Know any thrill seekers who are notoriously hard to shop for? There’s nothing like jumping out of a plane to put a smile on an adrenaline junkie’s face.
Since Jan. 1, 2000, Skydive Santa Barbara has been offering tandem jumps and top-quality skydive training.
“We’re the fastest growing skydive school in Santa Barbara County. We never stop growing,” owner Dave Hughes said.
While most skydiving drop zones average around 10,000 feet, Hughes prides himself on offering three jump heights, including 10,500 feet, 13,000 feet, and 18,000 feet.
The 18,000-foot drop is so high, Hughes said, “we have to give our customers oxygen or they might pass out.”
But don’t let that scare you—all of the company’s riggers and instructors are certified by the Federal Aviation Administration and the United States Parachute Association. Also, Skydive Santa Barbara has a stellar safety record.
“No one’s died here,” Hughes said. “Out of the 7,500 tandem jumps we’ve done this year, there’s only been one broken ankle.”
All skydive novices have to start with a tandem jump, in which the customer is strapped—with a personal parachute—to a certified instructor. The 10,500-foot tandem jump costs $199 and features 40 seconds of freefall over the city of Lompoc, with views of the Pacific Ocean and Vandenberg Air Force Base. The 13,000-foot jump costs $19 more.
Hughes said out of all the people who do the tandem jump, about 10 percent come back to get trained. The beginner school includes about four to five hours of ground school and 10 jumps. But you can’t get officially licensed until you have 25 jumps under your belt.
“We’ve taken people here from first tandem jump all the way to instructor,” he said.
OK, that’s great, but now the question everyone’s been waiting for: What does it feel like to skydive?
“It’s a bit hard to describe,” Hughes said. “It’s like a piece of chocolate; it’s hard to describe until you get a taste.
“A lot of people think they’re going to lose their lunch, but there’s no falling sensation. It’s more of a floating sensation, and you enjoy the ocean views on the way down,” he continued.
Contrary to what people might think, Hughes said, “Make sure to eat before you jump because you use up a lot of adrenaline.”
[Writer’s note: I would also suggest wearing pants and a sweatshirt because it can get really cold 10,000-plus feet up in the air. Also, your lips are going to flap around like those of a drooling basset hound but, don’t worry, that’s part of the thrill.]
Instructor Jeremy McGrew said he’s given the gift of skydiving to his dad for Father’s Day, and just recently he took his girlfriend up for a jump while she was visiting for Thanksgiving. Hughes said seven people have proposed to their significant others in mid-air this year.
“We even have a sign now with a blank spot on it for the name,” he said.
Contact Managing Editor Amy Asman at aasman@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Dec 15-22, 2011.