I have a crazy best friend. We did sky dive in Monterey for her birthday back in 2009, and this year for her birthday she mentioned something called the Stratosphere. She's the kind of friend who likes to do random things, see this, go there, and makes all these plans. Thinking Stratosphere was some kind of ride or possibly some acrobatic event, like a good friend, I said, "Sure, why not?" See what happens when you don't have all the facts?
Two months later, I find out it is not the kind of ride I was thinking.
$99.99 and another $15 for a dvd (very grainy) and photograph of you with and the "instructor" prior to the jump. Gotta document this event, so why not?
Don't wear any loose clothing, shoes that won't fly out, or dangly jewelry. They will provide a locked to you at no extra cost.
Not really too keen on the employees downstairs. We came at around 11pm for our scheduled 12am jump. We had pushed our time an hour later, and I guess they don't update their records, and didn't even know this. The thin brunette girl behind the register did not seem like she wanted to be there at all because I would either see her grudgingly do something or stare into space. Luckily the blonde Caucasian girl who was suiting me up was super friendly and KNEW (or at least seemed to) what she was doing. I was observing the two other male employees with Dragon Ball Z or "guido" hair, and they were slightly better than the other girl staring into space, but just doing the bare minimum. Seems like everyone hates their jobs here. This lack of enthusiasm or even good customer service, worried us.
After we were suited up, we were brought upstairs, by another employee with more exuberance (thank goodness). They offer a package with a shot before the jump, which you take at the bar facing the pit. By the way, not only do you have an audience of people downstairs, you have some at the bar as well.
We felt much better seeing how the instructors upstairs work. You can tell that they take a lot of precautions (two employees mimimum in the pit, and the doors are immediately shut once you enter, as well as you both are always anchored to something) They don't explain much outside of that so there isn't any "training" or video you have to watch prior. All you have to do is not chicken out. I wanted to so bad, but my friends wrath is worse than dying. The Hawaiian guy (and his Hawaiian music) did much to reassure me that it would be okay. Make a request to face inwards (rather than the regular outwards), and it will make it a little less scary. Don't worry, you'll still get turned around facing the view as you go down.
Everything happens really fast, and before you know it, you'll want to go again. So worth it read more