We celebrated my 120 pound weight loss by skydiving at Skydive Chicago. We were originally scheduled to jump on October 5th, but weather grounded us until the 6th. The morning was bright and sunny. Our group of seven got geared up, and three of us jumped into a plane with our instructors, while the others waited for the next plane. My instructor's name was Adam, and he was scheduled to get married on the following Friday. So he said that jumping with me was the easiest thing he had to do all week! Adam made me feel very comfortable and relaxed. I never felt any fear, even when I was sitting with my legs dangling out of the plane at 13,000 feet. Adam's instructions were clear and concise. I got to pull my own ripcord and steer the parachute for a bit before it was time to land. I want to thank Skydive Chicago (and especially Adam) for an incredible experience. I hope the wedding went well, and I wish Adam and his new wife many years of happiness. I'll skydive again, and I will head back to Skydive Chicago to do it! read more

Skydive Chicago - Skydiving Near Me - Ottawa, Illinois

I've been to a lot of drop zones around the US, and this is by far the most professional operation I've had the pleasure of jumping at. The staff are very helpful and friendly, the planes and equipment are very well maintained, and the standards they hold their pilots and tandem instructors to are top notch. If you're considering a tandem skydive, this is THE PLACE to go. read more

The jump couldn't have gone any better it was a wonderful experience and my tandem master Silvio is the one who really made the experience that much better. read more

If I could give them 10 stars, I sure would! This place is ran like a well oiled machine! They have an amazing staff and it's family owned since it started! Great staff, talent, aircraft's, facility, EVERYTHING is on-point! It's a skydiver's paradise! I don't think it's even possible to have a bad time there. This place is a skydiver's heaven on earth and would be the place I'd recommend to any curious about getting into the beautiful sport of skydiving!! read more

I cannot express this enough - they were AMAZING! My tandem master Silvio was an absolute professional, making sure I understood what to expect and keeping me safe and confident throughout the process. He made sure I knew what to expect but most importantly, that I had fun. It was my first jump ever and I always wanted to go - it exceeded my expectations mostly because of Silvio. If you are on the fence about jumping with Skydive Chicago - do it! 100% worth it and can't wait to go again. read more

Skydive Chicago - Still cannot believe I did that!!! - Skydiving Near Me - Ottawa, Illinois

Jumping out of a plane is awesome. Plain and simple. There's not a single feeling that can come close. I first got to experience my first tandem jump 4 years ago at Skydive Chicago and I was hooked. It took me a long time to come back but ever since my wife missed out on the first time I went, it was the perfect excuse to go again! It was her first time, so I was giving her the rundown of what to expect. Highly recommended booking ahead of time online, you never know how busy it is going to be, but they do allow walk ins. You get there, check in, and they hand you a bunch of papers to sign. From here, you go to a short class where you learn the basics moves that you can do (most of it is optional since you have an expert on your back). If you are someone who really wants to pursue doing it solo someday, pay attention because your tandem jumper needs to give you the O.K. that you understand the basics and can move on to the solo jumper classes. Anyways, after all that you wait. My first time was 4 hours, this past time was only one. About 15 minutes before you are supposed to be headed up, you get geared up, meet your tandem jumper and your videographer (WHICH I CANT RECOMMENED GETTING ENOUGH, ESPECIALLY FOR YOUR FIRST JUMP). From there it's time to board the plane! It takes much longer to get up to 13,000 ft on these smaller planes than you would think. The entire time you are looking out the window thinking "Wow we are really high" and then look down at your altimeter and realize you aren't even halfway yet.... When it's time to jump, you get up to the edge of the plane, lean back, and let it all go... I won't even pretend I can describe on here so you will have to just go yourself if you want to experience it! Can't wait to go back! (Picture from my first jump since I opted out on getting it the second time) read more

Skydive Chicago - Skydiving Near Me - Ottawa, Illinois

Checked this one off my bucket list! We went on a Friday afternoon, and the wait time was only 20 minutes - a lot faster than we were expecting! Ryan was an awesome tandem instructor. He was so professional and made me feel at ease. That first jump out of the plane was indescribable. Pictures don't do it justice, but my videographer Matt came pretty close! Ryan even let me do green, yellow, and red zone turns on the way down. The weather was beautiful, the landing was smooth, and we even watched from above as the plane we just jumped out of landed on the runway. The whole experience was absolutely perfect. I can't wait to bring others to experience this with me next time! Thank you for giving me this experience of a lifetime, Ryan and Matt! read more

