving, and go early in the day. Oh, and find me someone who's not "broken" too, if possible. read more

DUUUUUUUDDDDE! 8 people today would agree....Ain't no better way to spend your Sunday than strapped to the front of meathead adrenaline junkies whose witty banter, and perfectly timed comedy routine psyche you out a bit more than you already are....but get you laughing and thinking of stuff other than your nerves. Me: How many of these jumps you go on every day? meathead adrenaline junkie (MAJ): Till we get it right. MAJ: (primarily to our friend Mitch) Alright guys, if you feel a lump in your throat, that just means you're nervous. If you feel a lump in your back, well...that's just us having our fun. MAJ: I feel like I'm forgetting something....oh I guess i always just feel that way. Me: Hey! I know its really windy today, but at what wind speed would you all decide not to go up? MAJ: About 5 miles an hour ago! MAJ: Bet you have all never been strapped like this with a man on your back before have you? Robyn: No...not quite like this! Me: Oh....I have! (and after 15 minutes of remarks from them, this was the first of ours that actually got them thinking too.) Words cant describe it. You just have to feel it. You then understand why all of the employees at Bay Area Skydiving have at least 3000 jumps under their belt. Peering over the edge of the plane, knowing that at any moment....your life is out of your hands, and the big guy strapped to your back is your lifeline. At any moment he will jump, taking you with him. One minute of freefall at 14,000 feet....Its surreal... They ask you to fill out their log book at the end of the jump. This was my entry. Hope he remembers me. Keith's flight log book. 4/15/07. My legs still feel like Jello. Thanks for riding my backside. -Lauren read more

I went skydiving here for my birthday and it was an amazing experience! I'm afraid of heights but I decided to conquer my fear after one of my auditors described her first sky dive experience. It sounded amazing and skydiving was on my bucket list so I thought I'd go for it. Byron is in the middle of nowhere but my family and I made a day of it. My brothers decided to join my 13,000 foot leap of faith for my birthday. How cool are they?!?! My sister, my niece, and my mom came to watch us dive. It was an awesome experience. We suited up and went up the plane. They even sang happy birthday to me (not necessary since all I could think about was if I'd survive). The crew all have great personalities and a wonderful sense of humor. Laughter definitely helps when you're jumping out of a perfectly good plane! When it came time to jump, I was freakin' scared. My instructor and I made our way to the door of the plane. We scooted up until my legs were hanging at the foot of the door. There's nothing like hanging out from a plane at 13,000 feet knowing you're about to drop into the air. The initial drop was scary and I screamed! Hey, you would scream too if you felt like your guts were dropping at over 100 mph. I remember the feeling so vividly. But after the initial drop, then you're just flying in the air and it is the most amazing experience ever! I had so much fun up there. We were being videotaped and I was even goofing off with the camera man. It felt so calm and serene yet all this adrenaline was rushing through my body. I just enjoyed every second I spent up there. I felt so free. Nothing in the world mattered in those few seconds. I was just living in the moment and enjoying everything from the sun to the beautiful blue sky to the landscape. It was uninhibited fulfillment. Eventually, my tandem skydiving instructor deployed the chute and we made our way down. It was one of the best experiences of my life! I highly recommend it! Definitely do the 13,000 foot skydive. It gives you several more seconds of being in the air before the parachute deploys. It's worth it. That's the best part of it all. And if it's your first time, by all means do the video and photo package. Your first skydive only happens once so catch it on camera and remember the moment as if it was yesterday. I can't wait to skydive again! Did I just say that? It was amazing!!! read more

