Awesome crew, super easy check in process and very helpful and friendly staff on the boat. Easy explanations and instructions. Impressed with the instant photo upload to your cellphone as well. Didn't have to wait to get pictures emailed or downloaded. read more

Island Water Charters - One of the many pictures they took of us. - Boating Near Me - Avalon, California

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Daddy daughter trip was great! Wish the three of us could have gone together, but sadly there is a max weight limit and the 3 of us exceeded it by our guesstimate. So my husband took our 8 year old and I stayed as a spectator. My daughter loved it!!! The crew made her feel comfortable, explained the take-off and landing with total understanding of the guests. We bought the photo package since it was our daughter's first experience and it was worth the $25 for the direct download to our phone. Hope to be back in the future and do it all over again! PS: Tip your crew people!! read more

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Extremely fun and definitely a must do for tourists! The process was extremely fun and safe, and the boat ride was exciting as well. Staff was friendly and funny. read more

My family and I had an awesome time! We were the only people on the first boat out off the cruise which gave us a little more time on the water. Staff was fun & felt completely safe. Loved the music playing while we were boating and parasailing. Such a fun experience! read more

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My kid and I had a great time!!! Professional crew, felt safe the entire time. It was easy to make reservations. Located at the end of the pier. Music played in the background as we sailed. Would parasail with this company again in a heartbeat! read more

We stopped by Catalina while on our cruise and wanted to try something different. They had a cruise ship special for $59 if I remember right. We called to make reservations and I'll just note that you should ask for email confirmation. They just asked for my name and number. They wrote my name wrong and couldn't find me and they never sent me anything. Luckily my number was listed or we almost wouldn't have gotten on. Anyway, girl who works the counter was quick. We waited about 10-15 mins after signing paperwork and they came for us. Got on the boat which my bf was terrified of. He gets seasick on smaller boats but he seemed to be fine on this one. They got us out there fast and strapped us up. Very efficient and take off and landing was super smooth. Never felt like a rocky ride and the guys on the boat were nice. We got the photo package for $20 for four of us. About 50-60 pics of each pair. Most the pictures are not that great but they had some good shots that I was grateful for! They upload all the pics straight to your phone on the boat which I liked. Didn't have the wait until we were off to view them. Whole time up there was peaceful. Quiet, beautiful, not scary at all for anyone who wants to try it! I def recommend this place. Great excursion for the price! read more

Island Water Charters - Outside - Boating Near Me - Avalon, California

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Great experience for my daughter and her first time...not the slightest bit scared! Very good crew and super cool! I recommend getting the picture package as well. read more

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Friendly service and a great experience. The staff was great as well as the boating crew! Can't wait to do it again!

we had Carlos and I believe the guys it was widen. They were both really nice. We went out at 9:30 which is the first ride of the day. I believe if you go before noon you can get 30 off per person so would end up only being $100 and then we gave them a nice hefty tip so please bring cash or they use cash app Zell or Venmo we came in April so the sun was not out often but I could see how this is totally a must do. If you come to this island, you can only ride alone if you weigh 220 pounds or more but usually it's for 2 to 3 people we had the boat all to ourselves. You really do coast up in the air it was serene make sure you have your aqua case so you can use your phone. read more

I cannot recommend them enough! These two gentlemen were very nice to us especially to my kids. It was our first time and they were very assuring of our safety. My kids had a blast. They were kind and friendly. They made the kids dip their feet on the water. The lady who checked us in was super nice too! We had the best time! read more

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What an amazing experience! Staff was wonderful and helpful!! I called Nadia 15,000 and she gave me excellent customer service every single call; I was so happy to see her in person. Nate and Carlos gave us exceptional service too. They were all extremely nice, and we cannot to come back!!!!! read more

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HIGHLY RECOMMEND! Nadia, Nate, & Carlos are the BEST! From the first phone call to the end, every moment was magical. We did the 9:30 am flight and saw 100 dolphins. The water was glass & the price was half what the cruise ship charged. We left feeling like the luckiest girls in the world. We will be back to do it again! read more

