I started skydiving in this center going via AFF route and carried on with jumps in this DZ. If you are planning an AFF you have two options. First one is to choose the DZ's own Instructors to take your level jumps. You may need to share your instructor and you may end up having different instructors for each of your levels. This should not put any one off as all of the instructors are highly skilled professionals as some are in Spanish international formation team and some are sponsored by companies like redbull .However if you prefer to have a more personalized instruction and have the same instructors for your jumps there are smaller schools managed by foreign instructors. All speak English and they all have extensive experience in skydiving.
They have two pilatus porters a blue and a white. Blue seems to be little faster than the white. Then the super otter is a big plane which takes up to 23 flyers and climbs to 13000ft around 10 mins. The Beech99 as manifest prefers to call it KINGAIR is not owned by the centre but the pilot and the owner of the plane JAN prefers to fly his superfast plane at this DZ pretty much every other time he doesnt attand to a go vertical boogie somewhere else. If you pack your own canopy fast enough and eager to get alot of jumps its possible to reach two digits in one day. mine is 9 in march where the jumping hours are shorter in summer you may get few more.
The ground control, manifest, office are all oparated by proffesional and friendly people. The master rigger is a very interesting personality and he talks through details to make sure you are learning he does this in a very professional manner regardless of your level. Sometimes you may find that everyone is telling you to do or not to do something but if dont have some thousand jumps its a good idea to listen to them because they usually have those jumps under their belts.
If you manage to get on the sunset load you will get a chance to be dropped at 15.000 or even 16.000ft and will have a chance to see the moon, the sun set and the amazing view.
The biggest problem is the wind sometimes when the tramontana picks up it may stop skydiving for days. And sometimes it comes from the south and it usually eases off in a days time.
The bunkhouse is 6 people in one room and they are not too big. Considering this DZ as one of the bussiest in Eurpoe it definetly needs better accomodation options. The cafe is quite good which turns into a bar later on drinks are a little expensive but comparing with uk still affordable.
Landing area is large green field and there are lots of off-field landing area in th north. The south is covered by the town but the DZ never takes the risk if there is chance to have off landings to the town side they will go on stand by. Safe is better!
If you stay here long and you are bored you can go and try kite surfing at the beach. The town has lots of restaurants and bars but mainly everyone can be found at Orange Kiwi where you can have amazing continental food, Captains cabin is a pub similar to the ones in the UK, surfinn is a clubbish-bar which operates till late. for single males there are more into the town than meets the eye but be prepared for surprises and high prices.
There are two shops at the DZ for clothing the matter factory shop is just at the back near the hangars and the sky rat shop. But if you are looking for gear the the only place is the skyrat shop where the prices may be high however there are lots of options for you in there if you are in a rush to replace your altimeter or get a new pair of goggles then it serves for the need.
At this dropzone you will meet BABYLON team, Bruno Brokken, Tim Porter and many more world best in their own branch od skydiving and as in many other things in life the best are modest, down to earth and holod passion for sharing their experience and knowledge with the newcomers.
I have tried to be objective in my observations hope these be usefull.