I reserved a spot in April to take my girlfriend tandem skydiving. Since this place came highly reviewed, I thought it was a safe bet. This review is based on email correspondence only. unfortunately their office staff is way too rude for me to move forward with my reservation. After making reservations online, I was instructed to call in and confirm the reservation. I did just that. TWICE. I even left my name and my number and got no call back for two days. I ended up making reservations elsewhere. When I emailed them to tell them to cancel the reservation, I got a very very rude and unprofessional email back and even insulted me in the email. I am sure many people have had very positive experiences with this place, but if their emails are any indication of how they actually conduct themselves, I'll take my chances elsewhere. I am putting my life in someone else's hands when I skydive and the last thing I want is someone with an over inflated sense of ego taking me up there. Perhaps the flyers should not be held responsibility for the behavior of the administrative team, but if that's the company they keep, I can only assume. In my line of work, people get fired for speaking to a customer like that. I guess they don't care about kind of thing though. It's amazing they are still in business. I guess they experience is that good for others. In any event, if you value professionalism and and good customer service, then you should probably look elsewhere. read more

Hi Ian, It's your brain here. Normally I don't protest your actions -- we're on the same team, y'know -- but I gotta interject here. You're planning on... no, wait... you're going to jump out of plane, and I have to point out that this probably isn't conducive to your survival. Remember back when you were 12 years old and you lit that poison gas anti-gopher bomb from the wrong end? Remember when it exploded and you got a lungful of peas-and-carrots-tasting death air? Remember that? Remember what an idiot we both thought we were? Remember that feeling? Well, here it is again. Stupid, stupid stupid. We both know that the guy strapped to you, Torsten, is a pretty awesome guy. Sure, we've only known him for an forty minutes and, since we're strapped uncomfortably close to him and our life is in his hands, we'd marry him on a whim. No problem. He's done like a bazillion jumps. He pointed out all of the redundant equipment and backup computer and whatnot because he's a pro. We're both pretty confident, I know. No no no... get away from that door. That's an *open door* in a moving airplane. Are you serious? You don't go through those doors, only in movies. What is this right-leg-out bullshit? No, stop. Left leg? Serious? Both feet out of a *moving goddamned airplane*? This isn't a ski lift! Head back? No no no.ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhshhhhhhiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii........... read more

We came here for my boyfriend's brother's birthday last weekend. I think it's safe to say that this is one of the most amazing and liberating experiences in my life! Nothing can beat jumping out of a plane at 10K high, free fall for 15 seconds then float in the air for the 360 view. My instructor Justin was seasoned and patient with all my questions. He also did some cool tricks (i.e. spinning) after making sure I was comfortable. However, I removed 3 stars due to the scheduling. Since it's for a birthday, so my boyfriend made reservation for that day at 3pm. After waiting, and waiting, and waiting for 3+ hours, we were informed that we will be split into 2 groups since they can not put us in one plane. This was really upsetting cause we know he wants to do this forever with special ones. There were club members getting on the plane for 2-3 times during the 3 hours that we were waiting. But how come they can not fit us into the schedule, especially we made the reservation way in advance and got there on time. Then, we were informed that since it's sun setting, so the plane can not get to 13K high to save some time =( this made us even more disappointed. Come on, it's a birthday celebration, we drove 1.5 hours, waited for almost 4 hours in heat, rushed to a plane, can't enjoy the 100% of the jump, and almost splited into 2 groups?? After all, the instructor Justin made my diving experience awesome. But we are not sure about this whole waiting, then rushing, and more waiting experience, especially on someone's birthday =/ read more

When I say, "jump", he says, "how high?" 13,000 feet It took three tries but we finally did it. This wasn't my first jump, I had done so many years ago in Cloverdale. Of course his first jumped was out of a plane in Russia. No pack, a chute rigged to a line, he paid the equivalent of $10. Show off. We had plans to come out Thanksgiving weekend but didn't make it. Then in December, we went (without calling ahead) and they were closed for maintenance. Third time's a charm. The weather could almost be considered warm for January. It was a bit hazy but that didn't stop us from jumping at dusk. My co-pilot Aaron was bad ass and had me doing flips and turns. Amazing. Jumping in Byron, you have a great view of the SF Bay Area. So much nicer than the nothingness my jump in Cloverdale offered me. Don't be surprised if the plane you're jumping from is held together by duct tape. Seems to the norm from what I've experienced. This plane had a disco ball to put you in the mood. Only seven more jumps and a certification class and I'm good to jump on my own. I'll keep you guys posted. read more