Skydive Chicago - Definitely don't regret getting a videographer. Thanks Matt! - Skydiving Near Me - Ottawa, Illinois

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Can't thank our instructors and camera people enough for capturing such special moment and amazing experience! They got us amazing pictures and even followed us through the entire engagement! Josh was wonderful in getting all of this together for when we landed. We will definitely be back! read more

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10/10 recommend sky diving here. All the instructors made me feel so comfortable and worry free. Shout out to Tim for being the best!!! read more

Skydive Chicago - 10/10 recommend sky diving here. All the instructors made me feel so comfortable and worry free. Shout out to Tim for being the best!!! - Skydiving Near Me - Ottawa, Illinois

Ever been sitting around bored and to kill time your friends suggest skydiving? Yeah. That. Soooooooo, the first time we went, in April, we (my best friend, brother, and I) did our walk through of the facility and took our training class. Training is only about 30 mins long and consists of you watching a video and then getting some instruction from the teacher. Sadly this time we couldn't jump because it was cloudy. We set back up to go in May, about 3 weeks later. It was perfect weather when we went back! We got set right up and played the waiting game for about an hour. Once our names moved to the staging area, we knew we had about 30 mins to suit up and head out. We got dressed, received our last instructions, and headed to the plane. After climbing to 13,500 feet, we took turns peeling out. BEST RUSH AND EXPERIENCE EVER!!!!! There is no feeling like the one you get when you are at the edge about to jump and everything below you looks like ants and grid marks on a map! My instructor made sure to keep communicating with me from the time we got suited up, to mid air. I also ordered the package that gives you video and photo footage so my video guy was right along side us and interacted as well. Just as quickly as it began it was over. I kissed the ground. Like twice. But, I'm ready to go again!!!!! DO IT!!!!! read more

Skydive Chicago - Flying high! - Skydiving Near Me - Ottawa, Illinois

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Did this for my birthday yesterday! It's something that's been on my list to do probably since I was 18 years old. And well, life happens and it got pushed to the back burner. So happy I did this! I recommend if you sign up for say, the 9:30 AM session and you want to be one of the first, get there around 9. You have to sign your rights away -- basically any and everything you could possibly sue them for -- you no longer can. And this is backed up by a lovely man on the intro video you see in your class. I am unsure if the man was Amish, a missing member of ZZtop, or one of those dudes you see on the beach that lives his life full of things like skydiving. :) And anyone that has been there knows what I am talking about! So, you go to a class before you gear up and head out. "Arch and Smile." "Arch and Smile" and hey, if you forget everything else, don't forget to arch and smile. We had a slight delay because of the wind. My tandem person was Will. Who had a sense of humor like mine, and made it so much more comfortable for me. In other words, it calmed my anxiety. For it being my first jump, I really wasn't scared until we went through the cloud and I felt like I got water up my nose from it. Outside of that, and when I pulled the cord for the chute -- it was great. After you pull the chute out, you can take hold of the reins and direct where you go. You and get some crazy G's!!! My stomach couldn't handle them too well though. Next time I think I won't have McDonald's before the jump. ;) The experience was great. The people were great. And I recommend the photos at a MINIMUM. Go jump out of a plane, and thank me later. read more

Skydive Chicago - Skydiving Near Me - Ottawa, Illinois

This was a fantastic experience for our whole group. We had a group of 4 who have all wanted to skydive for quite some time and we are all so happy we did it at this location. Staff was fantastic. We had to reschedule due to weather and they were easy to work with & very kind & accommodating. On the day we actually jumped we had an amazing experience. We opted for the photos + video package (although they have a multitude of options to pick from) and are so happy we did this! They do a great job of including your whole group and getting photos of everyone together. From arriving at the property to landing on the ground, I never once felt unsafe. I got to jump with Rogers and Johnny and they both made the experience a fun and safe one. I will be back again soon. This was an experience I'll never forget! Thank you to all the staff at Skydive Chicago! read more

