There's no greater Halloween scare (or adrenaline rush) than skydiving. Recently 61 divers took to the skies above Perris, Calif. to create the largest diamond formation while in freefall and wearing wingsuits, breaking a world record. The jump from three planes at an altitude of 13,500 feet included participants from 12 countries.

Recent California skydiving deaths:

• Skydiving grabs media attention when records are broken or deaths occur such as the California skydiving accident of MTV extreme sports star, Erik Roner, who died in Lake Tahoe when he struck a tree in September 2015.
• Tech. Sgt. Nathan Schmidt, a pararescue airman was killed in a recreational skydiving accident in California.
• Skydive Instructor Andrei Penz, 30, was killed in a jump at Jamul after a hard landing at the Skydive San Diego facility in June 2015.

More than 4 million injuries, not including deaths, were caused by extreme sports from 2000 to 2011, according to data collected by the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System.

More than 40,000 injuries occur every year among athletes who participate in extreme sports.

In 2013, there were 3.2 million jumps out of airplanes in the United States. Most tandem skydives are conducted at a maximum of 14,000 feet above the ground. You can expect to hit speeds of up to 120mph within the first couple moments of your freefall.

Skydiving in California

DAVIS: tandemskydivingschool.com

TRACY: Skydive California skydivecal.com

CAMARILLO: We skydive at the Camarillo Airport in Ventura. We are the only skydiving center in Camarillo or anywhere near Camarillo and we specialize in having good customer service and first time jumpers.

LOMPOC: Skydive Santa Barbara skydivesantabarbara.com

LAKE ELSINOE: Skydive Elsinore - Southern California Skydiving skydiveelsinore.com

WATSONVILLE: santacruz-skydiving.com
WATSONVILLE: skydivesf.com/

ACAMPO: parachutecenter.com

JAMUL: skydivesandiego.com

TAFT: Skydive Taft: Skydiving
skydivetaft.com

BYRON: bayareaskydiving.com

CLOVERDALE: norcalskydiving.com
skydivecoastalcalifornia.com

PERRIS: Skydive Perris skydiveperris.com

SkyDance Skydiving
Yolo County Airport
20 miles southwest of Sacramento
(530) 753-2651, (800) SKYDIVE (No. CA Only), Fax: (530) 753-8572
SkyDance.net

TAFT: Skydive Taft
Taft-Kern County Airport
SkydiveTaft.com

OCEANSIDE: .tsunamiskydivers.com

HOLLISTER: skydivehollister.com

LINCOLN: skydivesac.com

MADERA: skydivemadera.com

GROVER BEACH: skydivepismobeach.com

FRESNO: skydivefresno.com

NAPA: napavalleyskydiving.com

MARINA: Monterey Bay
skydivemontereybay.com/
Monterey and Big Sur are ideal locations to explore the vast northern California terrain. Shorelines integrate a fusion of mountainous shorelines with pristine sandy beaches. Skydivemontereybay.com features jumps that take place up toward 18,000 feet, one of the highest jumps in the world. The views are spectacular thanks to the drop zone being close to the ocean with views of the shoreline north and south of Monterey toward Santa Cruz and Big Sur.