I will attempt to write this review without using the word "awesome", even though that truly describes the experience. Things you should know: 1.) It's worth the $90 to pay for their photos. It will help you relive the experience and you will most likely never do this again. Our photographer, Zack, took over 100 photos and they were all of excellent quality, plus he was exactly the kind of person you would want to have around. His job is to hang out the door of the plane and photograph you before you jump. Then he jumps after you do and pretty much documents your flight all the way down. He lands before you, so he captures that also. In essence the $90 covers having your own photographer for the entire experience. Once I realized that, the $90 didn't seem so bad. The trip down goes by so quickly that you will be happy to have photos to help you remember the experience. He took photos of both of us even though we only paid for one person's photos. Even if you don't opt to have the $90photos taken, your instructor will take some of you that you can view and purchase afterwards. He has a point and short camera strapped to his wrist. These photos were close ups and did not convey the overall sense of the jump like the $90 package that the formal photographer took with his DSLR. 2.) It's not as scary as you think. Relax and enjoy it. Anthony and MJ were our tandem jumpers and we ALWAYS felt safe. You really don't have to do anything; they guide you through the entire process, positioning you, pulling the chute, steering and landing; you just enjoy the experience. They have taken 94 year old ladies up! Everything that the other reviews say is true; the staff here are great and really add to your overall experience and memory. You can tip them at the end if you like. 3.) The Bay Area Skydiving office is actually a hanger and is pretty bare bones. Bring water; it's hot and dusty there. They only have water for sale in a vending machine. Wear lightweight clothes-you put on a jump suit over your clothes and it can get hot. Also, if your eyes are sensitive to light; opt for the tinted goggles even thought they look goofy. If you have long hair, tie it back. Mine is short and it was a mess afterwards. The only restrooms there are porta-potties (cleanest ones I've ever seen!). You can watch others take off and land while you are waiting and talk to them when they come back which helps to appease any fears. One thing I noticed is that everyone who came back had the biggest smiles on their faces and glowed about the experience. 4.) The experience itself: When you jump out of the plane it's a momentary rush until you get into position. I would say its 1/10th the rush of taking off on the Screamin' roller coaster at Disneyland. So if you can handle that, you're good. It's a little hard to breathe going that fast (it's like sticking your head out of the car window when you're going 100mph), but that goes away once your parachute opens. After that, it's quiet and peaceful and you can look around or help steer the chute if you want too. One minor thing I noticed is that the straps around your thighs get a little tight but that's normal. I was worried about landing but it was a breeze; Anthony did everything and it was very gentle and easy. You land in an open field right in front of the hanger. Once back inside you take off your suit, get a "certificate of accomplishment" and can look at the photos that your instructor took on the screen. These were the "point and shoot" photos which were offered to be for $50.The $90 ones were better. 5.) If you like sky diving, try gliding/soaring out of Calistoga or the seaplane rides out of Sausalito. There is nothing like flying over the Golden Gate Bridge in a small plane. read more

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Bad costumer service! We arrived and they made us wait 30 mins, until they bothered to let us know it was cloudy and they are gonna wait an hour to see if the sky clears. Barely bothered to call us after an hour to let us know there will be no jumping today. Didn't even think about calling us earlier in the morning to tell us the weather is not good - and we had a 1.5 hour drive there. So we didn't end up jumping.. read more

I knew this was gonna be fun, I didn't know it was gonna be this much fun! The best part about this adventure was my instructor, "Ego Mike". I was already comfortable with the, "Possibility of Injury or worse..." part of jumping out of an airplane. If I had any nervousness, Ego immediately made that issue go away as soon as he introduced himself. With rapid fire corny jokes, the careful explanation of everything that was happening, and the guided tour of the area on the way up, and the way down, he made for a great day! I don't know if I would have had as much fun with any one else ( I probably would have, I just don't know ). On the way out of the plane, Ego had to "fine tune", my position because my head fell off when we got to the door and I forgot everything I was supposed to do. It didn't seem to be a problem for Ego, he just took care of business and I had a real good jump. Thank You, Ego Mike! My Thanks also to Clay, who took some awesome video and stills through the whole event. With the visual records I'll be able to relive my first jump over and over. With the quality of the recordings I'll be able to enjoy them even more. Thank You, Clay! Special Thanks to Tracy and Debbie who conspired together for a year to throw me out of an airplane! Jump Date: 04/09/10 read more

