Frequently Asked Questions

Skydive Cal is a stone’s throw from several of Northern California’s most popular cities. We’re about 40 miles from San Jose and Oakland, 50 from San Francisco, and 60 from Sacramento. Get directions to our DZ.

We did before coronavirus! It’s possible we’ll resume service in the future.

Arrive at Skydive California at your reservation time.

Wear comfortable, close-fitting clothes and athletic shoes (no flip flops, heels, boots, etc). Pull back long hair and remove jewelry before you jump.

Absolutely! Our goggles fit over most eyeglasses, but please bring your lowest-profile pair for best fit. There’s a chance you might lose your specs during the skydive, so please leave your expensive pair at home. Let us know if you wear contacts so we can ensure a secure fit. Goggles are disinfected between guests.

You must be at least 18 years of age or older. A parent or guardian’s permission is NOT an acceptable alternative. (If you’re too young, we promise it’s worth the wait!)

Yes! You must have a valid, government-issued photo ID in order to jump. A driver’s license or passport will fit the bill. No valid ID, no jump; no exceptions.

No – if you are physically fit to jump, it doesn’t matter how old you are! We have jumped with people older than 90. We assess people individually and recommend that guests over the age of 70 consult with us before booking.

Skydive Cal is committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment. Our intention is never to discriminate on any basis, including race, skin color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, ability, marital status, national origin, citizenship, political persuasion or military status. Skydiving is awesome, and everyone deserves to experience or bear witness to it. Blue skies!

At Skydive California, we recognize that everyone is capable of extraordinary things. We are happy to discuss your specific needs and the accommodations we may be able to make for you to successfully skydive. If you have specific health concerns, talk to your doctor before booking.

Yes. You must weigh less than 225 lbs in order to make a tandem skydive. Some exceptions can be made depending on body proportions and fitness level. These limits are safety-related and based on guidelines issued by equipment manufacturers. Note that a $20 fee is due directly to your instructor if the limit is waived. Call us with questions or concerns.

Yes, eat and drink as normal. No alcohol and drugs in your system on the day of your reservation.

The most common cause of sickness is eating too much or too little, or being dehydrated. Some people experience a little motion sickness during the parachute ride, but typically not during freefall. Tandem instructors can fly the canopy wild or mild; tell yours what you prefer.

All told, you’re likely to be at the dropzone for 2-4 hours. Arrive at your reservation time. Requisite paperwork will take 20-30 minutes to complete. Training lasts 20 minutes, the ride up to altitude takes about 15, and your actual skydive will last about 8 minutes. Some days we run like clockwork, other days we encounter unavoidable delays due to weather and aircraft. Your safety and satisfaction are our priority.

Skydiving is a life-altering experience. Parts of your first jump experience will seem to take place in slow motion and most of it will go by in a flash. Getting your jump filmed lets you relive your skydiving experience again and again … plus it’s social media gold. (Don’t forget – #skydiveca)

You can film before you board the plane but for safety reasons cameras, phones and go-pros are prohibited on the aircraft or during your skydive. Leave the filming to the pros.

No. A dedicated videographer will exit the aircraft with you. For safety reasons, tandems can’t fly alongside each other. Plus, the best footage focuses on one student at a time.

Skydivers are optimistic by nature, so we tend not to make jumping decisions based on the forecast alone. We won’t jump in rain, heavy cloud cover or high winds, but we will often jump on partly cloudy days (which can be spectacular!). If you’re worried about the weather, give us a call before heading to the dropzone for your scheduled jump.

Yes! You’re welcome to reschedule your jump to a date within a year of your original booking without penalty.

All deposits and payments are non-refundable.

We accept cash and all major credit cards (VISA, Mastercard, DISCOVER, and American Express).

Tipping is neither required nor expected – but it’s always appreciated if you had a great time.

Yep! Groups of 5 or more receive a $10 discount on each skydive. Groups of 10 or more, contact us at 209-835-7474.

When we have capacity, yes! Call us: 209-835-7474.

Yes! Invite them to snag a picnic table and watch you land.

Tandem jumps introduce you to skydiving and count toward future training. We recommend starting with a tandem even if you plan to enroll in our AFF program.