What to wear for parasailing at Dinner Key
What to wear for parasailing with us comes down to one choice you make before you leave home: do you want the dip? If yes, wear a swimsuit under shorts or a cover-up and pack a towel. If no, wear light clothes you are happy to sit in on a boat. Either way, add sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat. That short list comes straight from the what-to-bring box on our Miami parasailing trip page, and the rest of this guide fills in what the box leaves out.
Here is the frame everything else hangs on. You take off from the boat's flight deck and you land back on it. Getting wet is optional, and the activity page calls the dip "optional but recommended." A Coast Guard licensed captain runs the boat, you wear the safety gear we provide, and you fly up to 400 feet over Biscayne Bay. The activity page lists the whole trip at about an hour. Each flight takes up to three flyers and the boat takes up to 12, so a good part of that hour is spent sitting on deck while other flights go up.
That means you are dressing for three different places: the dock at Pier 9, the boat deck in full sun, and the air. Each one asks for something slightly different, and none of them asks for anything fancy.
One more thing to know before you plan an outfit around a quick change at the marina. Our policies page says the facility has no private bathrooms, changing rooms or lockers, and recommends arriving already dressed in water attire. So whatever you decide to wear, put it on before you drive to Coconut Grove.
The short answer, as two tables
If you only read one part of this guide, read these tables. The left column is what to wear or carry, the middle column says why, and the right column says where the rule or the suggestion comes from.
What to wear
| Item | Why it matters on a parasail trip | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Swimsuit under your clothes | Only needed if you want the dip | Parasailing page: swimsuit and towel "if you want the dip" |
| Sunscreen | Open deck for most of the trip | What-to-bring list and our FAQs |
| Sunglasses | Glare off the bay | What-to-bring list |
| A hat | Shade while you wait on deck | What-to-bring list |
| Slip-on shoes or sandals | Easy to leave in the group dock box | Policies list the dock box; the shoe is our suggestion |
What to carry
| Item | Why it matters on a parasail trip | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Towel | Dries you off after the dip | What-to-bring list |
| Reservation confirmation | You have it ready at check-in | What-to-bring list |
| Driver's license or passport | Every participant presents valid ID | Our policies page |
| Camera or GoPro, secured to you | Only if it is fastened to you so it cannot drop | Our parasailing page (see the camera section below) |
Two things you do not need to bring: a life vest or any flying gear. The policies page asks everyone to wear the safety gear we provide. What the price covers is listed on the parasailing page: the flight of up to 400 feet, a Coast Guard licensed captain, takeoff and landing from the flight deck, and a credit if the trip is cancelled, valid for 2 years. Fuel is included in every rate, and tax and the marina fee are added at check-in.
Swimsuit or dry clothes: deciding on the dip
“Captain Tom took 90 pictures without any extra fee. Absolutely satisfied.”
The dip is the one part of the flight that decides your outfit. Our FAQ on the subject says some flyers choose to take a dip in the water during landing, that getting wet is optional, and that the crew handles the landing based on your preferences. You are then reeled back onto the boat. So you tell the crew what you want, and you dress for that answer.
If you want the dip, wear the swimsuit as your base layer and put shorts, a T-shirt or a cover-up over it for the drive and the dock. Bring a towel. Tell the crew before you fly that you want the dip, since they shape the landing around your preference. Plan on sitting on the deck in damp clothes for the rest of the trip.
If you want to stay dry, wear what you would wear to a boat ride: shorts or light pants, a T-shirt or tank top, and something you do not mind getting splashed. The flight starts and ends on the flight deck, so a dry trip is a normal choice and needs no special clothing.
If you cannot decide, wear the swimsuit anyway. It costs you nothing to have it on, and it means you can say yes on the boat if the flyers before you make it look fun. Our parasailing page recommends the dip, and having the swimsuit on lets you take that advice on the day.
One more thing about the water: you do not need to be a swimmer to fly. The parasailing page lists swim ability as not required, and the policies page asks that every participant be comfortable in the water without panic. If being in the water worries you, tell the crew and skip the dip.
Sun protection that stays put at altitude
The three sun items on the list (sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat) show up both in our FAQs and on the parasailing page. What the list does not say is how to keep them on you once you are in the air. Here is how we would think about each one.
Sunscreen. Put it on at home or in the car before you check in, so it has time to set before you get near the water. You will be on an open deck for most of the trip, and the bay throws light back up at you. Cover the tops of your feet and the backs of your knees too, since your legs hang out in front of you when you fly. If you are also riding a jet ski that day, our Miami jet ski rental page lists reef-safe sunscreen, so buying one bottle of that covers both.
Sunglasses. They are on the list for good reason: the glare on deck is constant. In the air, though, anything loose can fall, and whatever drops lands in the bay. A strap or retainer cord that goes behind your head keeps your sunglasses with you. Without one, the safest plan is to wear them on the boat and hand them to someone staying on deck before your turn.