Bay Area Skydiving - "Ego Mike" and I, April 9, 2010 - Skydiving Near Me - Byron, California

First things first... AWESOME PEOPLE at Bay Area Skydiving! The staff is vastly safety conscious, extremely informative, and super friendly. I called around numerous Drop Zones in the Bay Area and made one of the best decisions of my life in choosing Bay Area Skydiving. These people know what they're doing and take care of you from the moment you make the call. Even the first few steps into the hangar you're greeted with smiling faces. I signed up for the AFF program after one 10 minute conversation with Gareth. This guy and most of the Instructors/JumpMasters have years, if not decades of experience and thousands of jumps. Again, they know their stuff! Dave and Deb took me through the ground school and Level 1 stages of the AFF program. While there is a lot to learn and this is serious stuff, they both kept me relaxed, focused, and excited about the upcoming adventure. It wasn't like school so much. More like trusted friends getting you to believe in yoursef so you can have a safe and happy flight... and landing. I was able to jump following the thorough exhibition of my skills on the ground and let me just say.... F#@K YEAH! I could carry on for hours about the entire experience, but I'll just leave everyone with this... If you're going to choose a drop zone in the Bay Area, I'd strongly encourage anyone to at least give them a call. I honestlybelieve you'll be as pleased with the decision as I am. Bay Area Skydiving... you all ROCK!! Thank you for taking care of me like family! See ya soon! -Rob read more

Greatest experience to date. I wasnt really all that excited to jump to my death BUT after coming here, I realized what an unforgettable experience it was - and to have my friends around me. I took my pal for his birthday and we had the most memorable time. 6 of us jumped and Bay Area Skydiving made it easy and painless to book appoitments. They were very lax and made sure we were accomodated. There was a bit of a wait which was ok because we had time to relax and talk to some of the other jumpers. I loved my instructor as in he made sure I had fun, felt safe, and took adorable pictures! They went out of their way to make us feel comfortable and special. This was worth every penny and I would highly recommend this for anyone who is looking to try something new. Tip: ITS HOT out there so if youre coming from the city be prepared. Bring cash too, and food & drink for when you wait. If you have a dog, bring it too! read more

Despite the two hour delay, I couldn't speak more highly of my experience here. My instructor Julia was so amazing and I felt very safe with her- my partner enjoyed his experience and instructor as well- he got the photo package and I'd recommend it- the videos and pictures will make excellent memories. Everyone working there was very competent and welcoming, and there was a friendly and laid-back vibe that immediately put me at-ease. I've recommended them to my friends and can't wait to go back! read more

When I first leapt out of a perfectly good airplane, I felt disoriented and a little queasy. But that passed quickly, and after a few seconds I relished the 120mph blast of air in my face. Next there was a short interval when I gazed around to enjoy the view. Just before the altimeter spun down to 3000 feet and I pulled the ripcord, the ground seemed to loom up suddenly -- what a rush! After the parachute deployed and I felt the jolt, I loved floating through the breeze, listening to the flap of the chute like a luffing sail. These gigantic chutes let you down really slowly, so there's plenty of time to steer any direction you like. When I flared, I planned to land just as I was trained to do, with a five-point roll to cushion the fall. That's what I had practiced for the previous couple hours, jumping off hay bales and platforms. But instead I came to a standing landing where I took a couple steps before collapsing the parachute -- just like a Seal or Ranger ( except that they pull at more like 600 feet). Is it still studly if it's an accident? That first solo jump, back in the eighties, was when this place was called Skydive Byron. It hasn't changed much. Still focused on safe and thorough training, with experienced and reliable jumpmasters. Still delivers a big shot of adrenaline that's hard to match elsewhere. And it can be addictive. read more