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Took my family out to parasail. It was my oldest and mine's first time. (He's gently on the spectrum). They made the Best experience for us all. Great time and memories. I'd recommend having your teens dunked fully. read more

Amazing staff all the way from setting up our experience to the end. Great people and super fun to parasail. We were all scared and it wasn't scary at all. It was fun and breathtaking! read more

Read this, it might save your life. Overall I had a nice time with this activity but I need to caution people because my flight was not entirely pleasant. Having used rock climbing harnesses before, my instinct was to try to slide the leg hoops up as they were hanging lower than I expected. Once I got in the air, it was my instinct to try to slide my butt down to where the leg hoops would come up, and as I moved forward, I realized that my butt was getting close to the edge of the seat part of the harness. This was very uncomfortable because I realized that I could not easily move back and didn't want to wiggle around as I felt like I was good, but if I moved around, that I would slide forward out of the seat. You can see what I mean by this video. https://youtu.be/9d2aVxXlb2I While it was on me, I can't help but think that out of the hundreds of people who fly with these guys, that I would be the only one to have a misconception of how the harness works, so I am actually faulting them and calling them out for not telling people to simply sit back in the harness and that the leg loops are a secondary, not a primary restraint. Other than that, I feel like I have to include my parasailing photos because it is a very serene experience. read more

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Super fun!! 10/10 if you're at Catalina and looking for a place to parasail this is IT! The owners were super friendly and the process was super easy. An amazing experience, definitely will do this again! Everyone was super helpful and nice read more

We went parasailing with Island Water Charters/Parasail on the only Pier in Catalina (Avalon) It was amazing! So relaxing up at the 800 foot level. Side by side we went up! Carlos & Captain Doug kept us dry. FEBRUARY IS COLD. We saw a pod of dolphins then followed them for about 10 minutes. I want to go again for another trip with my girlfriends! read more

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LOVED. I'll start with the bad, The girls who run the office that's hard to find and looks like it's out of a back alley somewhere were rude, condescending, and snarky to say the kindest. I was truly not expecting to have a good time based off of this year experience that I had with the main woman working there on September 5th. But once we got into the boat both the captain and his assistant were funny, personable and over helpful While we were on our ride unfortunately their winch broke very likely due to the fact that someone use their pre-cove weight when determining how much 500 pounds was. *pro tip: make sure that you're honest about how much you and your parties way if you'd like to take a parasailing trip with more than just yourself. Their winch can hold up to 500 pounds so if your party is, for example two grown men and a woman and you all decide that you want to go parasailing together then it's a good idea to step on a scale and calculate those numbers beforehand otherwise the pressure makes it harder for you to get pulled in. Overall great experience, fun trip, professional yet friendly staff on the boat Again assuming you can get past the gargoyle at the stand itself read more

Initially booked with Parasail Catalina, but they cancelled two hours prior to departure. Luckily Island Water Charters still had flights available for the day. Nadia helped my boyfriend and I schedule a last minute flight and am so thankful as we initially came to Catalina to experience parasailing for the first time. Make sure to check-in on Yelp to receive a free flight upgrade. This experience provided a breathtaking view of Catalina Island and all staff were extremely nice and helpful. Overall, we really great experience from checking in to the actual flight itself and would highly recommend booking with this company! Experience: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Value: 5/5 read more

Amazing experience. Everyone is nice and very informative. Make sure to wear sandals so you can remove them easily and get your feet dipped into the water. I'd definitely do this again. read more

The 2 guys on the boat are chill and laid back, super friendly and make you feel comfortable the whole time. The view from 800ft is amazing,affordable and fun. I'm terrified of heights but this was worth it. read more