A hat. A hat earns its place during the wait on deck. For the flight, a cap with a chin strap or a snug fit is a safer bet than a wide brim. If yours has no strap, take it off before your turn and leave it with someone on board.
The same logic applies to anything else that could slip off: loose hair clips, earrings that hang, a necklace you would hate to lose. Our policies say we are not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged items, so leave anything precious at home.
Shoes, bags and the dock box
Our policies page lists a group locker dock box where you can leave shoes and bags while you are on the water. It also says there are no private lockers, and that we are not responsible for anything lost, stolen or damaged. Put those together and the packing logic is simple: bring less.
For shoes, our suggestion is sandals or slides you can step out of in a second. You will walk from the parking lot to Pier 9, stand at check-in and board the boat. Shoes you can slip off and leave in the dock box are the easiest choice for that walk. Lace-up sneakers work too; they just take longer to get on and off.
For bags, carry one small one. Your ID, the card you paid with, your phone and the car key are the core. Anything else (a big tote, a cooler, spare outfits for the whole family) becomes one more thing to keep track of at the dock. If you need a change of clothes for dinner afterwards, leave it in the car.
Our marina FAQ also mentions a water hose you can use to rinse off after your trip. That is handy if you took the dip and want the salt off before you sit in the car. A spare towel in the car for the seats is a good idea.
Phones and cameras on the boat
Most people want a picture from up there, and this is the one area where our own pages read differently, so here it is straight.
“We saw dolphins, manatee and stingrays. All I can say is YOU GUYS ROCK.”
Our Miami parasailing trip details put "Camera or GoPro (secured to you)" on the what-to-bring list, and the parasailing FAQ says you are welcome to bring a waterproof camera or GoPro as long as it is securely attached to you so it cannot drop. Our general policies page, written for every activity, says only cell phones may be brought on activities and asks you to bring the minimum. Because those two differ, go by the what-to-bring box on the parasailing page and ask at check-in if you are unsure about a particular camera.
What the pages agree on:
- A phone can come along, and waterproof phone cases are sold at check-in.
- We are not responsible for lost or damaged phones, even inside one of our cases.
- Anything you take up has to be fastened to you. A loose phone in a pocket is the wrong plan.
A simple way around the question is the photo package. Our FAQs describe it as professional-quality photos and videos of your flight, so your hands stay free and you still come home with pictures. Ask about it at check-in.
If you do take your own phone, put it in a case with a lanyard before you board, test the lanyard on the dock, and keep it zipped away until your turn comes. The crew is busy getting flyers up and down the whole time, and the deck is the wrong place to fiddle with a case strap.
ID, payment and paperwork to carry
What you carry in your pocket matters as much as what you wear. Every rule in this section comes from our policies, our FAQs and the parasailing page.
Every participant presents a valid driver's license or passport. The person who paid must be at check-in with the card used for the purchase and a valid government photo ID. If the original card cannot be verified, the desk collects a different form of payment. A card authorization form is completed before the activity, and you sign a completion invoice afterwards.
Everyone signs a waiver, and a parent or guardian signs for each minor. Our marina FAQ adds that the online waiver should be completed before you arrive to validate a reservation, so do that at home and save yourself time at the desk.
The parasailing page says you pay at check-in. Here is what the policies page and FAQs say the desk accepts and turns down.
| Accepted | Not accepted |
|---|---|
| Debit cards with a chip | American Express, online or at the dock |
| Credit cards with a chip and the holder's full name | Apple Pay, Apple Card and other digital wallets |
| Cash | Prepaid debit cards and gift cards |
| Cards without an embedded chip | |
| Cards whose name does not match the holder's ID |
If you hold our VIP membership, the promo pass page says the desk matches it to your photo ID at check-in, which takes about ten seconds. One more line from the policies page belongs here: no drugs or alcohol before or during any activity.
Worked examples: outfits for real groups
Lists only go so far, so here is how the same rules play out for four common kinds of groups.
A couple flying tandem. The parasailing page sets a maximum combined weight of 450 lb per flight, so two people can fly together as long as they are under that. Both wear swimsuits under shorts and T-shirts, since it is easier to decide on the dip together once you see it. One phone on a lanyard in a waterproof case, one pair of sunglasses on a strap, hats left on deck. Sandals for both go in the dock box. The person who booked carries the card and their ID; the other carries their own license or passport. Our post on parasailing for couples in Miami covers the rest of a two-person day.
A parent and a 6-year-old. The minimum age is 5, so a 6-year-old can fly, and the parent signs the waiver. The child wears a swimsuit under a rash guard or T-shirt, gets sunscreen at home, and wears slides that come off easily. The parent's list adds a towel big enough for two, the reservation confirmation and their own ID. If the child is nervous about the water, skip the dip and tell the crew before the flight, since getting wet is optional. Keep the child's hat on deck rather than in the air.
A family of four. Each flight takes up to three flyers and the boat takes up to 12, so a family of four splits across two flights. Everyone arrives dressed, because there are no changing rooms. One bag holds the ID, the card, two towels and the sunscreen. Phones stay in the bag or in the car except for one in a case. Our guide on parasailing for families and groups has more on planning a group day.