It was my first time skydiving. My feelings? OMG! very nervous at the same time excited But with the help of my instructor - I was at ease because he would always give me an assurance that I will be safe and make me laugh to forget my nervousness. It was an awesome experience.... I would do it again if I got some budget :D I would HIGHLY recommend Bay Area Skydiving because 1. They have highly experience jumpers 2. Staff are very helpful and friendly 3. Awesome pictures and video (if u got both) 4. Got your certificate of achievement after skydiving 5. Its worth the money you spend read more

Go to Skydive California instead. I would not recommend this place due to the extremely rude owner and unhelpful desk staff. There is another skydiving business called Skydive California (www.skydivecal.com) just 30 minutes away. Skydive California is more organized, reasonable and professional for the same price. read more

Simply one of the best experiences I've had in my life so far. My two friends and I chose the tandem + video/photos package as it was our first times skydiving. My instructor was Chase and camera guy was Strider. I was anxious throughout the entire week before the jump but on the day of, adrenaline kicked in. Everyone at the DZ was chill and relaxed and it easily rubs off on you. Both the feeling and view during free fall was absolutely amazing. Complete sensory overload. Something that can't be explained but only experienced. Chase was an excellent instructor and the video and photos taken by Strider turned out incredible. If you're in the Bay Area and want to try skydiving, this is the place go to! read more

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Had my first jump. Best. Experience. EVER! Would recommend. They are very professional and funny. I had Justin as my tandem instructor and Brad as my photographer. Even though it's my first jump, I requested a flip, and they made it happen. It was absolutely fantastic! read more

Best place to skydive at ever! I decided to surprise my girlfriend for our 1 year anniversary and I don't regret this decision at all. The whole experience was amazing! I did a lot of research on skydiving facilities, and this place seemed like the best. It was cheaper, and had better video options than the other popular skydiving spot at Skydive Surfcity in Santa Cruz. My appointment was at 1:30 and we had gotten there at 1:10. We signed the paperwork, watched a cheesy 90's informational video, paid, and then waited. During our wait many people there were talking to us, and pumping us up for our jump. Two other first time jumpers were sharing our same excitement, and ALL the pro skydivers and staff were super friendly. Making jokes, talking about past experiences, and etc. We watched several other people land and their happy faces just reassured us that this was gonna be amazing. We did wait almost 2 hours to jump, but it was super busy because many skydivers were being coached/trained that day. The jump itself was indescribable. You're taken up to 13,500 feet and you're out of that plane very quickly. You free fall for a minute and descend with the chute open for several minutes. It's utterly AMAZING. Both our tandem instructors were super nice and eager to jump. We also got the video and photos package to record our jump. We each got 100+ photos, with high quality super up close photos of your jump. And the video is so worth it as well. You get to see your whole jump live, and you get to see it from the outside perspective. (Unlike some places where your tandem instructor just films it with you, while here another guy jumps with you and films the action) After the jump they show you the video, and it helps you process the experience. You watch the video jumper edit your video (done very quickly), get a dvd of the video, and a cd of your photos. Both of our videos came out great! I would definitely recommend anybody's first skydive jump to happen at Bay Area Skydiving, and if you're thinking about it, just do it! This place is super professional, friendly, and SAFE. You're secured and everything is perfect. Bay Area Skydiving gets an A+++++ read more

Bay Area Skydiving - Skydiving Near Me - Byron, California

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this was the best experience i could have asked for and that was all thanks to the staff at bay area skydiving. checking in was super quick and easy, we waited for maximum 15 minutes, the staff was super reassuring and kept making sure we were all ok, and their energy was what made the dive so incredibly fun and enjoyable. for anyone on the fence, DO IT. (and go here). no regrets. if i could give them ten stars i would. read more

I came here on my 19th birthday, for a gift and the experience was effing ridiculous. Signing papers that basically says, your parents can't sue us if anything goes wrong.. Getting suited up.. Waiting 2 hours to get into a plane because other people were going to jump with us.. It was a crazy crazy experience that I recommend everyone should do.. I remember the only thought that went through my head as I looked down from the planes door was.. "what the f*** was I thinking?!" and without hesitation your outta the plane screaming your lungs out completely relaxed once you realize it wasn't all that bad... I didn't pay for any of the charges thanks to my bomb ass friend who paid for me.. pictures video and all =) Instructors were down to earth folks, gave you reassurance that nothing bad was going to happen.. Best birthday ever.. So far at least.. read more