Skydive Chicago - During canopy deployment! - Skydiving Near Me - Ottawa, Illinois

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I had an amazing time here. Truly a time I won't forget!! I did not know what to expect going skydiving for my first time. I thought I would be a lot more anxious. The staff was super friendly and made everyone feel safe. I had Ginger as my tandem skydive instructor. Ginger was super professional and gave me great instruction! Looking forward to doing it all again! Thanks for the awesome time. read more

The craziest, most exhilarating, best adrenaline rush I've ever had in my entire life!!!!! My husband surprised me by signing us up for my birthday and he made it happen!! I'll try and walk you through my entire experience but I'm still speechless about how incredible the experience was that it may be hard to find words. Appointment/Arrival- My husband scheduled our appointment for 11 AM this past Saturday. Once you arrive you, you can fill out paperwork if you haven't done so already online. Then, we were instructed to head to our skydiving class on the lower level. The class was probably about 20 minutes and is a requirement for all tandem jumps. There was an instructional video highlighting the precautions and severity of the experience. It may sound blunt but you're basically signing your life away in the paperwork. This definitely fluttered the nerves in my stomach but when I learned there are 2 parachutes, one for me and my instructor, and one that automatically deploys at a certain elevation as a backup, I felt a sense of relief. Also knowing I was attached by 4 clips that are certified to hold over 5,000 pounds. Our class leader Chris was personable and added some humor to the class to also help relieve some nerves! Wait/total time- They informed us that the wait can be up to 6 hours on a weekend depending on how many people are before us. Luckily our wait time was only about an hour! I have long thick hair so I did a high-pony tail braid with multiple hair ties and body pins. My hair was tasseled when we landed of course going 120 mph, but no knots and the best hairstyle if you have the same type of hair! Getting ready- IT'S TIME! It was about 30 minutes out till our jump so they started to get us in our harnesses. This is when I met my amazing instructor Amanda!! I felt comforted from the second we met. She was full of warm energy, outgoing, and very informative about any questions I had. I also met my videographer at this time! Ron was awesome!! He was also full of energy and really positive. I felt really comfortable in front of the camera with him. He got some before shots of how I was feeling (THE NERVES) and us getting in all of our gear. I strongly strongly recommend getting a videographer/photos for your first jump because your adrenaline is pumping so high you almost can't believe the experience just happened when it's over. I was so happy we paid the extra amount for this so I could relive the experience. I've watched the video at least 50 times already. THE JUMP- OMG!!! Once the plane lifted off the ground I knew that this was it. It's happening. I am literally going to jump out of a plane in a few minutes. The plan ride up was the biggest height of my nerves. It was pretty toasty in the plane because it was 90 degrees out but once we hit a few thousand feet they opened the door for some airflow. That moment sunk my stomach a little because the whole experience set into reality. I watched my altimeter rise and wait until we were at 13,000 ft to jump. During the wait, Amanda kindly went over the body positioning again and the steps for me to remember when we jumped. She also clipped me to her at this time at four different points. She mentioned if I forget anything we talked about remember to: tilt my headlock, arch my body, and SMILE! There were 4 professionals in front of us and once we hit about 13,000 ft the door opened and out they flew. I didn't even have a chance to let the nerves sit because I was the first of our group to jump. We scooted to the edge of the plane, I dangled my legs out, cupped the edge of the plane with my legs, titled my head back on my instructor's right shoulder and OFF WE WENT! AHHH! My stomach dropped 1000x more than what it did on any roller coaster. I was flying! The adrenaline rush and this stomach drop was incomparable to anything I've ever felt in my entire life. I was literally FLYING. I almost forgot to look at Ron for the video because I was so consumed by the feeling of flying and the world underneath me. It was the fastest, most exhilarating minute of my life! Once the chute was pulled, we coasted through the air for what seemed to be ten minutes. Amanda and I were a light weight combined so it took us longer to float down. Those minutes were the most peaceful moments I've had. We were talking about how amazing heaven would be like if it was anything like this. It was so easy to hear Amanda during this descend so we just chatted away and enjoyed the scenery until we landed. Amanda guided a calm and collected landing. I held my legs out straight and we landed so calmly I gently put my feet down and I was standing on the grass. Ron did a great job of again capturing my emotions the entire time and checking in with how I was feeling throughout the experience. Post jump- The video was also available within 15 minutes after the jump and all the files are downloadable through their link! Overall, if you have the urge, choose Skydive Chicago!! read more