Island Water Charters - View - Boating Near Me - Avalon, California

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My friend and I went parasailing with Island Water Charters during our vacation to Catalina and it was a great experience!! Neither of us had ever been parasailing before, so we decided to try something new and we don't regret it. If you've never been parasailing, I highly recommend, and especially with this company. The staff and crew were very friendly and easygoing; they made my friend and I and the group of people aboard the boat feel at ease. There were 3 other families on the boat with us, but there was plenty of room and everyone was very nice and we all cheered for each other which really created a supportive and fun environment. Even though you have to remain aboard the boat until everyone has had their turn, it was actually fun to watch everyone go and you get a boat ride out of it, so it's like getting a parasailing experience and boat tour all in one package. As for the actual experience, I was nervous because I'm afraid of heights, but it turned out I needn't have worried! I felt totally fine up in the sky and the ascent and descent were smooth and not scary. I was surprised that once you are in the sky, it isn't windy and my friend and I could easily talk without shouting. It was very calm and the view was beautiful and it was surreal to be so far above the water but feel safe. The photo package was great as they take way more than 50 photos and they give you an SD card, and the photos were pretty great! I would've liked the ride itself to be a few minutes longer, but it was sufficient. If you're having any hesitations, let this be your sign to go for it and experience something new! Thank you to the crew for being so wonderful and kind! It was a very fun experience! read more

Island Water Charters - Waving to the boat as we ascend into the sky - Boating Near Me - Avalon, California

So much fun! Parasailing was something that my husband and I had never done. The crew made it an awesome experience! The photo package as an add on was great. So many pics! So relaxing and peaceful being up in the air like that. Will totally book with them again if we get back to Catalina! read more

We had the best experience parasailing with island water charters! The booking process was really smooth- My boyfriend and I booked last minute, about an hour before we sailed out. Ty was our captain and he couldn't have been any more accommodating. We purchased the picture package and they took about 100 pictures of us. You'll only spend around 10 minutes up in the air, but it's totally worth it for the experience & good vibes :) we would definitely recommend them to anyone. read more

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We checked out both parasail companies and decided to go to this one because a) we used them a few years ago and had a great experience b) the other company doesn't offer the 600ft sail which was important to me and c) based on our previous experience and current reviews this company is more "owner run" and has that personalized feel. I can't say one bad thing about this experience. I went on as a rider while my fiancé and my 4 kids took flight. The boat was "full" but did not feel like we were crammed in and was very comfortable. The young guy who was getting all the gear set up and sending people off and bringing them in worked like a well oiled machine. The captain always maintained control of the boat and was aware of the surroundings and any obstacles at all times. Watching my kids (especially my 12yr old) go up in the air with nothing but a single clasp holding them to the tow rope made me nervous at first but honestly, I felt safety in the hands of the captain and the deck hand (I'm sure he has a more appropriate title) and would 100% recommend this company to anyone. The next time we go I might even try it myself. read more

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I paid for 3 tickets and a photo package with a 3G card with 50 pictures per the cashier and the door signage. My daughter turned 16 and enjoyed the experience but the young guy on the boat was disrespectful, rude and tried to use his white power authority on me saying "up to 50 pic " but I only got 24 pics that he air dropped on my daughters friend phone and who refused to share the picture afterwards because the pic were bad. I paid for it so I should own the picture not a 16 year old guest of the party. The young guy also told me that they no longer do the 3GB SD card because people don't know what it is and they had change their policy last week "supposedly" but they advertise the memory card everywhere. Obviously, as a parent I am pissed and spent $250 roughly only for my daughter to see me upset and arguing to get what I paid for. This company ruined my evening, and the full on experience for us. What teenager wants to see their parent upset when they are with their friends. All I wanted was my 50 pictures, and my memory card so I can share the experience with everyone. read more

Island Water Charters - Online reads "at least 50 pictures" but only 24 were given to a guest not me. - Boating Near Me - Avalon, California

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I have to say , this guys know what they doing , great skills in the water and super friendly people to deal with. I really appreciate the good time Carlos and the capitán give to my kids. Definitely coming back again. Highly recommend this business to anyone who's visiting Catalina either locals / international travelers/ business people absolutely anyone who likes the adventure and adrenaline going to the top. god bless you guys out there and thanks again CARLOS MUY AMABLE Y PROFESIONAL GRACIAS DESDE BURBANK CALIFORNIA, familia SÁNCHEZ from Costarica Pura vida. read more

