Hilton Head Island Watersports
The beach might be Hilton Head’s favorite attraction, but the island also offers a wide variety of watersports – most of which are suitable for families with children – in the surrounding sheltered waterways.
Kayaking and paddleboarding are both popular activities at Hilton Head, with many guided tours available, plus lessons, and rentals from a range of island locations. Surfing is another option, with surfing lessons available in season, and surfboard rentals by the hour or day.
More adventurous watersports activities at Hilton Head include parasailing, jet ski tours or rentals, banana boat rides and wake sports such as tubing, waterskiing and wakeboarding.
Some activities are available on a walk-up basis, but if you want to be certain of being able to do a particular watersport at a particular time, it may be best to make a reservation, especially during the peak summer season.
→ Hilton Head weather by month: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
See also:
– Kayaking in Hilton Head
– SUP in Hilton Head
– Hilton Head dolphin tours
– Hilton Head sunset cruises
!Prices, availability and other details subject to change. Please check all information directly with the water sport company before planning your excursion.
Kayaking
Kayaking is a popular activity at Hilton Head Island, with the local creeks and sounds providing opportunities to see dolphins and other wildlife or to enjoy the lowcountry scenery.
A range of tours, catering to differing levels of experience, are available out of Hilton Head, including trips into nearby Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge. Tours are also available from Bluffton and Daufuskie Island.
Alternatively, if you already have experience of kayaking and the local area, you can rent a kayak (or canoe) and explore without a guide.
Stand-Up Paddleboarding
Paddleboarding is another way to enjoy the scenery and wildlife at Hilton Head, offering a higher vantage point over the marshes, but with a slightly steeper learning curve (although beginners can usually paddle standing up on their first try).
Several guided paddleboard tours are available of the waters around Hilton Head, many of them oriented toward beginners and including basic instruction in the sport.
Paddleboarding lessons are available if you want more in the way of instruction, covering beginner topics to more advanced techniques such as paddle surfing. Paddleboards can also be rented from several local businesses if you are ready to go out by yourself.
Surfing
Surfboard Rentals
– With Soul SUP
Available daily. $30 per day, $75 for 1 week.
Child soft top or adult surfboard rentals. Weekly rental includes free delivery. Also available from Bluffton. Call 843-247-0004. More details
– With Hilton Head Outfitters
24hrs $50, 2 days $70, 3 days $90, 1 week $150.
Soft top surfboard rentals. Call 866-380-1783 or book online. More details
Surfing Lessons
– Surf Camp, with Outside Hilton Head
1hr30. Monday-Friday, in season. Private lesson $125, group lesson $80 per person.
Surfing instruction, either one-on-one or in a group. Call 843-686-6996 or book online. More details
– Surf Lesson, with Hilton Head Outfitters
1hr30. Monday-Friday, in season. Private: $125 for 1 person, $115 each for 2, $100 each for 3. Group $90 per person.
Call 844-826-6866 or book online. More details
Jet Skis
Tours
– Jet Ski Nature Tour, with Sea Monkeys Watersports
1hr15. Monday-Saturday. $115 per ski, 400lb combined weight limit.
Jet ski tour of the waterways near Hilton Head. Call 843-842-4754 for reservations. More details
Rentals
– With Sea Monkeys Watersports
1hr15. Monday-Saturday, multiple departures each day. $110 per ski, 400lb total weight limit.
Escorted jet ski rentals. Call 843-842-4754 for reservations. More details
– With Island Water Sports
1hr15. Available daily, multiple departures each day. $119 for 1 rider, $129 for 2.
Escorted jet ski rentals on the Calibogue Sound. Call 843-671-7007 or book online. More details
– With H2O Sports
1hr. Available daily, multiple departures each day. $119 for 1 rider, $129 for 2.
Jet ski rentals. Call 843-671-4386 or book online. More details
Banana Boat Rides
– With Island Water Sports
30mins. 6 people max. $29 per person.
Banana boat ride out of South Beach Marina, Sea Pines Resort. Call 843-671-7007 or book online. More details
Parasailing
Parasailing excursions will take several flyers out at once, with trip time divided between the participants. Each person can expect to spend 5-10 minutes parasailing.
– With Sky Pirate Parasail
12 people max. $74 per person. $35 per person to observe.
Parasailing out of Broad Creek Marina. Single, tandem and triple flights available. Call 843-842-2566 or book online. More details
– With H2O Sports
1hr. 12 people max. Ages 6+ only. $79 per person. $25 per person to observe.
Parasailing out of Harbour Town Yacht Basin. Flights go up in tandem; triple flights at the captain’s discretion. Call 843-671-4386 or book online. More details
– With Island Head Watersports
1hr30. 12 people max. $79 per person. $35 per person to observe.
Parasailing out of Hilton Head RV Resort & Marina, on Skull Creek. Tandem and triple flights available. Call 843-686-4386 or book online. More details
Wake Sports
A variety of wake sports are available at Hilton Head, including tubing, waterskiing, wakeboarding and kneeboarding.
Most of these sports require you to charter a boat for your family or group, with charters of one hour to around four hours available, either based around a specific activity (shorter trips) or with the opportunity to try out several sports (longer trips).
See options for wake sports charters at Hilton Head
More Outdoors Activities In Hilton Head, SC
– Dolphin tours
– Yacht tours
– Ecology boat tours
– Boat tours and rentals
– Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge