Well I've never written a review before and this is only from a student perspective. I've been to this place twice to do my AFF course. The 1st time was almost 2 years ago. I attempted to do my AFF over Friday-Sunday. Spoke to the school and they told me it was definitely possible. I did my ground school day one and could not do level 1 the same day due to rain. The school only had 1 plane then and we felt that the priorities were given to tandems over the weekends. I managed to get 4 jumps in during saturday-sunday. One instructor took me for ground school and was the second instructor up to aff level 3. Instructor had a very friendly approach however would make you go over drills and scenarios over and over again if he didn't think it had sunk in. Even thought it was me having to repeat them I was glad to be put through it so it was solid in my mind. My main jump instructor was brilliant. Real skydiving enthusiast you could go into very technically details about all aspects of skydiving put taught you with very straight simple instructions of what you needed to do. This approach was great for me as I didn't want to over analyse everything I was doing while stressed in the sky.
So I left very happy with the instructors but annoyed that I'd wait around for hours doing nothing getting ready to jump.
My recent trip there only a few days ago made me fall in love with the place. All the good points remained and the bad points have greatly improved.
Went through ground school with the same instructor and felt very confident with everything before I progressed. He didn't sell me short thinking I'd already done it but made sure I still new everything.
The dropzone can be broken down to three organisations. The Spanish AFF school, The British AFF school and the Spanish owners of the dropzone. I can't speak for the Spanish school as I didn't really speak to them however really liked all the instructors at our school. Everyone has their own teaching style. I think this is a great plus in that some students who just weren't getting it benefitted from another approach. It would be easy for them to make that person do the same level over and over again for the money. However these guys really wanted to get you there. Whether you want heaps of information about every step and thought you should make and think, a drill sergeant, or someone who'll just correct you on the things you need to change or work on there is an instructor here for you.
The dropzone now has 2 pilatus porter planes. Seems the owners listened to everyone and also figured out how to make more money. Tandems and a few fun jumpers on 1 plane, AFF students and fun jumpers on the other. Both planes generally run on the weekends at the busy period. However I still got three jumps in by 1pm on Saturday taking it easy while it was busy. During the week I could literally get onto the next flight up as soon as I landed after I finished the AFF.
The packers here are great, if I really wanted to get up on the next load they could pack my chute within about 7 minutes. Most of the instructors pack their own canopy so 3-4 packers was plenty to get everyone done quickly. Granted if they instructors requested an AFF students be packed first theirs would be. I don't think this is too much of an issue because as soon as they are done there would be less instructors on the plane leaving more space for us.
The landing area is huge and even a guy to come pick you in a van up to save you walking so far in the sun.
The facilites are basic but have improved afterall this is located in an aeroplane hanger which backs on to huge fields. Limited menu for food and not much else to do at the dropzone. But hey we're there to skydive!
The pick up and drop offs were always on time and meant I got on site for 1st jump each day. Drive Phil was a great guy who is at an early stage in his skydiving so great to have someone who went through what I am not long ago.
The student apartment was in near by Ocana about 3 km away from the dropzone. Had 6 bedrooms, kitchen, lounge/dining room and three bathrooms. Very affordable and great to be around other students to talk about your day and go get some food/beers with. Ocana it’s self doesn’t have much there besides a square with a few tapas bar/restaurants. But we were happy with our new local or cooking at home.
So I loved the place and think the instructors were great. Facilities could be better with more things to do while you wait and better selection of food. After speaking to other fun jumpers from the UK and about how they are treated at UK dropzones. I don't think I'm going to be heading to a different DZ anytime soon.