BAKERSFIELD: skydivesanjoaquin.net

TAHOE: skydivetahoe.com

SAN DIEGO: Curran Field pacificcoastskydiving.com



Acampo
Parachute Center
23597 N. Hwy. 99, Acampo, California 95220
(209) 369-1128
Parachute Center
Operates from the Lodi airport, south of Sacramento on Highway 99. Provides skydiving instruction in a full range of training options from first time experience, to advanced and team training. Instructors are licensed by the United States Parachute Association (USPA). Aircraft are Beech 99, King Air 200 and two Super Otters. The Parachute Center provides services to every discipline in skydiving from the first jump to your skydiving certification.
Bakersfield
Skydive San Joaquin Valley
11858 Copus Road, Bakersfield, California 93313
(661) 858-2972
Skydive San Joaquin Valley
Offers Tandem Instruction, and AFF Instruction. There is RV Parking available at the airport. Located at 350 feet above sea level, a 13,000 foot skydive gives you a lot of free fall time. The skydive over 160 acres of flat clear space with more than an acre of grass designated for the landing area. For tandems, they provide a jumpsuit, altimeter, goggles, helmet, parachute and professional tandem instructor.
Byron Airport-C83
Bay Area Skydiving
Falcon Way, Byron Airport-C83, Byron, California 94517
(925) 634-7575
Bay Area Skydiving
Operates a King Air and a Cessna-206. Many of our instructional staff have over 10,000 jumps and we have many world record holders and experienced instructors to help you skydive. Offers participants the choice of tandem skydiving or accelerated free fall (AFF) program and a video record of the experience. the AFF program is done following extensive training, then the instructor exits the aircraft with the student holding on to the harness. The instructor is there the entire time to ensure all goes well.
Camarillo
Skydive Coastal California
375 Durley Ave, Camarillo, California
1 (805) 322-4763
Skydive Coastal California
Tandem skydiving following a 15 minute class. Jump two miles over the ocean, opening the canopy at 5,000. The participant may deploy the chute if desired. The parachute ride lasts 7 minutes and can be steered back to the landing zone. For experienced skydivers to participate a AAD is required, and they must be a member of the USPA.
Cloverdale
NorCal Skydiving
220 Airport Rd., Cloverdale, California 95425
(888) NORCAL9 (888) 667-2259
NorCal Skydiving
NorCal Skydiving is located in Northern California off US Highway 101 in Sonoma County close to San Francisco. Offers tandem and free fall. The accelerated free fall course starts with a 6-8 hour ground school, then jump with an instructor. Tandem is set up by reservation. The altitudes vary by the package purchased, but available up to incredible 18,000 feet. Licensed skydivers can jump with a current USPA membership and a B license or higher.
Davis
SkyDance SkyDiving
24390 Aviation Ave, Davis, California 95616
(530) 753-2651 or 1-800-SKYDIVE
SkyDance SkyDiving
Operates from the Yolo County airport providing tandem, accelerated free fall and solo skydiving. The tandem course includes a training class. Participants are provided an altimeter for the jump and may pull the ripcord. Also provides Accelerated Free Fall and solo skydiving programs.
Grover Beach
Skydive Pismo Beach
201 West Grand Avenue, Grover Beach, California 93433
(805) 481-5867; (805) 481-JUMP
Skydive Pismo Beach
Tandem skydiving takes place every day. Free fall time is based on altitude, but is usually between 45 to 60 seconds at jump heights between 10,000 ft and 13,000 ft depending on the package.
Hollister
Skydive Hollister
60 Airport Drive, Hollister, California 95023
(800) 386-5867
Operates from the Hollister Airport. Aircraft is the PAC 750XLwhich can get 15 jumpers to 15,000 feet in under 15 minutes. Provides tandem, AFF, solo, and group skydiving. For both AFF and tandem the free fall is about sixty seconds long. This is a high altitude for a typical tandem so the free fall is longer.
Jamul
Skydive San Diego
12205 Otay Lakes Road, Jamul, California 91935
(619) 216-8413
Skydive San Diego
Provides both tandem and solo skydiving. Tandem includes a raining session, and a jump from 13000 feet which will give you a free fall pf about one minute. Advanced free fall is also provided through a 4-6 hr ground school where you will learn everything required for a safe first solo skydiving experience. Also offers solo and advanced training for experienced skydivers.
Lake Elsinore
Skydiving California
20701 Cereal Street Lake Elsinore, Lake Elsinore, CA 92530
(951) 245 9939
Skydiving California
What is tandem skydiving? Skydive tandem is one of the best feeling to experience with accelerated freefall, jumping, sky surfing, freestyle, and parachuting.
Lincoln
Skydive Sacramento
Karl Harder Field- 1020 Airport Road, Lincoln, California 95648
(916) 434-7700
Skydive Sacramento
Operates from the Lincoln Regional Airport. First time skydivers can enroll in tandem or accelerated free fall. The tandem option pairs you with an instructor and you will jump together. For AFF, you will wear your own parachute and receive all required training in emergency situations and landing procedures. AFF training takes several hours in class and a single skydive with an instructor holding your harness.
Lompoc
Skydive Santa Barbara
1801 North H Street, Lompoc, California 93436
(805) 740-9099
Skydive Santa Barbara
Features 270 degree panoramic ocean views on every jump. Offer tandem skydives from incredible altitude of 18,000 ft. Operates from the Lompoc Airport 45 minutes north of Santa Barbara.
Madera
Skydive Madera
4130 Aviation Drive, Madera, California 93637
(559) 673-2688
Skydive Madera
Tandem skydiving is done with prearrangement. The participant will complete an hour ground training class, then skydive tandem with an instructor, which is done from 10,000. This gives about 40 seconds of free fall. Accelerated free fall is offered as well. It requires a 7-hour ground training class, then a dive from 10,000 feet with instructors.
Marina
Skydive Monterey Bay
721 Neeson Road, Marina, California 93933
(888) 229-5867
Skydive Monterey Bay
Offers skydiving programs for tandem, AFF, and experienced skydivers. Aircraft are Cessna Stationair 206 and a Beechcraft King Air. Coaching for all levels of freefly as well as basic to intermediate RW.
Oceanside
Tsunami Skydivers
480 Airport Rd., Oceanside, California 92058
(760) 390-5867
Tsunami Skydivers
Located at Oceanside Municipal Airport, 45 minute drive from Anaheim, and 35 minutes from San Diego. Offers tandem skydiving and skydiving for experienced people. Altitudes up to 13,000 feet in the capable PAC 750XL skydiving aircraft. This is a specially designed plane for parachuting with high power to weight ratio and good visibility.
Perris
Skydive Perris
2091 Goetz Road, Perris, California 92570
(951) 657-1664, or 1 (800) 832-8818
Skydive Perris
Tandem Skydive is where you are physically harnessed to an instructor during your jump. This allows you to experience the ultimate thrill of freefall with the expertise of an experienced instructor. After receiving a short briefing from your instructor, you will ride to an altitude of 12,500ft and then exit the aircraft securely harnessed to your instructor. You'll freefall for nearly one minute, before the parachute is deployed at 5,000ft. They offer tandem skydiving physically harnessed to an instructor. This method only requires a short briefing. Jumping is from an altitude of 12,500 ft giving a free fall of one minute, opening the canopy at 5,000 ft.
San Diego
Pacific Coast Skydiving
6810 Curran Street, San Diego, California 92154
1 (619) 661-0194
Pacific Coast Skydiving
Operates tandem skydiving from the Brown Field airport. The participant is assigned a personal instructor who is also the tandem jump partner. Jump from two miles high with a free fall of about 40 seconds.
Taft
Skydive Taft
500 Airport Road, Taft, California 93268
(661) 765-5867
Skydive Taft
Offers tandem skydiving and training and progression in skydiving levels with more complex dives and improving skills. Has spacious facilities for training and packing. Also offers accelerated free fall, free fly and fun jumps.
Watsonville
Skydive Surfcity & Santa Cruz Skydiving Adventures
160 Aviation Way, Watsonville, California 95076
(831) 435-5169
Skydive Surfcity & Santa Cruz Skydiving Adventures
Operates from the Watsonville airport off of Highway 1. Serves Los Gatos, San Jose, and San Francisco. Tandem skydiving can be done with just twenty minutes of instruction. Skydiving packages are available from 10,000-14,000 feet.

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