I jumped once and my friend jumped twice. I am amazed by how professional these guys are. Me and my friend had two very different personalities for our first jump. I was terrified and he was ecstatically excited. BASD was able to pair us up with instructors that would fit our emotions. Ego Mike was cool calm and very soothing, even though I still ended up crying on the plane. My friend's guy was wild (with spray painted hair to match) and so much fun. The entire experience was amazing and I would so do it again and if I could, I would do it with Bay Area Sky Diving and with Ego Mike. Plus jumping in Byron gives you a most awesome view of the scenery! Great prices, great personal, great view = great experience! read more

5 Stars because I'm still alive... On a whim, a group of friends and I decided to go skydiving. Jumping out of an airplane sounded like a good idea that weekend. I don't go free falling to the ground that often so I basically followed the people who did the research and made the reservations. It's a pretty long drive from San Jose! Be sure to sit in a car with people you can either talk to or sleep on. You'll most likely be leaving from the Bay Area early in the morning. Bay Area Skydiving is out in a remote location. It's not that big, kinda reminiscent of a ski shop or bike shop but without as much gear. For first timers you have to watch a 10-15 minute instructional movie that has a long-bearded guy. I laughed imagining him jumping out of the plane with his beard flapping in the wind. This guy knows how to live. After filling out life form after life form, you have to decide whether or not you want pictures and/or video of your flight. Flight alone costs about a hundred bones while every additional 2,000 feet is $50 (i think). Pictures and video together is $150! This is really where they make their money, but I went for it. This is probably one of the few times I'm actually going to do this. It might even be my last if you know what I mean. Once you decide what you're going to do, they instruct you on flying positions and signals. It's fairly simply especially if you're going tandem. All of the employees are pretty laid back and easy to talk to. The worst part about the this locale is that their plane can only fit about seven people. That's the pilot, two tandem pairs and videographers per each tandem pair (unless you don't want pictures). Plus you have to factor in the weight so that the airplane doesn't go haywire. You'll have to wait for the people to go in pairs if you're a big group. The half hour wait in between flights can get a little boring; yet, your nerves will certainly start to buckle if it's your first time. Watching friends parachute down to the ground is pretty amusing. Suiting is mostly a jump suit, goggles, and a helmet. Then there's the buckling and strapping of harnesses done by a professional. It really feels like they take care of you. At last, the flight... Incredible! I had a blast! It was a lot more enjoyable than I expected. Only until the doors opened did I truly realize what I was doing. Standing on the side of the airplane is mind boggling! Skydiving doesn't even feel like you're falling, more like hovering. The videographer flies around you and gets pretty close with the camera on his helmet. Some of my friends said that they were really jolted when the parachute was pulled. Personally it didn't feel bad at all. As you float down to the ground, my tandem partner let me steer the parachute. Soooo much fun. I felt like a strange combination of secret spy and extreme novice. Remember to bend you knees when you land. You're going a lot faster than it feels! I was very satisfied with the flight and picture/video package. They give you a certificate of accomplishment, but mine still laying a pile somewhere. The certificate seems more like it's for the fear-focused and old people. ___ A great place to fly; but I can't really compare this experience to anything else. lol read more

