Parasailing is an experience that every person should have at least once during their lifetime. But, don’t choose go with any provider, you’ll need to be diligent when selecting a San Diego Parasailing Company.
Whether you are visiting the San Diego region for the first time or you simply want to cross another item off your bucket list, now is the perfect time to make your goal of parasailing into a reality.
Most first-timers are a little nervous about what to expect from sailing hundreds of feet over the water. Some are even a little unsure about being that far above solid ground, much less above an ocean! The realities about parasailing are often much different than the myths they’ve heard and believed for a long time. The most important step to take towards having a wonderful experience is to book your appointment with the best parasailing company in San Diego. Knowing you are in good hands will help calm your fears and enable you to make the most of your once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Experience: The Most Important Quality in a Parasailing Company
The most important thing to look for in a parasailing company is experience, experience, and then experience. So much of how the system works depends on the knowledge and skills of the operating crew. Find out how long the captain has been parasailing and the type of training he has had. Someone who’s been in the business for a long time knows all the precautions to take including weight limits, weather, and the best methods of parasailing to use.
Experience is also a great teacher for handling different types of personalities. If they’ve spent lots of time putting beginners at ease in the past, they’ll understand your worries. They will know your concerns and what you need to know to put your mind at rest. The more relaxed you are before you launch, the better you’ll be able to enjoy the experience and the incomparable views you will experience from the air.
Most of the time, people who find the idea of parasailing as scary find the reality to be just the opposite. Know what to look for and the questions to ask to get the best company and the best experience overall.
Safety: What Do You Do to Keep Me Safe?
For starters, parasailing over the ocean is always safer than river parasailing. It prevents the danger associated with coming into contact with the shore, buildings, power lines, and other potential hazards. This eliminates the causes of most accidents, particularly those from parasailing over smaller bodies of water.
Parasailing over the ocean is not only safer; it also offers incredible views through the clear, sparkling water. You aren’t likely to spot any dolphins or sea lions when parasailing on the river!
Parasailing during some types of weather is much too dangerous to risk. This is another area where experience becomes important. An experienced captain knows when the weather poses too much of a threat to go parasailing. You should never fly in high winds and thunderstorms. Important decisions concerning going out into uncertain weather should always be left to the captain’s expertise and not your desire for an exciting adventure.
To avoid disappointment when bad weather occurs, plan ahead. If you plan to go parasailing in San Diego during your vacation, it’s a good idea to schedule during the early part of your stay. This way, if the weather doesn’t cooperate, you still have time to reschedule your event while you are in town.
The best parasailing company will use a winch direct system. This is the safest, most widely accepted form of parasailing offered in the world. It allows you to take off and land from onboard the boat instead of a beach or barge as in other methods of parasailing. This system makes parasailing in San Diego more like flying a kite with a fishing pole.
It isn’t like a thrill ride with sudden drops or jerking motion. Instead, a hydraulic winch reels you in and out from the deck smoothly and securely. You don’t have to hang on for dear life to keep from falling, either. Parasailing isn’t an athletic event that requires a certain amount of strength or dexterity. It’s an experience that people aged 6 to 98 enjoy all the time. If you can sit, you can fly!
What Is Your Cancellation Policy?
Parasailing companies require a deposit at the time you make your reservation or purchase tickets. If something comes up that prevents you from making the event as scheduled, you want to be able to get your money back. Make sure the company offers refunds if you cancel within a reasonable time frame.
Do You Offer Tandem or Triple Flights?
If you and your BFF make plans for parasailing in San Diego together, you want to find a company that offers tandem flights. Some companies offer triple flights, but weight limitations and sea conditions impact single, tandem, and triple flights.
A single person must usually weight between about 95 pounds to fly alone. Although parasailing is usually open to children age six and older, they must be accompanied by an adult. The maximum weight is around 450 pounds, whether there are two or three people flying. Get the specifics from the company so you can plan your flight appropriately. Even though you plan a tandem flight, be prepared to fly solo if the current weather conditions dictate it.
Do You Offer Photo Packages?
During the planning stages, this question may not seem like an important one in the overall scheme of things. Here’s why it is! You want to preserve the memories of the first time you went parasailing and you don’t want to risk losing or damaging your phone or camera. Besides, it’s kind of hard to capture the awe on your face while enjoying the view from above.
Sometimes things get a little rocky on the boat and it is possible to drop equipment and damage it. If the company offers photo packages, you don’t have to worry about getting great shots. Just focus on having the time of your life and leave the photos to the professionals!
