Don’t forget about fun!
Our facilities and management are serious and safety is our first priority, but we all have fun. Jumpers with more than 3000 jumps mingle with first time jumpers. Everyone is welcome and together we jump, train, perfect our skills, and have fun too. Additionally, we have a complete camping facility and our drop zone continues to provide fun after the planes are locked down.
Location Location, Location
We are situated adjacent to Lake Erie and the Grand River. There is fishing, and water sports. We are also located within moments of Dunnville. This beautiful little rural town is welcoming and worth the trip by itself. W are located in the heart of the Niagara Escarpment and a short drive from Toronto, Hamilton, Guelph, and Niagara Falls. There is a lot to do at and around our drop zone.
If you have other questions please contact the office by phone or e-mail. Are you interested in checking us out in more detail? We are always pleased to give tours of our facility!
Do I need to make a reservation?
What methods of payment do you accept?
Do we jump in the rain?
What should I wear?
Why is there a weight restriction of under 230lbs?
Why should I choose Niagara Skydive Centre as my drop zone?
As a beginner will I fit in with so many experienced skydivers?
Who can skydive?
I want to get started?
What kind of jumps are available?
Age requirements and restrictions?
What are the physical requirements?
How long is the training?
How fast do you fall?
What if my parachute doesn't open?
How hard is the landing?
How turbulent is freefall?
Is there food service on the premises?
Do I need to make a reservation?
Reservations are not required but they are highly recommended, as it is the only way to guarantee your slot in an airplane that day. Walk-on's and same day reservations are always welcome; please ask about the estimated wait time when you register. To make a reservation we require a $50 deposit per person. You may cancel or change a reservation up to 48 hours before a scheduled appointment without losing your deposit. Your deposit will be refunded, or a new booking accepted if you have bad weather on your skydive day.
What methods of payment do you accept?
Visa, Master Card, Interac (direct debit) and cash. Cheques will be accepted for deposits only providing they are received 10 days in advance of your skydive.
Do we jump in the rain?
No. For first jump Tandem skydives, the weather has to be good: Blue skies and sunshine or clouds above 10,000 feet. For the First Jump Solo course, the clouds must be above 3,000 feet. For either type of First Jump your instructor must be able to see the landing area from the plane before starting your skydive. We recommend you call the office the day of your skydive appointment if you have any doubts or questions about the weather.
What should I wear?
Lace-up shoes (running shoes/no hiking boots please) and comfortable clothing. We provide a helmet, jumpsuit and goggles to make your skydive. Please let your instructor know if you wear contact lenses so you receive the proper pair of goggles. We have special goggles to go over glasses.
Why is there a weight restriction of under 230lbs?
All of the student skydiving equipment at Niagara Skydive Center Inc. has been tested by the manufacturer and rated for a recommended weight and speed at which it may be safely operated. Failure to observe these recommendations puts the first time jumper at increased risk. We want all of our First Jump students to have a fun, but safe first skydive!
Who can skydive?
If you are in good health and enjoy having fun, you are a perfect candidate for skydiving? Like any physical endeavour you need to be informed so give us a call and lets get you started.
As a beginner will I fit in with so many experienced skydivers?
We are a people friendly jump zone. There is a camaraderie that exists with like minded people, and all jumpers, beginners and want to someday jumpers are welcome. You will be welcomed and have all of your questions answered. Even if you do not wish to ever jump, you are welcome and will find the entire process and facility fun and entertaining. see you soon!
I want to get started?
Pick up the phone and call us. It is as easy as that. We are the only full time seven day a week operation in the area. We are open from March through November.
What kind of jumps are available?
A Niagara Skydive Centre offers three beginner opportunities: (1) Tandem, (2) Solo, and Progressive Free Fall.
Tandem Skydiving
Tandem Jumps provide an opportunity for people to try skydiving while securely strapped to an expert skydiver. Your training is only about 20 minutes and you are suited and geared up and ready to go. We jump from 10,500 feet which will give you an out of this world free fall of approximately 40 second. Your tandem partner will open the chute and then show you how it feels to fly a parachute. Landing are soft, you have an instructor on the ground helping with your landing and we will video the entire experience. Our viewing area is directly adjacent to the landing area so that your friends and family will be able to join in your excitement and watch you exit the plane, free fall and land too!
Instructor Assisted Deployment
Many people try tandem skydiving and fall in love with the sport. Many elect to be ground trained and jump without an instructor. We will train you in all the basic aspects of the sport. Our ground school instructors are the best in the business and we pride ourselves in providing cutting edge training, by the very best instructors, in a comfortable professional environment that while serious is also a great deal of fun.
After an intensive half day of training you and our instructor will evaluate your skills and you will decide to get geared up and ready to jump. You would have practiced exiting the plane, arching, maneuvering, landing, and how to handle irregularities. You will be completely aware of how your chute functions, and what to do in all facets of the jump.
Each student parachute rig is equipped with a state of the art automatic activation device. This device will automatically deploy your parachute in the unlikely event that you or your instructor does not. Safety is our absolute first priority!
Our attending qualified jumpmaster in the plane assists you during the entire process from ground to jump, including deploying your chute for you. An additional instructor on the ground will be assigned to direct you in flight via radio communication. You will follow clear maneuvering direction and land in our very large and parachute friendly landing zone, directly adjacent to our viewing area
Call us to book your training, and to receive a detailed newsletter reviewing your jump options.
Progressive Free all (PFF)
Progressive Free fall is for the take-charge, high intensity type of person. This method of experiencing your first skydive starts with the 5-hour First Solo ground school, and an additional hour of intensive training with two highly experienced PFF Instructors. You then put on your own parachute (supplied) and board the aircraft climbing to 10,500 feet or 13,500 feet (depending on the aircraft used). After you reach altitude you will receive a final safety check, your two Instructors will take firm harness grips & on your command, the three of you will exit the aircraft. Be prepared for the ultimate adrenaline rush as you accelerate to terminal velocity! Once at 5,500 feet you will deploy your own parachute and pilot it to the landing area with the assistance of your on-ground instructor, talking to you via a one way radio.
Why should I choose Niagara Skydive Centre as your drop zone?
There are many reasons. The most important is SAFETY. Safety is our absolute first priority! Our ground school instructors, jump masters, rigging people and staff are the best in the business and we pride ourselves in providing cutting edge training, by the very best instructors, in a comfortable professional environment that while serious is also a great deal of fun.
Our facilities are unmatched in the industry. We are one of only two occupants at the airport. The other facility is a War Plane Museum, that occasional fly vintage aircraft. They are wonderful inclusion to our facility and our staff, jumpers and visitors often visit the museum and see and hear firsthand about these wonderful aircraft.
This means that we have an entire airport for virtually our own sole use. We are not located in a field on a farm, or work out of out buildings and barns. We are a professional facility, run from a professional airport and hanger, staffed by the best trainers and instructors in the business. We have absolutely current and top of the line student parachutes that are always professionally packed and maintained. We pride ourselves in our professionalism, experience, facilities and our commitment to everyone’s safety.
How old is too young or too old?
You must be at least 18 years of age to make any skydive. Photo ID is required. People jump well into their eighties and so like our sport, the sky is the limit.
What are the physical requirements?
There are federal laws about maximum weights. Skydivers must weigh 230 pounds (104 kg) or less. Niagara skydive Centre always makes safety the first priority so we will always be very straightforward about medical questions that you may have.
How long is the training?
Tandem skydive training is about 40 minutes. This includes briefing on equipment, position, entering and exiting the plane, contingencies, gear, ground rules, behaviour and more. IAD is approximately one half day of training, (see above) for details. PFF is the same amount of time and training. Allocate two or three hours to arrive and complete a tandem jump and plan on a full day for IAD and PFF.
How fast do you fall?
A Freefall is about 120 MPH or 190 KM/H. Your weight and body position while in freefall can affect this. Modern parachutes open very softly so there is little stress when the chute opens.
What if my parachute doesn't open?
A Skydiving and parachuting are very very safe activities. The sport is extremely regulated and Niagara Skydive Centre makes safety our first priority. The possibility of your parachute not opening is extremely remote. In that very unlikely event, you have been well trained on deploying your second (reserve) parachute. Our reserves are repacked every 80 days even if unopened. These repacks are logged and this task is completed by a certified rigger, (CSPA or FAA certified).
How hard is the landing?
A Our student parachutes are cutting edge, very large, and produce a very soft decent and landing. Many first time jumpers stand up when they land. Theses square chutes are nothing like the round chutes that most people think of from early tv shows and movies. Our chutes are more like gliders and actually fly rather than just float down like those older chutes of the past. Our chutes are extremely maneuverable and pin point landings are possible and common for even novices.
How turbulent is freefall?
A terminal velocity is 120 mph, so there is wind, but it is not extreme. Until you are certified to freefall you will not approach this speed. We recommend goggles for safety.
Is there food service on the premises.
We have a fridge, BBQ, and microwave so that you may bring, store and cook your own food. Impromptu pot lucks occur frequently and there are lots of places to sit and enjoy your meals. We are also only minutes from Dunnville sporting a wide assortment of grocery stores, coffee shops, and restaurants.
If there area any questions or concerns we have not covered we encourage you to give us a call and/or email.