Most skydivers are new to the sport. It's the kind of thing that often gets tried once, just for the hell of it. Once it's ticked off your list, you can get on with your life. There are a number of things for the newcomer that should be looked into, however. Of course, safety is one of these. If nothing else, it allows you to relax a little on your way down. No, there are a number of things worth checking, just so you have a little more fun.
You will most likely want to make a few safety checks on the centre, which is definitely prudent. This will just give you a little more peace of mind, more than anything else.
Really, the only checks you need to make before you start phoning or emailing around are to the parachuting safety body you most respect. This could include the Parachute Federation Association, or the Civil Aviation Authority. You will be able to get a better idea of the seriousness with which any given centre shows to safety.
The second real concern is how many people are going to be jumping. This has an impact on a number of things. The first being that obviously, if you