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I went here for my birthday and got surprised with parasailing. It was my first time and it was AWESOME! The staff was super friendly and did a great job making you feel comfortable and explaining everything before we did it. Their price point is definitely comparable to other competitors around. The ride was a little shorter than I thought and the best part was being originally lifted up into the air not knowing when it was going to stop. Then once you got to the top the views are of course incredible. read more

Island Water Charters - Boating Near Me - Avalon, California

The two guys running our boat are super nice! The Experience: I was a bit nervous at first, but the whole ride was just fun! The music they play onboard is lively and positive, making the experience better and less nerve wracking. The take-off is gentle, not at all jerky or fast. We did the 800' ride, and the view was just spectacular. At the end, at our request, they dipped our feet in the water. They got great photos of those moments too, and captured the looks of glee on our faces. About photos: They have their own camera on which to take your photos, and they give you an SD card after. I've noticed a lot of people complaining that their SD cards are empty... but maybe, just maybe, they didn't follow instructions. You're only supposed to insert it into a computer. A few of the photos were blurry, but what do you expect when the guy is trying to juggle strapping other people into their gear, and taking your photos at the same time? He took at least 150 photos for all of us, and we loved some of the shots! I was too worried to drop my phone during the ride so I didn't take it, but you should try if you're brave and have some way of attaching it to you. The ride was so gentle, I don't think I would have dropped mine. We both wore our sunglasses and they didn't fall. A man before us brought a GoPro on a stick and he did fine! They are not liable for anything or anyone that you bring into the boat, by the way. Highly recommended! Awesome service & experience. I'm so glad I chose Island Water Charters. read more

Island Water Charters - Our cool "photographer"! - Boating Near Me - Avalon, California

We had an awesome experience first time parasailing with Island Water Charters. We booked an early outing, but woke up cold and dreary and they were able to fit us into a later opening that day with amazing blue skies and fantastic weather. I know they can't control dolphins, but there were even dolphins breaching below us as we soared over them - our guides said that doesn't happen very often so we got lucky. I also recommend the photo package - it was totally worth it. At the conclusion, they give you an SD card with all the photos they take which is great. No confusing websites or worrying about logging in and ordering photos. No. The photos are all yours on a disc you can take home and add to your photobooks or social media- just the way I like it. Great upbeat tunes were being played during the experience and everyone on our outing had a great time. Also, booking over the phone was easy - I like the on-phone customer service instead of online booking especially when it's something I have never done before so I can ask questions. read more

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I had initially booked a 5:30 appt for our parasail a day before but got a call and voicemail following morning letting us know it had been moved to 4:00 which was nice of them but it meant making slight adjustments to our already planned day. The experience itself was great, they catered to our group of 3 very well. Only flaw of it was that it felt like our time up there went quicker than advertised (i could be wrong but there were 4 other groups waiting to go which made me feel we were probably better off with the initial booking time=less groups/more air time) read more

Island Water Charters - Boating Near Me - Avalon, California

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I highly, highly (see what I did there?) IWC for parasailing. My daughter and I loved it so much we went again the next day. The first time the awesome captain found dolphins and we were able to fly over them! Truly a special experience. There is alway fear about safety and professionalism when you are doing something that is risky like flying 800 feet in the air. With IWC we felt safe and in skilled, professional hands. Both gentlemen clearly knew what they were doing and the boat and flying rig were well maintained. We loved every minute of our adventures and highly recommend this company for all your high flying parasailing. Thanks guys and next year three trips read more

Located on the pier. If you book with cruise $59 any height. Early bird special was only $50 any height. Sd card Pictures $20. Totally worth it. All the workers were nice. The guys strapped us in and off we went. I was nervous but it happens so quick you don't have time to think about it. Next thing you know, you're up in the sky. It was so smooth in the sky. It's hard to believe that you're so high hanging on by a rope but it was such a majestic experience. I would recommend. read more