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Awesome experience. Ginger and Ron were great, super calm and clear walking through everything. Signed in at 2 and left in our car at 3 when I was expecting the whole process to take longer. Only downside is I might have a new hobby that's not so kind to my wallet. 10/10 highly recommend read more

Such as amazing day as a first-time jumper. Lucked out with warm weather and low crowds (we were registered, trained, up in the air and back down on the ground in about an hour). Eric "Fly Easy" was a great instructor and managed everything perfectly. My dive was a birthday gift/bucket list item and no longer a once-in-a-lifetime event, as I'll definitely be going back. read more

Skydive Chicago - Skydiving Near Me - Ottawa, Illinois

Could not have asked for a better time at this drop zone. I'll break this review into two parts - the jump and the purchased video. Regarding the jump, I could not have asked for a better exhilarating, safe experience. Every person at the drop zone, from the tandem instructors to other, experienced jumpers were incredibly friendly and reassuring about the whole process. I booked with a group of two other friends and we were accommodated to all jump at the same time out of the flight. The introductory "lesson" at the beginning helped orient everyone to the process of jumping out of a plane and gave assurances regarding the safety procedures in place for the jump. The facilities were also top notch - one of my friends who had jumped before said the other drop zone they jumped from paled in comparison. There is so much to do while you wait - hiking trails, swimming ponds, zip lining, etc. - for your flight that I never felt antsy or bored. Regarding the video, one word - wow. It looked like something out of a professional YouTube vlog. Get the most expensive package for roughly $160 - although the price might seem high, the finished product is worth every penny and more. I'm heading back next weekend for my second tandem jump and will be getting certified through this drop zone. Don't hesitate booking with them - I promise you you're going to love it. read more

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I'm 66 my son has been sky diving here going for his class A license. Adam has had nothing but great things to say about all of the people. I took the dive ( haha ) as it was on my bucket list sort to speak of yesterday Saturday June 8th 2019. I myself was amazed to how accurate my son Adam was, everyone i was introduced to treated me like family and it really made me feel at ease and comfortable. I am so glad i took the leap, out of the plane at 13,500 feet it was just amazing. My Tandem instructor made me feel at home from the start to the end when we touched down. Safety was number 1, check, check and check up to the point of being at the door just before i said Geronimo. I can't stress enough that if you jump already or thinking of doing it please go to Skydive Chicago. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED !!!!!! read more

AWESOME!!!! Wow!!!! Breathtaking!!! Adrenaline Rush!!! Amazing!!! I can't come up with enough words to describe the sensation, the anticipation, the rush of skydiving. I've raced motorcycles. I've done dog fights in fighter planes. I've stolen candy from a baby - and really nothing can compare to the "Oh shit" feeling you get as you approach that door and feel the wind rushing over your face. It's unnatural to stick your head out of plane. Now imagine you're just taking a trip to see you're friend. The plane takes off, and you're staring out the window looking out like a little kid - now imagine that window is a big freaking door - and instead of just looking, you're jumping!!! I bought the strongest gel money can buy so that I looked good in my video, but that plan went down the drain along with my manliness! I've got to admit I was really nervous, but they say the hardest part is getting out of the plane - and they are right!!! Once you're out- it's amazing. We did some "red" turns which made me feel some serious G's in my stomach (and if we did one more I would have thrown up all over the guy) and did a perfect landing! (and by perfect I mean Alive) The facility is great. The people were nice, knowledgeable, and patient. The memory will last forever, and the video proves that even an uptight guy like me can smile like fat kid with chocolate every now and then!!! Go do it - you'll never regret it. read more

