Jet Skiing to Catalina Island: What It's Really Like
This little solo adventure takes place back in May of 2023. It was my second trip out to California. My first trip was a year prior, I went to San Diego. This time, I was in the great Los Angeles, California.
As with any great trip idea, I found it scrolling on TikTok in the months leading up to my vacation. I stumbled across this TikTok of someone jet skiiing across the pacific ocean to a little island called Catalina Island. I was instantly intrigued. I couldn't get the visual out of my head of being out in the blue Pacific Ocean, surrounded by dolphins. The next day at work I decided to get some outside thoughts and opinions from my co-workers. I was straight up asking them "is this completely crazy", especially to do by myself. They were all on board with the idea. My one friend Mary reminded me it is essentially a motorcycle on the water. Her mom was a nurse and had seen many jetski accidents in the ER. But it was more so a word of caution and just to be careful. My mind was made up. If I didn't do it, I would be constantly wondering, what if. I would have regretted not going for it. So, I went home and booked the ski adventure.
I am not going to lie, in the weeks leading up to my trip, I was still going back and forth on whether or not I really felt confident in doing this. Because, truth be told, I was SCARED with a capital S. All I could think about is how I haven't even been on a jetski before and all the sharks swimming around in the ocean.
Fast forward, I was now in California, walking around Manhattan Beach waiting for my dinner reservation at The Strand House. My Jet Ski Adventure was scheduled for the next morning and it was all I could think about...everything that could go wrong. This was the first time on a solo trip that I truly felt in a funk. I wasn't enjoying myself the way I normally do. It felt lonely. So naturally, I gave my parentsa ring. While strolling along the beach, talking with my parents, the sky was extremely overcast and windy. I remember saying to them, I kind of hope it gets cancelled tomorrow because of the weather that way I don't have to cancel it because I'm a chicken. My parents were of course reassuring and supportive, just as they always are. I headed over to my dinner reservation and just tried to get my mind off what felt like tomorrow's impending doom.
Morning: Breakfast and the Meetup
The next morning, I woke up feeling all the feelings: excitement, dread, courage, and fear. This was it, today was the day and I wasn't about to cancel a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity because I was scared. I packed my bag for the day and headed out. I was staying by the LAX airport, so it was about a 30 minute drive to the Long Beach area. I made sure to leave early, so I could stop for breakfast beforehand. I grabbed a quick breakfast and coffee (of course) at The Breakfast Bar, which was only a short 5 minute drive to the Jetski2Catalina meeting point.
Parking was at the Maya Hotel, arrival time around 7:00 am. From the parking lot, I headed down the side walk to the dock housing the fleet of turquoise SeaDoos. Before you know it, instruction has begun and we were putting on a wetsuit in preparation for the journey. In case you didn't know, the Pacific Ocean is very cold! One by one, we boarded our SeaDoos. Luckily for me, I met a super nice mom who was also traveling solo and actually from the Atlanta area as well! We instantly connected which made me feel a little better. If she could do it, so could I.
The Ride Out
In total, we had about 4 guides dedicated to our group. There was a mix of single rider jet skis and people sharing one jetski as friends/partners. There were probably about 10-15 total jet skis in our group. Once we got pushed back, we were all in idle mode until we got out far enough. We passed a large ship on our right, The Queen Mary. After the slow ride out, it was time to "put it in drive". We got word it was time to go. Man was this awkward to drive and scary. 20 mph felt like 100 mph. It was at this moment all the fears and doubts began creeping back in. I was WAY out of my comfort zone. I was at the back of the pack, trying to keep up, but luckily, there was a guide that stayed at the back so I never felt alone.
The First Stretch
Little by little I got more comfortable riding the waves, and it was choppy! Soon we reached our first stopping point. We reached the channel marker (navigation buoy) where there were some seals hanging out. We got to have a break to get some water, take some pictures, etc. This was a completely surreal experience, sitting out in the pacific ocean and not seeing any land whatsoever. It's a feeling you can't really prepare yourself for.
The Dolphins
Before I knew it, we were off! I finally felt like I was in a good groove balancing the steering, cruising over waves and how fast I was going. I was certaily the more cautious one of the grop. But that was okay. I wasn't worried about being the fastest. As I caught up to the rest of our group, the guides were pointing out the pod of dolphins we were quite literally immersed in. When I say, this was the coolest thing I have ever experienced, and I don't say that lightly. There were hundreds upon hundreds of dolphins playing aroud us. This was also the first time I have ever seen a wild dolphin. It felt...magical also felt just completely not real. I...Allison Gaede... am in the middle of the Pacific Ocean on a jet ski...surrounded by hundreds of dolphins swimming and playing. The tour tells you they cannot guarantee any wildlife sightings, which I understand, but I also really wanted to see some wildlife, just not a shark. I could check this off my list for the day. Mission accomplished.
The Blue Cavern
After spending a good amount of time taking pictures and videos, it was time to make it to our next check point, The Blue Cavern. I really wasn't sure what to expect, all I knew is we were going to have an opportunity to jump off our jetski and swim through a cave. And for the months leading up to it, all I could think about were the sharks in the water below once I jump in. Fast forward to the present moment, the guides were giving us instructions on how this would work. Then, they gave us the go ahead to jump in and swim over to the cave. I looked around, and everyone sat there kind of hesitating. In my head I told myself just do it, go for it, this is once in a lifetime. I couldn't believe it, I was the first one in the water swmming over to the cave. Let me tell you, that water was BRISK, even with a wetsuit. The water was so beautiful and blue...and cold. But wow, I could not believe what I was doing in this moment. I reached the cave and the guide at the entrance told me I could just keep going through to the other side. I was so thankful I rented a GoPro for this trip because having these memories documented and video of this experience is priceless. I remember just looking around inside the cave in just awe and wonder. The cave itself is a small loop, you go in one side and almost like a cul-de-sac, it loops you aroud and spits you back out on the other side.