If you only go parasailing once in your lifetime, you want to have pictures to share and relive the joy you had for years to come. If it becomes your favorite new pastime, you’ll still want to preserve the memory of the first time you flew. Photos let you keep the fun going for years to come.
Can I Bring Friends Along to Watch?
Even if you’re the only one in your group who wants to try parasailing, most people don’t want to go through the experience alone. Find out the capabilities of the boat and the company’s policy for allowing observers. Besides, once they see how much fun you have, they’ll be the ones planning to go parasailing in San Diego the next time around.
Look at Their Record
No other detail tells you more than the number of accidents the company has in their record. When a company has had years in the business with no accidents on their record, you can feel good about their capabilities. It doesn’t hurt if they are members of the Professional Association of Parasail Operators (PAPO). This organization requires numerous operational standards and guidelines that help make each trip a safe one. Since membership is voluntary and not mandatory, it tells you that the company takes safety seriously.
Check Out Their Online Reviews
There’s no doubt that fans are always willing to point you in the direction of the best parasailing in San Diego. Just go online and check out the reviews from previous customers and current followers. A company that has a good reputation has earned it by providing successful service to a lot of clients over a period of years.
How Much Do You Charge?
You should consider the cost only after you find the best parasailing company with regards to experience, safety, and services offered. Your primary goal is to have the most fun, safest experience possible. You should never sacrifice any of these qualities because one company charges a few dollars less than the other. Just make sure you understand the payment and cancellation policy in case you need to cancel.
At the same time, never assume that the best company is the one with the highest prices. Take the steps listed above and ask questions to find the best company. Price is never a guarantee of quality.
Tips for First-Time Parasailers
The most important detail for having a safe, fun experience is to find the right parasailing company. Having a team of experts behind you ensures a top quality experience. Still, there are some things to keep in mind to help you feel more comfortable and confident during your flight.
What to Wear
Changes in weather call for layers. Start with your bathing suit and add clothing such as shorts and t-shirts over the top. You may want to bring a jacket if temperatures are a little cooler and wear sandals or flip-flops. Jeans and tennis shoes are also acceptable.
Check Out the Weather
Instead of planning your parasailing adventure and hoping for the best, look at the extended forecast. The ideal weather is warm with a light breeze. Getting it right in the first place will prevent you from having to re-schedule in the event there are high winds or thunderstorms during your scheduled time.
Learn the Language
Some parasailing companies provide a headpiece for communicating during flight. Most rely on hand signals to communicate. If they don’t volunteer to teach you the necessary hand signals, ask. You never want to risk a misunderstanding between you and the crew if something goes wrong.
Prepare to Be on the Water for a While
Keep in mind that there will be other people on the trip who will have their turn at parasailing. The trip usually lasts around an hour-and-a-half. If you are prone to motion sickness, you may want to consult a physician prior to the boat ride. Also, use sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun.
Know What to Expect
Too often, beginners spend time and energy worrying about details of the flight that never come about. One of the most common is that you have to hold yourself in the seat and steer the chute in the direction you want it to go. The reality is that the harness keeps you firmly in the seat. You don’t have to hold on and you don’t have to control the direction of the chute. The captain of the boat relies on the winch to steer the chute and all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the ride.
Some riders also mistakenly think that they have to land in the water. In reality, the winch allows you to take off from and land on the boat. In most cases, you won’t even get wet. That is, unless you want to take a toe dip or two before finishing your flight!
It’s not surprising that some people worry about flying over the ocean when they can’t even swim. Parasailing is a unique water sport in that you don’t have to know how to swim to enjoy it. Even so, we fit every parasailer with a life vest just in case.
No matter what you have always thought of parasailing, the reality is that it is a peaceful, tranquil experience. It offers a different view of the world than other activities and, as long as you choose the best parasailing company, it is as safe as it is fun.
San Diego Parasailing Adventures
San Diego Parasailing Adventures was founded in 1989, giving the parasailing company more than twenty-eight years of experience in the business. They have had no parasailing accidents and are active members of the PAPO.
The company offers Winch Direct Parasailing, for the safest parasailing experience possible. It also gives them the ability to help keep parasailers dry if they prefer!
San Diego Parasailing Adventures meets all the requirements to make them the best choice for parasailing in San Diego. Contact us today to schedule your flight and prepare to have the time of your life!