This was an absolutely amazing experience! Me and the bf have been planning this for almost a year and finally decided to do this. We booked ahead of time and arrived at noon on the planned day. Pretty much signed our lives away and waited for about an hour or so. And then.. the long awaited jump! The plane ride was short and sweet, and the crew was so much fun to be with! We got lucky with the weather as this was a nice, clear sunny day. But just to be sure, I recommend calling them in the morning to double check you'll be able to jump. Of course they can not guarantee anything, but if you've got quite a drive ahead of you, it wouldn't hurt. Also, be sure to be prepared to spend some time there. So bring food, water, change of clothes if needed (if you decide to dive in your own clothes, you will land on your butt and might get dirty) and anything else you might need! The staff here is pretty awesome, everyone is friendly and VERY professional. My instructor was Al, and Brad was the camera man. Both of them made sure that this experience was as smooth and as fun as possible for me. I was very nervous and my instructor did all he could to calm me down and make sure I had fun. We landed right in front of the hangar, so there wasn't a long walk/bus ride that needed to happen. You land, get unstrapped and whewwwww... you can breathe again. If you get the photos and/or video you do have to wait for a bit after the jump but its completely worth it. You get to hang out, observe and process the experience. Overall I had a blast! Definitely recommend this place if you plan of skydiving! read more

First Sky Dive, definitely not last! I had an amazing unforgettable experience at this family business. read more

I had a great experience at Bay Area Skydiving!! Everyone was very nice and made me feel comfortable. It was my first time ever skydiving and Tulio (my instructor) made me feel so calm and comfortable. He went over everything that was going to happen in full detail and was checking to make sure I was good while waiting, walking onto the plane, in the plane, all the way up until the landing. Julia also was amazing and positive! The receptionist and owner worked with me. I didn't realize I didn't sign up to receive the type of video I really wanted and was expecting, but they were able to accommodate me as to where I got the video I wanted with the same instructor free of charge to make sure I had the best experience. The wait was long but it was expected as they tell you how long the wait can be online when the reservation is made. *Note: if you purchase a voucher from Groupon (like me) for the 'Tandem Skydive w/ Basic Video' that will be the hand cam video, mainly of you and your face not a video of the full scenery. I was told the hand cam video is just as great btw. Overall, great experience. Glad I was able to do it and at such an amazing place! :) read more

If your thinking about skydiving just do it, and do it here for sure. Clean facility and great staff. You can have fun with these guys and they seem to genuinely care about what they do and that's a big plus. Lol. Thanks for a great day. read more

Decided to go skydiving for the first time with my boyfriend for his birthday this weekend, and after googling and yelping decided to go to Bay Area Skydiving. Our reservation was at 2PM, they informed us they were running behind so our adventure didn't begin until around 4PM. My instructor was Gareth and my boyfriends went by the name Mad John. They were both really experienced and when suiting us up they gave us the low down on everything and anything we wanted to know. All the staff members there were awesome, all very friendly and helpful. We both decided to get the still photos and the pictures turned out GREAT. And to top of this experience, when we were in the plane everyone sang a pretty funny birthday song to my boyfriend. All in all we had a crazy good time, worth every penny we spent. I highly recommend this place, just be aware you're probably going to have to spend a little time waiting before...but in the end its all worth it! read more

Highlight of my vacation to California. Awesome big garage/waiting area while you wait for your flight. Friendly dogs. I sat outside most of the time, gorgeous weather. The videographer is a whole separate person flying, which made us pick this company. Special thanks to the staff Clay, Adam, and Maddie for the professionalism and kindness. A must! Book ahead of time and call to confirm. read more

First off, I'm afraid of heights and not afraid to admit it. So yeah....it ain't happenin' for me. Call me a wuss, but I just can't embrace the fact that I would have to JUMP OUT OF A PERFECTLY FUNCTIONING PLANE just for the thrill of it. Not only that.....but have to pay $320 to do it!!! (cuz you know you also gotta buy the video to prove you did it) My boyfriend had always told me he wanted to skydive. So for a memorable birthday gift, I treated him to his first skydiving experience with this company. He absolutely LOVED it. So 5 stars to Bay Area Skydiving for returning my BF safe, sound and ALIVE. From beginning to end, his instructor and camera man were so cool, laid-back, and professional! It was worth every penny. The only small comment I have was the long time we had to wait til' he jumped. There were several groups ahead of him even though he had his time reserved. I guess we went during a high-peak (jumping) season, because we returned for his 2nd jump last week and the wait went MUCH quicker this time. If I were ever to even think about jumping, I would definitely trust these guys for a fun and safe experience. read more

