Skydiving Locations: The Best Places to Jump Around the World
Discover the world's most incredible skydiving locations! From cities to mountains and beaches, find your perfect jump spot for high-altitude thrills.
The best places to skydive pair a real view with a well-run dropzone. In the US, that means Oahu’s North Shore, Skydive Arizona in Eloy, Skydive Perris in Southern California and Skydive DeLand in Florida. Overseas, the standouts are Interlaken in Switzerland, Queenstown in New Zealand, Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah, Byron Bay in Australia, Empuriabrava in Spain and Swakopmund in Namibia. Every price and altitude below comes from the operator’s own site as of October 2026. Prices change, so check before you book.
United States
Oahu, Hawaii: Skydive Hawaii
You take off from Kawaihapai Airfield on the North Shore, and the view is ocean on one side and the Waianae Mountains on the other. Skydive Hawaii lists a 14,000-foot tandem at $245 walk-in, with a lower online price, and a 20,000-foot high-altitude jump at $1,600.
Go early. The dropzone says it’s ready for arrivals from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., and afternoon trade winds on any coast can put a hold on jumping.
Eloy, Arizona: Skydive Arizona
This is where experienced jumpers go. Skydive Arizona calls itself the world’s largest skydiving center, with Twin Otters and Skyvans that carry up to 23 people to 13,000 feet in under 15 minutes. A tandem is $259, with $239 for students and military and $219 each for groups of 20 or more.
The view is Sonoran Desert and mountains, not ocean. What you get instead is a huge, busy dropzone with a wind tunnel, restaurant, gear store and lodging on site. If you’re thinking about learning to skydive rather than doing one tandem, it’s a good place to watch how a big operation runs.
Perris, California: Skydive Perris
Skydive Perris sits between Los Angeles and San Diego. Its standard tandem goes from 14,000 feet MSL, starting at $199 for early time slots. A high-altitude tandem from 18,000 feet MSL costs $399, but it runs only on first Saturdays or for groups by request.
“MSL” means above sea level, not above the ground. Inland dropzones sit above sea level, so your actual freefall is a little shorter than the number suggests. It’s worth asking any dropzone which one they quote.
DeLand, Florida: Skydive DeLand
Skydive DeLand is one of the best-known dropzones in Florida. A tandem for one to three people is $237 each, from nearly 13,500 feet, with about 60 seconds of freefall. Bigger groups pay less per person.
Central Florida’s flat land means you see a long way on a clear day. Summer afternoons bring thunderstorms, so morning loads are the safer bet from June through September.
Mountains
Interlaken, Switzerland
Interlaken sits between two lakes below the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. Skydive Interlaken mostly flies helicopters, which is unusual. Its prices:
- Helicopter skydive over Interlaken, 14,000 feet: CHF 490
- Helicopter skydive over Lauterbrunnen, 14,500 feet: CHF 540
- Eiger or Jungfrau jump, 14,500 feet: CHF 690
- Airplane skydive over Interlaken, 14,000 feet: CHF 430, on request
Mountain weather decides everything here. Plan a day or two of slack in your trip so a cloudy morning doesn’t cancel your jump.
Queenstown, New Zealand
NZONE Skydive calls itself the birthplace of tandem skydiving in New Zealand. You jump over Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables. Prices are NZ$379 from 9,000 feet (up to 25 seconds of freefall), NZ$469 from 12,000 feet (up to 45 seconds) and NZ$575 from 15,000 feet (up to 60 seconds).
NZONE’s minimum age is 6, far lower than the 18 most US dropzones require (the USPA says local law decides). The weight limit is 40 kg to under 95 kg, and heavier jumpers are told to check NZONE’s FAQ.
Coast and city
Dubai, United Arab Emirates: the Palm
The Palm Dropzone puts you over Palm Jumeirah and the Dubai Marina skyline. It’s the most expensive tandem on this list. Skydive Dubai charges AED 2,199 with no video or AED 2,749 with video and photos, from up to 13,000 feet. Its Desert Campus is cheaper (AED 1,899 basic), with dunes instead of skyline.
Dubai’s limits are strict. You must be 18 to 75, men can weigh up to 100 kg with a BMI of 30 or less, and women up to 90 kg with a BMI of 27.5 or less. You’re weighed in clothes and shoes at check-in.
Older lists mention jumping off the Burj Khalifa. That isn’t something you can book. Skydive Dubai’s tandems are from aircraft over the Palm or the desert.
Byron Bay, Australia
Skydive Australia’s Byron Bay dropzone is at Tyagarah Airfield, about 10 minutes out of town. Tandems are from A$385, from up to 15,000 feet, over rainforest, mountains and beaches.
Don’t book it for a beach landing. You normally take off and land at the airfield, and the company says it may land on the beach only in certain conditions when that’s the safer option.
Empuriabrava, Spain
Empuriabrava on the Costa Brava is a busy dropzone with a canal town and the Mediterranean right below. Skydive Empuriabrava sells a Bronze tandem from 13,500 feet at €299, with packages up to €749 that add video and extras. A cheaper €239 tandem from 9,000 feet runs only from November to March, Wednesday to Friday at 9 a.m., with at least three people.
You land at the airfield, not on the beach, after about five minutes under the parachute over the coastline. The weight limit is 89 kg dressed.
Swakopmund, Namibia
Swakopmund is where the Namib Desert meets the Atlantic, so you see dunes on one side and ocean on the other. Skydive Swakopmund (Ground Rush Adventures) offers tandems from 10,000, 12,000 and 15,000 feet. Contact them for current prices.
It’s a long trip for one jump, so most people fit it into a wider Namibia trip and book ahead.
What matters more than the view
A great view won’t make up for a badly run dropzone. Before you book anywhere:
- In the US, look for USPA Group Membership. The USPA dropzone locator lists member dropzones, which agree to follow USPA’s Basic Safety Requirements, including a 5,000-foot minimum opening altitude for tandems (SIM 2-1).
- Check the altitude basis. “Up to 15,000 feet” can mean less on a heavy load or a cloudy day. Ask what you’ll actually get.
- Check weight and age limits before you travel. They range from 89 kg (Empuriabrava) to 100 kg for men (Dubai), and minimum ages run from 6 to 18.
- Price the video up front. The cheapest price often has no photos or video. At the Palm in Dubai, adding them takes the price from AED 2,199 to AED 2,749.
- Leave weather days. Wind, cloud and storms ground every dropzone on this list. Book your jump early in your trip so a hold doesn’t wreck it.
Pick the place first for the view you want, then confirm the price, limits and weather policy directly with the dropzone. That’s the whole checklist.
Photo by Sabine_999 on Pixabay.