Skydive Chicago - WHOOOOOOAAAAAA - Skydiving Near Me - Ottawa, Illinois

HOLY FREAKING MOLY I AM HOOKED FOR LIFE!!! This place is awesome! From start to finish every employee is kind and communicative! But also these instructors are no joke, most of them have jumped more than a thousand times. I did my first tandem jump with my boyfriend today and it still feels unreal typing this all out. I jumped with Rogers and Amanda was my videographer. They both made me feel super safe and were terrific. I ended up having 200 or so photos to sift through when I got home, and while I'm no model, I got the coolest pics. Amanda knows her angles and Rogers was totally on his a-game with the go pro. And gosh! Amanda was such a superstar in the air, she literally swooped down to me like a hawk and held my hand and we spun around and got the craziest video out of it. I just can't wait to jump again. The jump feels like a dream, there is so much and so little running through your brain at the same time it's so important to have something to look back on your own as proof. I love these photos so much. Some of them are so BA and there are some straight up hilarious ones. I made faces I didn't even know were possible. Definitely get the videographer and the selfie package!!! And don't forget to smile otherwise ur cheeks will flap in the wind ;) read more

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I went skydiving on Saturday and, like almost everyone who did it, all I can label it as, is "addictive". Now I understand the jump itself depends on many factors and everyone can experience it in a different way, so I am only going to refer to the level of professionalism that the guys (and gals) there displayed. The training was good and to the point, but what stayed with me was the level of comfort my instructor was able to give me. For a first jump, I think I did ok, mostly because of him; will be back for more. read more

Skydive Chicago - Skydiving Near Me - Ottawa, Illinois

Let's get the obvious joke out of the way -- "Why would you want to jump out of a perfectly good plane!?" Well all I can say is when The Beatles sang - "Free As A Bird" I don't believe they were talking about skydiving, but that is one way to describe the experience. I would agree with Stephanie K. on the fact that there is no way you can actually review the experience of the actual jump - you have to try it for yourself. With that in mind I will say it is one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had and can't wait to go again . . . and again . . . and again . . well you get the picture. ; ) The atmosphere of Skydive Chicago is laid back, friendly and filled with excitement. The staff and instructors who work there have two important priorities in mind for everyone who jumps - safety and fun. I can only think of a split second I was nervous, but I think that was because I thought I should be. Otherwise, there was not one moment - not even when we were about to jump - that I was scared or frightened. My instructor, Sparky, was awesome and I hope that I can take my second tandem jump with him. When you go be prepared to spend several hours there. After signing your rights, and the rights of your family, away there is a wait to go to the class on tandem jumping (for those jumping for the first and second times) and then for your "load" to actually be called. That's cool. The sight of the other jumpers descending into the landing field is amazing and makes the time pass quick - especially if you're lucky to get a beautiful day like we had. SDC does give you the option to purchase a DVD and/or digital photos of your jump. I highly recommend you do so. The cost to get both is just $20 more than buying just the DVD or digital pics only so it's worth the extra cost. Skydive Chicago also has a camp site you can stay at for free if you are jumping. It was perfect for the first time camper such as myself - facilities, man made lake to swim and lounge around and a bar. All in all, I highly recommend you plan to skydive you do so at Skydive Chicago. read more

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Woah-a. That's about all I can about skydiving. I think that if I tried reviewing the actual jump on here, I'd fail miserably in doing it justice. So, I won't. Instead, I'll just say 'You absolutely-positively must try it. Tomorrow. Now, go.' A few words about Skydive Chicago. The atmosphere breeds good vibes and safety. There wasn't one point where my sister or I felt the least bit nervous. Or scared. Or reluctant to climb into a plane and free fall from 13,000 feet. Crazy, I know. All of the employees are super nice - and a little crazy. Which certainly keeps things interesting. But above all else, they're all there to make sure you get down - safe and sound. Here are a couple suggestions for the first-time jumper: 1. Take some motion sickness medication, if you tend to get queasy. 2. Save up a little extra and spring for the pictures and DVD. It's worth it. And everyone back home will want to share in your death-defying moment. 3. Bring a book to read while you wait. My sister and I had an appointment at noon and ended up jumping at 5pm. That's a long time to wait, and there's only so much food you can eat. 4. Do it today!! read more