I made my way to the guide waiting for me on a jetski where he transported me back over to my jetski. We hung out here while we waited for everyone to return to their jetski. Soon we were embarking on our last leg of the trip. This was the shortest stint and we very quickly could see all the boats floating in the bay around Catalina island. It looked like the summer pictures you see from Europe...but this was off the coast of California!
Catalina Island
We "parked" our seadoo and made our way to shore where the whole group began stripping off our wetsuits to start exploring. We had a total of three hours at the island before we would embark on our adventure back to Long Beach. Catalina Island has two sides: Avalon and Two Harbors. Avalon is the more "developed" resort style side. We arrived in Two Harbors which is described as being a bit more rustic. As you make your way from the beach, you will immediately see the Harbor Reef Restaurant and Saloon. There is plenty of seating to sit down, relax and grab a bite to eat. There is also a gift shop if you are looking to buy any souvenirs. I had a nice lunch with my new "mom friend" from Cumming, GA. We talked about our careers, how she loves traveling and gets to do a lof of travel for work, and she told me all about her kids.
After a delicious lunch, I walked around and did some exploring and picture taking. There is a path that goes along the cliff side that is very easy to walk. A great spot for pics!
Jetski2Catalina brings snorkeling gear for anyone who is interested in doing some snorkeling. I was lazy and didn't feel like putting my wetsuit on again and getting in the cold water. But there was still so much to enjoy on the island. The morning started off overcast, cloudy and gray and now the sun was finally out. It was in this moment that I was feeling an incredible sense of pride in myself and so grateful that I did not chicken out.
Soon our 3 hours were up and the guides were rallying the troops. We forced our wetsuits back on and one by one we were transported back to our SeaDoo.
The Ride Back
The sun was shining and the blue water was sparkling. It was a stunning way to end our time at Catalina Island. Before I knew it, we were off to the races. By now, I was feeling much more comfortable going a little faster. Still not front of the group fast, but also not the back of the pack the entire time. Be prepared for fewer stops on your way back. I believe we made maybe one or two quick stops just to allow everyone to catch up. Forewarning, your hands will get tired. This is where I struggled the most. It is 1000% a death grip. Paired with squeezing the throttle to give it gas, your hands will fatigue.
We made great time on our way back. I think we made it back around 4:00 PST. I gave a huge thank you to the guides and made sure to give them a very generous tip. Never forget to tip your guides for their time. My new mom friend, Jackie, and I decided to go to the hotel restaurant that was right there and have a celebratory beer together. The following day was my 25th birthday and wow, what a special way to celebrate.
What to know before you book
Where I booked through and What it cost
I booked direct through Jetski2Catalina. They have a few different options, I booked the full day tour to Catalina, Two Harbors, for $399.
Distance and duration of adventure
This is a full day adventure. Meeting time was at 7:00 am and I got back around 4:00 pm. This is a ~60 mile round trip adventure, 27-30 miles each way. On your way to Catalina, you will have more frequent stops to explore the Blue Cavern, enjoy wildlife, etc.
Experience required
I was a complete jetski beginner. Never rode a jetski a day in my life. I was forewarned that riding a jetski in the ocean is much more choppy than say, a lake. But it is very low pressure. You can truly go as fast as you feel comfortable (within reason)
What to wear and what to bring
The SeaDoos come equipped with a front storage compartment that was pretty roomy. It fit my whole backpack, which was great. Bring plenty of water and snacks, you'll be able to access your bag any time the group is stopped.
Footwear: wear waterproof sandals like Tevas or Chacos. They're multi-purpose once you're on the island, and they dry fast.
Sun protection: bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and, more importantly, an eyewear retainer. These are small sleeves that go on the legs of your sunglasses so they can hang around your neck, meaning you won't lose them the second things get bumpy.
Gloves: I'm glad I did my research ahead of time and bought a basic pair of gloves on Amazon before my trip. I didn't want to risk blisters, and they add a little extra grip.
Camera gear: I rented a GoPro online to get some action shots, along with a suction mount meant to attach it to the jet ski. The guides heavily advised against using the mount, they've seen GoPros fly off all the time, even with it attached, and said it wasn't worth the risk. I ended up using the GoPro on a stick when I could, and kept it in the dry compartment otherwise.
Your phone: get a waterproof phone case with a lanyard. I kept mine around my neck and tucked it into my wetsuit while we were driving, easy to grab for pictures the moment we stopped.
Best time of year
The cool thing is, they are open year round. So, yes, you can go out on a jetski even in the winter. The time of year will determine the likeliness you see other sea life. For example, you will be more likely to see a whale during the winter months.
Would I do it again?
If I ever got the opportunity again and all the stars aligned, I definitely would do it again. I think I would still have to talk myself into it jut because it was so far out of my comfort zone. But I would definitely say, this is a one of a kind, unique experience you dont want to miss. Definitely a bucket list item.
Thinking about a solo adventure of your own, even one that scares you a little? I'd love to help you plan it.
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