plcpeggy 0 #1 June 5, 2006 Hi! I want to get my boyfriend a birthday gift of a dive -- any recommendations for the San Francisco Bay Area for some first-timers? A fun environment and great views wanted! From reviews, does Bay Area Skydiving in Byron still come out #1? thanks so much! Please post here or email info@peggyli.com peggy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elisha 1 #2 June 5, 2006 Well, they sure are a friendly bunch of folks. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bodypilot1 0 #3 June 5, 2006 Lodi <<<is abit further but tandems are $100 from 13000ft and video is $35. Open 7 days a week. Be safe Edwww.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thanatos340 1 #4 June 5, 2006 You have many Choices around that area. Research them all. I would caution you to make sure you are dealing directly with the dropzone when you do choose to book your Tandem. Avoid dealing with Middlemen such as Skyride. If the person that you are speaking to refuses to give you the EXACT address of the place you will be jumping without getting a Credit Card number first, You are probably dealing with a Skyride agent. Also if they are selling "Weather Insurance", "Big Plane Fees" or any other extra Hidden Charges, They are probably NOT the actual DZ. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brianfry713 0 #5 June 5, 2006 You'll have a good time at any of the Bay Area DZ's. Byron is a fun place. The best views are at Skydive Monterey Bay if the weather cooperates. The driving distance will vary depending on where you are coming from. The cheapest tandems are in Lodi at $99. Hollister and Davis are great places to jump as well. If you're planning on doing the whole AFF program, you might want to stick to what's close to you. Click above on Dropzones->CA or use the Drop Zone locator and then check out each DZ's web page. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
plcpeggy 0 #6 June 5, 2006 Thanks everyone! Is there a particular Monterey Bay DZ that is recommended (Skydive Monterey is the only listing)? I don't see very recent (2006) reviews available. thx, peggy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebusto 0 #7 June 5, 2006 My vote goes for Bay Area Skydiving in Byron. Great staff, and you are guaranteed to have fun. Note that I'm a regular jumper there, so I may be a bit biased. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites chopchop 0 #8 June 5, 2006 We are a little more expensive but you will have a great time at Bay Area Skydiving.. It's not real scenic on the ground but from the air, it's beautiful. Also, if you get the photo package, you'll get about a hundred digital photos on a cd. You can print these up to a 20 x 30 poster size or email them to your friends! We will also sing the Happy Birthday song to your boyfriend on the ride up at no extra charge! Come see us! Bay Area Skydiving chopchop gotta go... Plaything needs a spanking.. Lotsa Pictures Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Bolas 5 #9 June 6, 2006 QuoteWe are a little more expensive but you will have a great time at Bay Area Skydiving.. It's not real scenic on the ground but from the air, it's beautiful. Also, if you get the photo package, you'll get about a hundred digital photos on a cd. You can print these up to a 20 x 30 poster size or email them to your friends! We will also sing the Happy Birthday song to your boyfriend on the ride up at no extra charge!* Come see us! Bay Area Skydiving *Not singing costs $25 more Stupidity if left untreated is self-correcting If ya can't be good, look good, if that fails, make 'em laugh. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites skybytch 273 #10 June 6, 2006 You'll have a great time at any of the dz's in Northern California. Regardless of which one you choose - GET VIDEO!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites GravityGirl 0 #11 June 6, 2006 What do you mean not scenic from the ground? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites kelpdiver 2 #12 June 6, 2006 QuoteWe are a little more expensive but you will have a great time at Bay Area Skydiving.. It's not real scenic on the ground but from the air, it's beautiful. Also, if you get the photo package, you'll get about a hundred digital photos on a cd. You can print these up to a 20 x 30 poster size or email them to your friends! We will also sing the Happy Birthday song to your boyfriend on the ride up at no extra charge! If you want the still photos, Byron has a clear advantage here with the 100 high rez images on a cd versus ~25 shots on film. There is a cost premium, but the time saved and quality gained is significant. Ofoto (now Kodak Gallery) often has discounts available that can get you a 20x30 for as little as $12. Scenically, Byron and Hollister lose a bit in the summer as the hills turn brown. But last week at Byron I had a perfectly good view of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz. Davis has the funky multi green squares of crop fields below. I always get a kick out of it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites bodypilot1 0 #13 June 7, 2006 QuoteByron has a clear advantage here with the 100 high rez images on a cd versus ~25 shots on film. Yep, Byron is the only DZ around with digital cameras these day...... Be safe Edwww.