Who We Are
Skydiving in Missouri ,Illinois and Indiana
Skydiving Near St. Louis | Gateway Skydiving Center
At Gateway Skydiving Center, we are proud to have some of the best skydiving instructors in the St. Louis area. Our highly trained team competes in U.S. skydiving competitions and brings years of experience and thousands of jumps to every skydive.
In 2026, Gateway Skydiving Center celebrates over a decade of excellence, completing 15,000+ first-time tandem skydives. We are proud to maintain an unmatched safety record in the Midwest, making us one of the top-rated skydiving centers near St. Louis, Missouri.
Tandem Skydiving for Beginners
Our mission is simple: help you build confidence, overcome fear, and experience the thrill of skydiving. If you’ve never jumped before, tandem skydiving is the perfect way to start. You’ll be securely harnessed to one of our expert instructors, allowing you to safely enjoy every moment—from the climb to altitude to the unforgettable freefall.
Skydiving is a one-of-a-kind experience that’s hard to describe until you try it. That moment when the door opens may feel intimidating—but stepping outside your comfort zone is what makes it unforgettable. We guarantee it will be one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences of your life.
Why Choose Gateway Skydiving Center?
- #1 Rated Skydiving Near St. Louis, MO
- Experienced, competition-level instructors
- 15,000+ successful tandem skydives
- Industry-leading safety standards
- Family-friendly and welcoming environment
Every one of our instructors( and other skydiving instructors in St. Louis area) started their skydiving journey right here at Gateway Skydiving Center. Their passion for the sport and commitment to safety ensure you’ll have an incredible first tandem skydive experience.
We are a family-friendly drop zone where everyone is welcome—no matter your background or experience level. Whether you’re checking off a bucket list item or looking for your next adventure, we’re here to make it happen.
Join the Gateway Skydiving family today and experience the thrill of skydiving near St. Louis like never before.
MISSION STATEMENT
At Gateway Skydiving Center our mission is to create a fun and friendly environment for our first time and experienced jumpers alike, while putting safety first. We know that your first jump can be intimidating, we understand, we all started with skydive number one just like you! Our staff is very passionate and knowledgeable about what they do and will make sure that you have an unforgettable experience.
Arnel Smajic, Owner
I was born and spent an early part of my childhood in Bosnia and Herzegovina. For those not familiar, it is a small country nestled in the heart of Europe (south central to be exact).
Our apartment was less than a mile away from a skydiving club ran by my father.
Given the early exposure to skydiving, you would think that I always wanted to be a skydiver, but that wasn’t the case at all. Too young for skydiving, I spent a lot of time in the cockpit of a plane while the pilots were flying around doing acrobatics.
Naturally, I wanted to become a pilot. In my head, pilots had all the fun. Well, all of that changed in 2005 when I did my first skydive. As they say rest is history….
