Skydive Long Island

Skydive Long Island is a great place for tandems and I guess students. I am currently a student eager to progress passed my AFF 1, how ever I show up many days waiting 2 hours for my jump, as I watch loads of tandems being boarded before me.. As It gets closer to me being the only person left at the DZ they call me up, as I run up there in excitement, they come up with a lame excuse to as why I can't jump such as high winds... This is an excuse because it is not profitable to bring just one person up there. I think it's screwed up that they let walk in tandem jumpers skip me to the point where I could no longer jump. I still plan to go to skydive Long Island, however I will be going to " SKYDIVE JERSEY SHORE " who with one call agreed get my through my AFF course ASAP, and subtract the cost of getting there from my total bill of AFF. That is how a business should be handled.

Did my first two training tandems at this drop zone. All staff were welcoming and made the experience nice. Jump instructors were knowledgeable and made me feel at ease. Recommend making an appointment as this is a very busy dropzone (only one available to NYers without going over a bridge that came highly recommended) Without an appointment, I spent 2 hours waiting to jump. Priority seems to be given to tandems. Overall, recommend the dropzone highly. Have jumped in Las Vegas and Florida as well, and this is a good operation.

This comes with bias; I know the DZO -- Ray Maynard -- from the early days and we competed in Para-ski meets together. He's a first-rate skydiver, pilot, and knows how to run a drop zone as well as anybody. Finding the old Grumman field and getting the FAA and town fathers to agree to skydiving here was nothing less than a miracle. He's built it up into a place any skydiver can respect and call home. I've jumped all over -- including other countries -- and after a very long layoff, I made a couple of skydives here. It's a great place for students, first-timers, and sky gods alike. You have to love the two turbos, and Ray fires them up to make sure nobody waits too long for a load. Oh, and by the way, the views of Long Island from altitude are absolutely breathtaking and compare with any other place in the world.

Went there on a Monday with another fun jumper, staff was very friendly. made 3 loads.

Don't know about the weekend vibe, but on the weekday I went had no problem making loads as fast as I could pack.

Don't let the big airport scare ya, its a old gurmman plant and the DZ's planes are the only ones on the airport.

If you're ever in the NYC area, enjoy half a day out at Skydive Long Island. The trip out to the site is a little long but well worth it. The staff are all great and friendly and informative. They answered all my questions and made me feel at home. It's definitely worth the hour to hour and a half ride out to "skydive long island".

Positives: This is my second time at LI, the first was about 3-4 years ago when they had small hangar and manifest building. Now the same hangar but it's opened up as a lounge due I suspect because they added two large tented, carpeted packing areas. Two FULL TIME Turbines, a King Air and a Caravan and they were moving pretty fast! manifest was fast and friendly, they know what they're doing.. no fumbling around.. which is good because on this particular Sat is was a tandem factory, there had to be 50 people lined up to jump.
Scenery- A BEAUTIFUL DZ to jump from, Center of Long Island and on a clear day you got the Atlantic on one side, Long Island sound on the other. I'd love to do a 14K sunset cross country from there!
Rigger: Spoke with Mike the rigger for awhile, nice guy.. very personable and willing to help in anyway!


Cons:
Way out in the sticks, if you plan on spending the day bring a cooler with your own food. They did have what looked to be a new food "cart" that looked to have a grill etc, but it was empty and not being used, again.. it looked brand new and I am guessing they recently got it but just not up and running yet (Just my guess.. could be wrong)
Not many places to hide from the sun, the day I went just happened to be miserably hot and humid, I think the heat index was about 106, so even in the shade is was miserable.
Jump staff was just to busy to be social, I don't think I spoke to a single instructor the entire time I was there, like I said, they were working their asses off getting tandems up. Due to this there was a lack of "Vibe". No evidence of after jumping activities, no bonfire pits etc, although the "Staff" fridge did have an assortment frosty cold beer. (None of which left the fridge while jumping which of course is a VERY GOOD THING!)
Beside myself I think there were 4 other fun jumpers so it made me wonder how many would stay till after jumps are over to sit around talk skydiving and drink a few beers.. (I couldn't stay due to travelling back home later that evening)

I know this seems like a very negative feedback, it's not meant to be. I WOULD and WILL go back, this time when it's cooler though! Hopefully then there will not be as many tandems going and a few more fun jumpers to do a little RW with and instructors that may actually have a few minutes to sit and get to meet the new people on the DZ.

Thanks again for a few good jumps!

Well I went when we were having a heat wave... the waiting area is outside, there isn't anywhere to get food and there is only one bathroom there.... but I think that they're trying to upgrade those areas... now for the pro's.... the staff was awesome really make you feel comfortable,the view is like no other out on the Island... would I go back??? Most Def.!!!

From The entire staff, to there planes, and equipment, they are completely top notch. They know how to relax, and calm your nerves. They are truly the best at what they do.

My review from last year is below.
Although I haven't spent much time there this year (08) I have to admit the place is noticeably getting better. I've seen more fun jumpers, more loads, more smiles :) Thumbs up.

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Let me start with positives, as I have a sentiment for this place.
It is a great place for a beginner looking for wide open spaces to land and great views. Most of the staff is good, friendly people, rigger is pretty good, and they're now flying King Air.
That's about it.

Comparing to other places around NYC area, this place
-lacks vibe (no parties,no bond fire, etc, same small group of regulars, some friendlier than others)
- lacks facilities (no place to eat, no lockers, awful packing area)
- gets you to only 10-11k 50-60% of the time. Lifts are $24 to 13k and $22 for 10-11k, quite pricey if you ask me.
- no organizing of any sort, no RW people to jump with
- everything is focused on # of tandems per day

My recommendation is to go and check it out by yourself, do a jump or two, enjoy the view. Then compare to places within similar distance from NYC like The Ranch, Sky's the Limit, or Cross Keys and you will not want to return to SDLI.