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Awesome experience to jump out of a plane. Staff were so professional and helped calm jittery nerves. My tandem instructor Baxter was great and my God what an experience it was! Totally will do it again. read more

Skydive Chicago - Skydiving Near Me - Ottawa, Illinois

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This was my first time jumping... loved it.. all the staff were friendly and nice and very helpful especially through the rain delay... I loved my tandem guy Anthony and my camera man !!! The whole staff let us talk and ask questions and we hung out... it's totally worth waiting for the thrill of jumping... read more

Skydive Chicago - Thank you Anthony!!!! Had a blast.. I loved the red turns we did... - Skydiving Near Me - Ottawa, Illinois

First time sky diving - chad was the absolute best!! Truly hilarious and made jumping so easy. Will be back!!!!

I should start by saying that I did indeed work and live at SDC for the past 4 months. Writing a review while employed here didn't seem appropriate IMHO but since I no longer am, I figure I'd share my experience. TANDEM PROGRAM: amongst all the dropzones I've been to and jumped at (which granted still is just a handful), SDC's tandem program impresses me and stands out from others. The tandem masters they gather here are utterly professional and talented at what they do. The process is smooth and the atmosphere is welcoming for both new and returning jumpers. EXPERIENCED JUMPERS: on a fun jumper level, this place is also pretty amazing. Coming from smaller dropzones myself, the enormity of the place was at first a bit overwhelming, though it would only be fair to mention that I am by nature an introvert when in new surroundings so others may not experience the same. One thing I found odd was the separate packing matts for freefly, belly, and tandem (though the tandem one makes sense). I personally prefer no separation when it comes to this, as I like being around people of all levels and disciplines when I'm packing. That would have to be my only critique worth mentioning. Every jumper at any level should experience this place. There's so much history and talent here. FOOD: the food at Eat Up!--at the risk of sounding generic in my description--is really, REALLY great. Allen and Nicole make just about everything from scratch and put time and energy into their creations, that which can only come from a true foodie/badass! If there's something not on the menu that you want, just ask. The people at Eat Up! are particularly awesome and are absolutely 100% part of why this place is so great. MANIFEST: Without the girls at manifest this place couldn't run--they handle that responsibility with complete professionalism and care. Get it girls! STUDENT PROGRAM: The student program also impresses me quite a bit. The people who run it really care about the students, their progression, and doing everything possible to make your entrance into this sport safe, fun, and a memorable experience. Keep it up, guys. I will be back to visit. This place is a true gem in the sport. read more

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Absolutely amazing place, staff are all helpful and supportive whether you're just jumping once, learning to skydive, or an experienced jumper. The tandem instructors make everything simple allowing your jump to be one of the best things that you can experience. The instructors that actually teach you how to skydive give you all the resources you need in order to learn and if you're struggling, they will not hesitate to offer additional support and ways to get through the struggles. Could not recommend this place enough read more

Top notch operation. Been there for three US Nationals and the last one hosted in 2022 was great. Melissa Nelson did a fantastic job as Meet Director. read more

I had my 6th jump (first one here) with a few girls that were skydiving virgins. It was an awesome experience! The staff were friendly and made everyone feel at ease. This was the first time I got a video of my jump and it was sooo worth the extra $. They played the videos on their Lounge TV after our dives and you get to download the vid and all the photos to your pc. There was a total of 4 of us jumping so we had the plane to ourselves with our tandem guys and videographers. I loved holding hands and slapping some high fives mid air with my photographer. There's something so exhilarating about having contact with another human when you're plummeting towards the earth at 120mph. We were worried a bit about the 'rumors' that this place isn't safe. Yet, we all landed just fine and are alive to review it;) Would definitely jump with them again. read more

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What a great day w Skydive Chicago and my instructor, Ryan Clair! Ryan was meticulous in his instruction and the jump today w him was incredible! Thank you Ryan, and Jonny our media expert, for making skydiving easy and a blast! read more

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I was so scared to do this, and my instructor Eric was patient but didn't let me back out. To be honest, I was a mess. Pretty laughable, but I had the best time once he got us out of the plane. He didn't let me have a bad experience because I was nervous and took us through some nice spins and kept us afloat even when I forgot to arch. Truly a beautiful experience had amongst true professionals. The campground is also awesome. You have the opportunity to mingle with people if you want or stay to yourself if you want. We hung out at the sweet pond and made some nice fires. Seriously a wonderful place with wonderful people. I can't wait to go back! read more