Great home town feeling for a DZ for experienced jumpers to come and have fun. Met a lot of great people. However, a couple of local guys who work there need to learn who folks are before talking down to them. His questions and direction towards me and my friends were as if we are children and didnt know what we are doing. Get a haircut dude, no one takes a man serious with girly long hair like you have. Also, dont tell customers one thing when you do the complete opposite, that is bad for business. Next time get to know your guest jumpers by asking what they do, you never know you might learn a thing or two from guys who teach advanced Military Freefall for a living. read more

Literally the dopest experience of my life. I surprised my boyfriend with going tandem skydiving 'just cause' and we had no idea what to expect as newbies. Everyone who we met working at Bay Area Skydiving was so kind, encouraging, positive and knowledgeable about their craft. If you are lucky enough to get Clay, you are in the best of hands. He made sure I knew what was going on every step of the way and what to expect. He was patient and made sure I was in good spirits making this experience of a lifetime even better. If your thinking about skydiving, this is the place to do it. read more

One of our friends wanted to go Sky Diving for her 60th Birthday and about a year ago my wife said she would go with her. So this past weekend was put up or shut up time and the both "put up"! I went along for moral support and we arrived at 10 a.m. per our appointment, they ladies watched a video, signed their lives away and paid the fees, plus both decided to get the video. The Tandem guides came over, introduced themselves, helped them get suited up and answered any questions while the video guys filmed away. By 11:15 a.m. they were in the plane on their way up. About 20 minutes later out they came, first the solo jumpers and then the tandem jumpers and the video guys. Both loved their dives, the 60 year old landed, got up and said she was doing it again, right now, while my wife, in her 30's was a bit weak in the knees and sat out the second jump. We cannot say enough great things about the staff here, they made everyone at ease, were professional, yet very fun and did a great job and made this a day that will not be forgotten. The video's came out nice, they "slow" down the jump part in post production, which only took a few minutes and added songs of your choice to it. Very nice and worth it for your first jump. read more

Best. Place. Ever. Hands down. This was my first jump, and since I'm still alive- 5 stars!! It is an absolutely amazing experience, and I highly recommend it to absolutely anyone. Feels very safe and just soooo much fun! Highly recommend getting the photos and the video too - and brace yourself for all the fun out there! read more

Anyone that knows me, knows that even in my sixties, nothing stops me when I have a mindset to try something new. Especially if it's not only done on my birthday, but it's something to cross off of my bucket list. Tandem skydiving is one of them. After weeks of research, and what was offered on Groupon, I decided on Bay Area Skydiving in Byron Ca. I mentioned it to my son Tyrone and asked him to go along with me. He said yes. I asked him to invite his girlfriend Sarah. She came along. Since it was my sixty-first birthday, he paid for everything. Even without the coupon, it was reasonable. The first day we went, it was a no go because of the high winds. Yes I was completely disappointed but I dealt with it. We rescheduled. This time around the day was perfect! We met our instructors and suited up. Mine was named Ivan. He explained, step by step what would happen. I was taught how to position myself for the jump and landing. I also had my own cameraman who recorded everything. The flight to the jump point was awesome. The jump from the plane was indescribable! It's simply amazing how beautiful it is when you're floating beneath a parachute with complete trust in your instructor to bring you down safely. Everything went smoothly and the landing was textbook. You do get a certificate stating you completed the jump, and you get your video email to you immediately. But, the memory is what's important. Yes, I plan to tandem jump with them again, maybe without the tandem! Awesome! Amazingly Awesome! read more

Bay Area Skydiving - Before Skydiving. - Skydiving Near Me - Byron, California

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I went for my first tandem last weekend and had the time of my life. My friend and I were paired with Julia and Bruce and they were absolute pros. Brad was awesome capturing the video; I was smiles the entire way down. I'll definitely be back and can't recommend Bay Area Skydiving enough. Thanks for the incredible experience and all the laughs. read more

What a... Professional... Decently priced... Safe... Inviting... Experience I've had. I was with my family, and couldn't have asked for a more memorable experience. Thank you Bay Area Skydiving! read more