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites kelpdiver 2 #14 June 7, 2006 so fill us in with a correction, Ed. Certainly there are individuals out there, but every tandem at BAS can get digitals. If it's true for the other 4, none of them advertize it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites bodypilot1 0 #15 June 7, 2006 Quoteso fill us in with a correction, Ed. Certainly there are individuals out there, but every tandem at BAS can get digitals. If it's true for the other 4, none of them advertize it. I can think of atleast 5 camera flyers at Lodi that shoot digital and at a few at other DZ's, and then again, I can think of a few camera flyers that can probably get better pictures with a hand held disposable camera, then the people with the digital cameras. Film has worked great for years, though its slowly becoming the second choice of camera flyers these days. And if you want great advertising, call 1800SKYRIDE. Be safe Edwww.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Bolas 5 #16 June 7, 2006 Someone say disposable? Stupidity if left untreated is self-correcting If ya can't be good, look good, if that fails, make 'em laugh. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites kelpdiver 2 #17 June 7, 2006 yes, a bad photographer doesn't get much better with a 30D. Though he might get better seeing the results, rather than just handing over a film canister and forgetting all about it. If the video guys at the other places are increasingly switching to digital, it behooves them to promote it (and charge for it). Just as was done with DVDs over VHS. You can't upsell if no one knows you have it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
chopchop 0 #8 June 5, 2006 We are a little more expensive but you will have a great time at Bay Area Skydiving.. It's not real scenic on the ground but from the air, it's beautiful. Also, if you get the photo package, you'll get about a hundred digital photos on a cd. You can print these up to a 20 x 30 poster size or email them to your friends! We will also sing the Happy Birthday song to your boyfriend on the ride up at no extra charge! Come see us! Bay Area Skydiving chopchop gotta go... Plaything needs a spanking.. Lotsa Pictures Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bolas 5 #9 June 6, 2006 QuoteWe are a little more expensive but you will have a great time at Bay Area Skydiving.. It's not real scenic on the ground but from the air, it's beautiful. Also, if you get the photo package, you'll get about a hundred digital photos on a cd. You can print these up to a 20 x 30 poster size or email them to your friends! We will also sing the Happy Birthday song to your boyfriend on the ride up at no extra charge!* Come see us! Bay Area Skydiving *Not singing costs $25 more Stupidity if left untreated is self-correcting If ya can't be good, look good, if that fails, make 'em laugh. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #10 June 6, 2006 You'll have a great time at any of the dz's in Northern California. Regardless of which one you choose - GET VIDEO!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GravityGirl 0 #11 June 6, 2006 What do you mean not scenic from the ground? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #12 June 6, 2006 QuoteWe are a little more expensive but you will have a great time at Bay Area Skydiving.. It's not real scenic on the ground but from the air, it's beautiful. Also, if you get the photo package, you'll get about a hundred digital photos on a cd. You can print these up to a 20 x 30 poster size or email them to your friends! We will also sing the Happy Birthday song to your boyfriend on the ride up at no extra charge! If you want the still photos, Byron has a clear advantage here with the 100 high rez images on a cd versus ~25 shots on film. There is a cost premium, but the time saved and quality gained is significant. Ofoto (now Kodak Gallery) often has discounts available that can get you a 20x30 for as little as $12. Scenically, Byron and Hollister lose a bit in the summer as the hills turn brown. But last week at Byron I had a perfectly good view of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz. Davis has the funky multi green squares of crop fields below. I always get a kick out of it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bodypilot1 0 #13 June 7, 2006 QuoteByron has a clear advantage here with the 100 high rez images on a cd versus ~25 shots on film. Yep, Byron is the only DZ around with digital cameras these day...... Be safe Edwww.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #14 June 7, 2006 so fill us in with a correction, Ed. Certainly there are individuals out there, but every tandem at BAS can get digitals. If it's true for the other 4, none of them advertize it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bodypilot1 0 #15 June 7, 2006 Quoteso fill us in with a correction, Ed. Certainly there are individuals out there, but every tandem at BAS can get digitals. If it's true for the other 4, none of them advertize it. I can think of atleast 5 camera flyers at Lodi that shoot digital and at a few at other DZ's, and then again, I can think of a few camera flyers that can probably get better pictures with a hand held disposable camera, then the people with the digital cameras. Film has worked great for years, though its slowly becoming the second choice of camera flyers these days. And if you want great advertising, call 1800SKYRIDE. Be safe Edwww.WestCoastWingsuits.com www.PrecisionSkydiving.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bolas 5 #16 June 7, 2006 Someone say disposable? Stupidity if left untreated is self-correcting If ya can't be good, look good, if that fails, make 'em laugh. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #17 June 7, 2006 yes, a bad photographer doesn't get much better with a 30D. Though he might get better seeing the results, rather than just handing over a film canister and forgetting all about it. If the video guys at the other places are increasingly switching to digital, it behooves them to promote it (and charge for it). Just as was done with DVDs over VHS. You can't upsell if no one knows you have it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