I�ve been involved with the sport for over thirty years and have seen DZs come & go. Skydive Long Island (at Calverton) is a safe and fun operation. It�s close to New York City but far enough out to enjoy a day or a weekend away from the hussel & bussel of the city. The D/Z operator, Ray Maynard is a Skydive Professional with decades of skydiving knowledge and wisdom.

Weather you�re looking to make your first tandem jump or your 1000th leap SDLI is the place to go.

SDLI is a happy place. Everyone is friendly and nice.

I would def recommend Skydive Long Island to anyone who lives on the Island or is just visiting. Everyone there is awesome, they make jumping so much fun and make you feel at ease. I will def go back there in a heartbeat...which I plan to do!! Great views of the Island from the plane and on the way down!

okay so i really don't have much experience under my belt therefore i cant rate the planes, or packing areas or anything like that. however, i can give you a first time jump point of view. and as a recent first time jumper... i whole heartedly & ecstatically recommend skydive long island (NOT to be confused with long island skydiving). EVERYONE who worked there was so nice. the atmosphere just automatically made me feel comfortable. i went on a weekday and we were up in the air right after the paperwork was done and we were harnessed. my tandem instructor was incredibly chill and completely expercienced, further more leading to a comfortable state. the only time i had any serious doubts was 13,800(or so?) feet in the air, when they asked me to stick my feet out. but he didn't let me back out and for that i will always be ever so thankful. i would go back there in a heartbeat & wouldnt mind getting certified there, as it's obvious safety is big. so.. now, stop reading reviews.. and call them to make your reservation! you will NOT regret this experience and the adrenaline/endorphins will have you smiling hours after it.

The place has two lengthy runaways that are parrallel and are in the form of an L. They have a lot of great places to land so you don't have to worry all that much on making your landings precise, because you could panic and injury yourself trying to make them perfect. You don't here because there is a lot of Outs. This way you just practice on your landings in comfort.

Great staff and instructors. They even have a 9 hole golf course on the green because the runway and the taxiways.

They go to 13,500. On nice days, you can see for miles as you fall.

Being that it's on Long Island, you have the jet airway/vector ways going down the island. So, you might have to wait or not just as high.

The first thing you will notice at SDLI is the oh so friendly and Professional Manifest chick. She is awesome.

I went early in the seasion on a Friday, so there wasn't much going on. The vibe was low key. The only other people there were students and instructors.

When it gets to the busy part of the seasion they try to keep the Caravan going, but I was there when they only had the 207. Any airworth AC to get me to a reasionable altitude will do.

The main landing area is kind of funky as it is sandwiched between the runway and the boarding area. The walk back you have to be careful because much of it is over concrete.

New rental gear abuse rules in effect, so just be careful that you have everything up and off the ground. Treat the rental gear as if it were your own.

SDLI is a decent DZHowever it could be better.

Skydive Long Island is the best drop zone. The staff is so professional and friendly; they are always willing to help. The vibe is awesome, and the scenery is beautiful. Lifts to 13,500ft
are just a plus.

I am biased because they taught me to jump, but...

I like the dropzone. That said it's great, friendly people, a good atmosphere, and a generaly caring atmosphere. Plus it takes a lot of work on your part to land out... but i have done it.

The downside is, yes, you do pay a little more than other dropzones in the state. But, hey just to drive to another drop zone with gas and tolls, it's a wash in my book...

I'd rather hang out at Skydive Long Island with cool people and decent planes and have a good time.

There are downsides thoguh... Food is a drive. I mean that, a drive. And the weather can be a little annoying... but hey, if you are on long island, and don't want to deal with the hassle of driving to the ranch, it's the place to go.

That said, I didn't finsh AFF till July and I logged 70+ jumps there this summer... I look forward to logging another hundered there next summer. Skydive long isalnd rocks.

After spending more time there, I am proud to call SDLI my home dropzone :~)

People at the DZ were very friendly and welcoming. Scenery is beautiful and leaving the DZ at night, I got to see some deer.

Seeing the ocean and all the water from altitude was absolutely breath taking.

Very active airspace so you definitely need to pay attention to the skies.

On an old military base so you have to check in with the guard and then wander to the DZ.

I started jumping 2 years ago at another dropzone, but SDLI was close by, and this year I spent 90% of my jump time there. The guys and gals at SDLI are great and are always willing to help you out or go up for some RW. I have definately made some friends at SDLI and can't wait until spring comes.

There is also a lot of variety in jumpships. This summer alone I jumped out of a Porter, a 207, a Grand Caravan, a skyvan, and got a Helicopter jump in too. It is a great place to take newbies or to take Skygods. The sunset loads with ocean and long Island sound views can't be beat.

My wife and I made our very first jumps ever yesterday!!! Sky Dive Long Island was awesome.
We felt safe, excited, and they were a complete pleasure. We can't wait to go again!
Thanks Guys!

Overall a nice DZ - large plot of land, excellent staff. Great for first time jumpers!! The staff are great about making you feel safe, calming your nerves, and preparing you. One thing I found inaccurate in a previous review - they do not cap at 10,000 ft - they do jump 13,5. I'll be going back, definitely!

I was born and raised on Long Island.In 1997 I moved south; before my first jump. I didnt get to jump L.I. until just recently.(aug 02) I have been to many other dz's and always wanted to jump my HOME since I was a kid.
I went to the New dropzone and felt lost on all thier land! It was huge. The local jumpers were among to best/ friendliest I have ever had the pleasure to jump with.
If you have the opportunity to SKYDIVE LONG ISLAND, I suggest you take it. the sight above the bay is Beautiful!