Three friends. Three is the most a single flight takes, so the group can go up together if the combined weight is within 450 lb. If you are over, you will not all fit on one flight, and the policies say single flyers are paired by weight, so ask at check-in how you will be split. Each friend brings their own ID. If the plan is parasailing and then a jet ski, everyone wears swim attire from the start.
Dressing for a combo day
A lot of people add a second activity. Our combos page says every combo is same-day and same-marina, with one waiver and one parking spot, and it calls parasail plus jet ski its most-asked combo. Since the facility has no changing rooms, the outfit you leave home in has to work for both.
The table below sets each activity's dressing note next to parasailing, using only what our pages say.
| Activity | What our pages say to wear or bring | What that means for a combo |
|---|---|---|
| Parasailing | Sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat; swimsuit and towel if you want the dip | Swimsuit is optional on its own |
| Jet ski | Government photo ID for the driver, reef-safe sunscreen, swim attire, a water bottle | Swim attire becomes the base layer for the day |
| Banana boat | Swimwear or clothing you don't mind getting wet; water shoes or sandals for boarding | Same swim base layer; sandals over sneakers |
| Flyboard | Swimwear or athletic clothing; a secure-fitting swimsuit | Pick the most secure swimsuit you own |
The pattern is plain: once a combo includes anything besides parasailing, wear the swimsuit from the start and treat dry clothes as a layer you take off. Our post on the jet ski and parasailing combo walks through that kind of day, and our jet ski packing list covers the jet ski half in more depth.
One practical tip for a combo: put sunscreen on twice. Once at home before the first activity, and again before the second one, since the water and the towel will have taken most of it off.
Check-in, step by step
Here is how the start of a parasail trip goes from the parking lot to the flight deck, with what you need in your hands at each step.
- 1Park. Our policies page sends guests to LOT 62, paid through the Pay By Phone app, a short walk from our dock at Pier 9, 3400 Pan American Drive. Set up the app before you arrive.
- 1Arrive 15 minutes early. The policies page asks every guest to check in 15 minutes before departure. Missing your time makes it a no-show, and the desk will try to fit you into a later slot that day if there is room.
- 1Show ID and the card. Each flyer shows a driver's license or passport. The cardholder shows the card used for the booking with a valid government photo ID.
- 1Confirm the waiver. If you signed it online at home, this is quick. Parents or guardians sign for minors.
- 1Pay at check-in. The parasailing page says payment is taken at check-in, with tax and the marina fee added there and fuel already included.
- 1Drop shoes and bags. Use the group dock box for anything you are not taking on the boat.
- 1Gear up and board. You wear the safety gear we provide and board the boat. Tell the crew now if you want the dip or if heights make you nervous; our FAQs also ask you to tell staff about any medical condition before your session.
- 1Wait on deck, then fly. Flights take turns. When yours comes up, you take off straight from the flight deck.
When the weather changes your plans
Dressing for the forecast matters less than you might think, because our staff make the weather call. Our policies page says certified staff watch conditions with radar apps and industry-standard judgment and reserve the right to reschedule. When conditions stop water activities, you receive a credit valid for 2 years toward any activity we run. The policies page also sets a strict no-refund policy, and the parasailing page lists the credit if cancelled among what the price includes.
What does that mean for your outfit? Mostly that you should not overpack for every possibility. A light, quick-drying shirt over your swimsuit handles a passing shower on deck and dries fast once the sun is back. If the day is hot and still, the hat and sunscreen matter more than anything else on the list.
We run seven days a week from 10 AM until sunset, year-round, weather permitting, and departures go out every 30 to 60 minutes across our activities. The policies page warns that delays can happen for weather or equipment, so leave some slack in your plans for the rest of the day.
Your packing checklist and booking
Here is the whole guide as one list you can screenshot before you leave.
- 1Swimsuit on under your clothes if you want the dip (and if you are doing a combo, wear it regardless).
- 1Shorts or light pants and a T-shirt, cover-up or quick-dry shirt on top.
- 1Sunscreen, on before you leave home; reef-safe if a jet ski is in the plan.
- 1Sunglasses with a strap, or a plan to leave them on deck.
- 1A hat with a chin strap, or a plan to leave it on deck.
- 1Sandals or slides that go into the dock box.
- 1A towel, plus a spare for the car seat.
- 1Driver's license or passport for every flyer.
- 1The card you booked with, chip-enabled and in your name, carried by the person who paid.
- 1Your reservation confirmation and the online waiver already signed.
- 1One phone in a waterproof case on a lanyard, or the photo package instead.
- 1Nothing you would hate to lose.
Want more on the flight itself? Our guide to how high you go parasailing covers the climb to 400 feet, and the first-timer's guide to parasailing in Miami covers the rest of the day.
When your bag is packed, pick a date and book parasailing in Miami at Dinner Key Marina.
Book your Miami parasailing
Member rates apply on every booking. Tax & marina fee added at check-in.
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