Skydive Chicago was amazing they have a fun-loving, courteous, professional, experienced staff. It was beyond my expectations. Great location, not to far from Starved Rock with campground on site. They were very welcoming to seasoned Skydivers, first timers and students. There's a little cafe to grab food have some munchies and smoothies while you wait. Spectacular views all around as you slowly coast back to earth to the drop zone. You won't regret anything here at SDC, everyone here has awesome personalities to ease any anxiety or fears. SDC Summerfest was astounding and the skydiving community comraderie with each other was like a big happy family reunion. Not to mention, after you adrenaline rush you can just walk down to the Tiki bar and relax. I can't wait to jump again. Thanks for everything SDC! read more

I just recalled that I had an experience skydiving that I completely forgot to review. Of course the dive happened in October 2012 before I officially starting my life as a Yelper. Not even seeing a photo I enlarged of myself and my diver in the sky that currently hangs over my living room reminded me. It took looking at fellow yelper Richard "The Compliment Santa" current profile picture of him skydiving to remember my own experience. So thanks Richard R. for the kicker. So Hemingway when I was 26 years old, one of my former colleagues had just celebrated his 40th birthday and showed us a video of his skydiving experience. It looked cool but I was thinking there's no way in hell I could see me jumping out of a perfectly good plane. But thinking my turning 40 was a long time away, I told him that I would go skydiving for my 40th birthday. Sadly the years went by WAY TOO FAST and I found myself nearing that fateful day. I bit the bullet and searched around for a facility where I could skydive and Skydive Chicago was top on the list. I decided to register online for a dive to ring in my 40th birthday. So it looks like after all I did jump out of a perfectly good plane. So my birthday came and the weather Gods were with me and gave nice sunny weather. It had rained the day before and the day after that so wasn't sure the dive was going to happen. I drove to Ottawa, which was a little over 2 hours from where I currently reside. A few winding one lane roads after exiting the freeway led me to the facility. I made quick calls to my parents, sisters, and a couple friends in the parking lot to tell them goodbye in case I didn't make it from my adventure. So I go inside and note there's another couple that's walking in as well. I walk into the main area where you change into your gear and was directed by someone to walk further back to register. You're basically SIGNING your life away during the registration process and it made me question my decision with each page. I lost count of the number of pages after 25. One of the instructor divers took me and the aforementioned couple to a classroom like area where he proceeded to give info about Skydive Chicago and their history and then left us to watch a video. Again I was questioning my decision as I watched the video and they mentioned the risks involved in skydiving. But I figured since I already paid for it, I might as get my money's worth...as there's no refund. As it turned out I wound up getting the very instructor diver who took us to the classroom as my human parachute. Honestly I think I lucked out on getting the best one of the day, though unfortunately I don't remember his name (but his face is plastered along with mine on my living room wall and also in the hundreds of photos that were shot so I'll remember his face at least). Since it was my first time diving I decided to pay for pictures and video of my experience so I could share with everyone. That wound up being worth it in the end. So my instructor was showing me all the things I'm supposed to do when I start falling from the sky. He went over the exercises a few times to try and reinforce it. Before I knew it, it was time to board the plane. The couple from earlier and two other experienced divers also joined us along with their parachutes, so a total of ten of us were on the plane. I was perfectly content sitting on the plane as it slowly ascended. My instructor was giving me last minute lessons while my videodiver was filming. Just when I was relaxed the videodiver asked if I was ready to dive. I wanted to make a quip like, I thought we were just riding on the plane but I was too nervous and just said 'I'm as ready as I'll ever be'. Since I was in the front of the plane, I was first to go dive. I was so nervous but kept my hands in the prayer position my instructor told me to do as he positioned me outside of the plane. The videodiver jumped out and then we followed. I screamed for my life and felt the cold air quickly searing through my nose and mouth. My instructor kept tapping for me to open the parachute after several seconds of free falling. But I was so scared I didn't move and remained in the prayer position so he wound up opening it. Amazingly my videographer dived around and was filming the entire time, even motioning for me to wave to the camera, which I reluctantly did. Once you get past the first 30 seconds of free falling, the remaining dive was more relaxed. It was great seeing the trees and some birds flying around (though thankfully we didn't hit a bird on the way down). It was truly a breaktaking and enjoyable experience. It wasn't long before I made the final descent to the ground. I did remember that part of the lesson to raise my legs in a sitting position. Then it was over. It was definitely fun and the facility is top notch. I hope someday to return again. read more

WOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! ;-) giggle gasp! WOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! flying to the earth from around 13000 feet above it, the loud sound of wind rushing by and the OMG feeling you get in your stomach and you soon realize you are FLYING! Your body becomes a vehicle to travel the winds and move in new directions you never experienced on the ground below and you actually are FLYING on a cushion of air! Though gravity has much to say about this and still brings you down to earth, but have no fears as your professional instructor and the trusty parachute are there to take you back to earth safely and slowly in control to do it AGAIN! Jumping from a perfectly good airplane in midflight is one of the most stupidest and craziest things to do...but now one of my most favorite things! With incredibly supportive and instructive staff, SDC is as good as it gets when you want to fly like a bird and live to tell about it, Yes there are dangers, but I think the other cars on the road to Ottawa were actually scarier than the jump itself. This place won my heart and my future business as I go on for my license to thrill! ;-) read more

Outstanding, full-service drop zone. Friendly, accomplished, and professional staff. Whether you're looking for a 1st-time tandem jump, full lesson package, fun jumping, or training for competition, it's hard to find a better dropzone in the midwest. Three well-maintained turbine aircraft. State of the art student gear. Knowledgeable and passionate staff. Club is dedicated to skydiving, not a public airport. Camping on site. Swimming pond, beach. Restaurant, bar, deli. Full-service rigging loft and gear shop. HUGE landing area. More. More. More. read more

I had an amazing experience at skydive Chicago! The atmosphere was so much fun. Every worker I encountered was extremely friendly, talkative, and they made sure I was taken care of. The instructor I had was Jeff and the instructor my boyfriend had was Donovan. Both instructors were fun, knowledgeable, and made sure we were comfortable at all times. Overall the instructors made the dive a blast. read more

Skydive Chicago - Skydiving Near Me - Ottawa, Illinois

Who doesn't love jumping out of an airplane? Great time, twice. Camping was fun, plenty to do on site. Both of my tandem leaders were very informative, helpful, and easy to talk to. I have wasted a couple of days waiting while light weather loomed (clouds one day, gusty winds another), but that is to put safety first. They have never lost a tandem jumper and accident reports are available on request as regulated by the FAA. The only thing I have to say is that it would be nice if things could be scheduled a little tighter, but I understand why it is done the way it is and it is not something to take likely. If you want to be more sure of the jump, schedule for the first jump of the day! If I didn't put so much money toward the state for stupid tickets this year, I'd go for the AFF course... thinking about it for next year anyway. read more

WOW! WOW! WOW! What a rush! Great place, great staff! Enzo was the tandem master. Great dude! made me feel at ease the whole time. Bill shot video and pics, another cool guy. So glad i did it!!! read more

I have to agree with Nikki - WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I went last summer but had SUCH an awesome time! We made a weekend of it - set up camp in an open grassy, hilly field. If you camp there, don't expect it to be like, "real" camping - its just a giant open field with a train track next to it. We had a blast anyway as we gathered our group of about thirty campers and drank from beer bongs to our hearts content (though the next day, some of us were regretting that last bong of the night!!!) The lesson was quick, about 45 mins. and then the agony was in waiting for your turn to hop on the plane to then jump off of it, 13,000 ft from the sky. You get cramped on the plane, basically sitting on the floor, on each others lap. Then once you are at the right altitude, you get read to release! The scariest part of this all was not the jump, but that the pilot looked to be about 23 years old. She was GREAT though! I paid the $100 to capture all this on camera - I'm just glad I didn't pee myself and had it caught on film. I'd definitely do it again! I've done alot of crazy stuff in my life, but nothing as exhilirating as this! read more