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It was really easy to make a phone call and get some reservations. They also accommodated us when we wanted to switch to a reservation that was an hour earlier than the one we scheduled. The office to check-in for your reservation is easily found at the end of the Pleasure Pier. If you book on your actual birthday, you can get one free parasailing when you pay for one -- either the 600 or 800 feet. (For Parasailing Catalina, you can get only get one free if you do the 800 feet!) Service was great, from checking in to the actual crew on the boat! Everyone was friendly and helpful. We opted for to pay the extra $20 for the photo package, which is pretty worth it because I received 92 photos of our parasailing flight afterwards on a MicroDisk. Given, the angle may not always be flattering because the photographer is below you but that is uncontrollable given the circumstances. It was great nonetheless to have crisp, zoomed in photos of us up in the air. We had plenty of air time and if you want to have your feet dipped in the water, you can let them know right before you go up. It was a beautiful vantage point to see Catalina Island from afar and above. We peacefully floated in the air taking in the aerial view of it all. Definitely recommend for a trip at Catalina! read more

Mike and Casper took such great care of us! They reassured our granddaughter who came off the ride with a huge smile, and dipped our toes in the water with gentle skill! These are the guys to go with! read more

If there was a zero rating I would give it. I used this company twice this past summer and both times had a terrible experience. CUSTOMER SERVICE IS TERRIBLE !!! I used them a second time because their location is on the wooden dock and very convenient. Big mistake. They will at the last minute change your reservation to a much later time of the day because of not having a captain for their boat or not having enough reservations for your time slot to make it cost effective to take you out as promised. The lady working was not sympathetic about the situation my concern for moving to a later time. Only to be laughed at and be told by one of the four employees at their reservation desk that my family being called an IDIOT. We cancelled our reservation and instead used Parasail Catalina (CALIFORNIA PARASAIL) at 105 Pebbly Beach Road near the golf cart rentals and had a great experience. read more

Horrible experience. Don't trust these people. Our son's girlfriend was supposed to just ride in the boat while our son parasailed for his 20th birthday. BUT she was pressured to fly also against her will and was terrified. The business returned our payment but it was a terrible experience. It ruined our son's birthday because his girlfriend was "forced" to do something she did not want to do. Prior to going we were told he could go up with a stranger but the staff on the boat didn't comply. stay away from this business. read more

I don't remember any names but everyone was friendly and funny. My girlfriend and I had a great time with these people

Took advantage of 1 free flight during birthday! Checked in with 12:30 reservations because they mentioned over the phone how waters are much more calm in the morning supposedly. Arrived. 10 minute wait. Strapped in harnesses and before you know it we were in the air! Super relaxing and everyone was very friendly and professional. Will be returning! read more

Island Water Charters - No Ragrets - Boating Near Me - Avalon, California

Safe and professional parasailing. The only US coast guard and PAPO certified parasailing on Catalina. However it is pretty expensive. $65 for 600ft and $79 for 800ft, whereas the competitor charges only $50 for 600ft. if you wake up early at 8-9am it's only $35 for 1400 ft! So I have to say we felt a little ripped off. This company also only offers a max height of 800ft. Arrived by the green pier at 12:15, 15 minutes before sailing. We filled out some forms and got on a speed boat that had 7 other people + 2 employees. They helped us put on life jackets and the harness. Sit down and you don't even have to get wet at all. I even brought my digicam up with me to take a video while up in the air! I was scared to drop it though! It was rather peaceful 600ft above the body of water. Breathtaking ocean view. Not that windy either. Everyone paid the extra $20 for the photo package where they take around 50 photos on an canon dslr and you even get to keep the 256mb sd card! Definite must if it's your first time! All in all, probably took 1.5 hours. So still had plenty to do in Catalina after! *** Tip: $20 photo package. don't forget to tip. try not to look backwards/at other people going up if you get seasick! Favourites: get to keep sd card from photo package, Courteous, safe. can get wet or not, your choice. Do not want: Not the most thrilling thing ever. Last words: Peaceful, chill ride read more

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