Mentally preparing to go parasailing is half of the fun of the experience. There is so much to consider between the weather, views, logistics, and even the intimidating height. So, how high do you go when parasailing?
You go a maximum of 500 feet in the air when parasailing, typically on an 800-foot towline. It is against Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations to exceed a height of 500 feet. You can ask your parasailing guide to fly lower than that if you are afraid, but they may not be able to comply depending on their towline.
Parasailing may seem intimidating because of the vast heights, but even those that are initially afraid can have a great time. It is much smoother and more gradual than it may seem at first, so you don’t have to worry about a bumpy ride. Follow along as we explore how high you go when parasailing and what you can expect.
Can You Control How High Up You Go When Parasailing?
You cannot control how high up you go when parasailing. A parasailing guide, operator, and crew traditionally lets each guest fly up to the same height. That is because it’s easier for them and they won’t have to modify the towline length for each customer on a trip.
You can always request that they don’t send you up as high, however. Don’t request to exceed the 500-foot height limit because they will deny you. If they don’t deny you, then they will risk being penalized and fined by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It may seem difficult to monitor, but several businesses and parasail guides have been fined for exceeding the maximum height.
Is Parasailing Scary for People Who Are Afraid of Heights?
Parasailing is understandably scary for many people who are afraid of heights. You quickly ascend from the back of a boat and reach a height of 400-500 feet within a few moments. Luckily, the ascension is typically quite smooth as long as the weather is pleasant.
Parasailing guides and operators are quite open about what you should expect from the experience. There’s no reason to let a fear of heights hold you back from parasailing. Out of over 140 million parasailing trips, there were just under 80 fatalities according to the Parasail Safety Council. It may still seem intimidating, but the numbers show that parasailing doesn’t need to be scary whether you’re afraid of heights or not.
What is the Maximum Height You Can Parasail?
The maximum height that you can parasail in the United States and most countries is 500 feet. This is high enough to give you a beautiful view and low enough so that you don’t have to worry about aircraft. Not all guides and operators will let you parasail at 500 feet, however.
That is especially true if they don’t have enough towline to let you sail that height. It takes 800 feet of towline for you to parasail at a height of 500 feet. While it may sound tempting to parasail higher, 500 feet is more than enough to give you a beautiful view and an adrenaline rush.
What is the Minimum Height You Can Parasail?
There is no minimum height that you can parasail. However, it is rare to maintain a height under 100 feet throughout the majority of a parasailing ride. Some services, such as some in the Maldives don’t even exceed 100 feet.
Most guides and operators in the United States let you get to at least 400 feet in the air. You can request your guide or operator to stop you before you get that high, but they may not be able to. It all depends on their winch system and the length of their towline.
Are Parasailing Height Limits Different Across the World?
Traditionally, the maximum parasailing height is the same between countries. You won’t find anywhere that lets you parasail higher than 400-500 feet above the surface. Height limits primarily vary between guides and operators and not between states or countries.
For example, the most common maximum parasailing height in Mexico is 90 meters. That is the equivalent of 295 feet. While that is less high than most places in the United States, there are less stringent regulations about parasailing height in Mexico so you may be able to fly higher.
Is it Considered More Dangerous the Higher Up You Are?
It isn’t necessarily more dangerous to parasail higher than lower. Both low and high parasailing comes with several risks. For example, you risk unexpectedly dipping into the water when parasailing at a low height in some cases.
The higher you go, however, the more likely you are to crash into aircraft obstacles and even drones. You are also more susceptible to serious injury if the parachute fails when you are parasailing high. Dropping into the water from higher up is more likely to cause injuries such as broken bones, but that is extremely rare.
However, you luckily are unlikely to fall to the water quickly even if your towline snaps. The parachute itself will slow you down as you fall into the water which can help you avoid injury. Knowing how to land on water with a parachute is when you really want to be prepared.
Inclement weather and heavy winds are more likely to cause problems when parasailing than the height that you reach.
How Long are You in the Air When Parasailing?
You can expect to be in the air for up to 10 minutes when parasailing. In some cases, they may only keep you in the air for 5-7 minutes depending on how many people are next in line to parasail. However, you could spend as long as one hour on the boat depending on the size of your group.
The world record for the longest time spent parasailing is 24 hours and 10 minutes. Of course, this isn’t standard practice and you won’t find any guides or operators that offer that service. It’s still worth it to speak to several guides to see how long they will let you stay in the air so that you get the most bang for your buck.
Check out if you can parasail in the rain here in our guide.
Do You Parasail Higher When Parasailing Alone?
You don’t go higher when parasailing alone versus parasailing with others. Most guides and operators will send you up to 500 feet in the air regardless of your group size and weight. Some parasail rigs can even handle up to 850 pounds without suffering height or speed.
These rigs can fit up to 3 people in many cases, and your guide will make sure that your combined weight doesn’t exceed the limit. On the low end, parasail rigs can hold just over 400 pounds which includes the weight of each passenger. More weight does not equate to less height or speed as long as you don’t exceed the limit.
Read Related: What Is Tandem Parasailing? (The Ultimate Guide)
Can You Ask Your Parasail Guide to Fly Higher Up?
You can ask your parasail guide to fly higher up, but they will only comply if it won’t violate regulations. They’ll only do this if you are currently under 500 feet above the water. Otherwise, the guide could receive a fine from the Federal Aviation Administration for exceeding the standard height limit.
Communicate with your guide before the ride because it will be nearly impossible when you’re in the air. They can only let you fly as high as regulations and their towlines allow. It’s important to check with your guide beforehand to see how high you will go to make sure that you are comfortable with it.
Is Parasailing Considered a Safe Activity?
Overall yes parasailing is safe, however, like all air sports, there is a risk. Equipment failure is the biggest risk when parasailing, and that’s why it’s important to choose a reputable parasail operator. Bowlines can break which can cause serious injury.
Inclement weather is the second biggest risk when parasailing. High winds, rain, and lightning can make it unsafe to go parasailing. Luckily, most parasail operators will cancel your booking if it’s raining for safety purposes and to avoid fines. According to the Parasail Safety Council, only just over 500 out of 141 million parasailing trips resulted in a serious injury.
Even equipment failure doesn’t necessarily mean that you are at a serious risk of injury. You don’t typically plummet down quickly toward the water when your tow line snaps. That is the most common type of equipment failure, and even that is a rare occurrence.
Remember that parasailing is considered a safe activity, relax and sign up for your next adventure and I am sure you won’t regret the experience.
Nick Durante is a professional writer that primarily focuses on extreme sports. Parasailing, paragliding, skydiving, and skateboarding are his particular areas of expertise. When he isn’t writing about extreme sports, he is catching up on the world of skateboarding and spending time outside.