Parasailing in the Bahamas

One trademark sight on the beaches of the Bahamas is parasailing. Atlantis beach on Paradise Island in the Bahamas is where you will find vendors offering parasailing while staying at the Atlantis Resort.

These vendors, as the hotel will make a point to tell you, are independent and the hotel or resort is NOT responsible for them in any way. The good news with regard to Atlantis parasailing is that our experience with the vendor was very good. If you have read the review we posted on renting jet skis, you will be glad to know that the parasailing people would NOT be classified as sharks!

Parasailing over the beautiful clear waters of the Caribbean is a fantastic experience, well worth the $50 per person fee. The rig that our boat had was capable of carrying two at a time if that is something that interests you. In order to compensate, parasailers riding in tandem get a little bit longer ride.

You will be told that you will parasail at 500 feet. I think that is a bit exaggerated as I believe the rope is actually 500 feet, meaning that the distance at an angle is 500 feet, not your true height above the water. It is possible when the boat turns around that you will rise to almost the full length of the rope and get close to that 500-foot number.

The view while parasailing is spectacular. Even though you may not achieve a true altitude of 500 feet, you are plenty high enough to enjoy an incredible view of Nassau and New Providence Island, as well as a complete view of Paradise Island.

For those who might be a bit adventurous I would recommend taking an inexpensive digital still camera or even a Flip video camera. As one looks down you can see through the crystal clear water to the bottom, which is probably less than 20 feet deep in most places. I did not have a camera with me that I could risk, but next time I would certainly try to do it.

In the Bahamas you will find regulations a bit more lax. There may be a life jacket for every member of the boat somewhere, but it may not be offered to you or easy to get at if needed. If someone in your group is not a strong swimmer it would be a good idea to make sure they have a life jacket secured on them before the boat leaves the concrete levee or beach, depending upon where you board.

Overall you will find parasailing at Atlantis in the Bahamas to be a very enjoyable and memorable experience. Chances are, you will even enjoy the boat ride while others in your group are getting their ride. As long as you go out on a day when the weather is favorable you can expect that parasailing will be one of the most enjoyable highlights of your Bahamas vacation, and one of the more reasonably priced components of a stay at Atlantis resort.