We consider ourselves adventure travelers. On every trip we take, we try to find at least one experience that pushes us a little outside our comfort zone—something that usually requires a helmet, a harness, or some kind of protective gear.
This time, our “protective gear” was… a flotation device.
Yep. Just a life vest. Living on the edge.
After seeing countless videos of people jet skiing from Long Beach to Catalina Island, many of them showing dolphins swimming right alongside the skis, we knew this was the adventure we wanted to take.
Getting There
We flew into Los Angeles, did a little sightseeing up the coast, then headed back down to Long Beach. Our first night was spent aboard the Queen Mary, which was a really cool experience—though I couldn’t get the Titanic song out of my head the entire time.
The next morning, we woke up early to overcast skies and temperatures in the mid-60s. It was a little chilly, but we weren’t too worried because we’d been told wetsuits were provided.
We checked out of the Queen Mary and drove just around the corner to Hotel Maya, where we’d be staying that night. Just outside the hotel, along the walking path, was the check-in stand for Jetski2Catalina.
This was officially happening.
Gearing Up
After checking in, we were directed to the dock where we met our three guides for the day. They were friendly, funny, and immediately put us at ease—which helped, because the nerves were definitely starting to build.
We were given our wetsuits… short wetsuits. At first, that made us a little nervous considering the cool weather and cold Pacific water. But once we got moving, the temperature really wasn’t bad at all. And later, when the sun finally came out, we were actually glad we weren’t in full-length suits.
We got suited up, were shown to our jet ski for the day, and decided to ride together on one ski so we could stay together the entire time. We loaded our gear into the dry compartment and listened very carefully to the safety briefing—especially since our nerves were now in full effect.
Then the guides pushed us off the dock and into the water.
Adventure officially started.
Heading Out
We slowly took off and cruised past the Queen Mary, which was a pretty cool sight from the water. We passed a Carnival cruise ship in port with people waving at us, then made our way past tanker ships and boats before reaching open water.
During the safety briefing, we’d been told that getting the jet ski up to around 33 mph was ideal—it helps lift the front end so the ski glides across the water instead of slapping every wave.
Easier said than done.
Sherri drove on the way out since I wanted to focus on shooting video, and also because I was a little nervous about having her hanging on the back while I drove. She was cautious at first, understandably worried about flipping or turning us over, so it took a little time for her to get comfortable.
We had one guide leading the group and two others riding at our flanks, watching everyone closely. There were about 12–14 jet skis total, spread out across the water.
Once Sherri found her rhythm, she opened it up—and I hung on for dear life.
Middle of the Ocean
After about 45 minutes, we stopped for a break. It was still overcast, and we couldn’t see land anywhere. The guides even gave us the option to jump in and swim.
I was tempted… but the water looked very dark, and the thought of what might be under there was enough to keep me firmly on the jet ski.
After a short break, we got back at it and cruised for another 30 minutes. Then the guides slowed us down and asked if we wanted to see dolphins.
This was the moment we’d seen in all the videos—and the one we were really hoping for.
A few minutes later, they appeared.
Dolphins—lots of them—swimming right alongside us, keeping pace as we rode at speed. They jumped in and out of the water, riding the waves with us. It was shocking, incredible, and easily the highlight of the entire trip.
After about ten minutes, they were gone just as suddenly as they appeared.
Catalina Island
We continued riding for another 20 minutes before taking another break. More riders jumped in the water this time, and the clouds were finally starting to break. Off in the distance, we could just barely make out what appeared to be Catalina Island.
When we started up again, the sun came out, the skies opened up, and we made our way into the marina. The guides secured the jet skis and shuttled us to the dock.
Once on the island, we walked to a nearby restaurant and enjoyed a great breakfast. Afterward, we explored some of the shops and rented a golf cart, which we used to ride around the island for about an hour.
It was beautiful—and incredibly satisfying knowing we’d earned our way there.
The Ride Back
Eventually, it was time to head back to Long Beach.
Sherri had developed a blister on her thumb from gripping the throttle, so we decided to switch positions and I would drive us back. I was a little nervous because getting there had already been physically demanding, and now I was responsible for keeping us upright.
I had Sherri hold onto my life vest so I could feel her grip and know she was secure behind me.
We didn’t shoot any footage on the ride back—and that was okay—because the winds had picked up and the water was much rougher. It felt like we were hitting waves head-on, and keeping the jet ski at speed was tough.
We took a couple of breaks, and I was completely exhausted at every stop. The ride back felt long and punishing, but it was one of those experiences where you push yourself simply to finish.
When we finally saw the large ships near Long Beach, we were beyond excited. We slowly cruised past the Queen Mary once again and made our way back to the dock.
We had done it.
The Aftermath
We returned to Hotel Maya, checked in, and planned to take a quick nap before heading out to dinner.
That nap was a mistake.
I woke up feeling like I’d been hit by a bus… followed by three cars, a truck, and an 18-wheeler. My insides felt tossed around, and my muscles—especially my core—were sore in ways I didn’t know were possible.
Still, we somehow got dressed and made it to dinner in downtown Long Beach.
The next morning, we headed back up to Los Angeles, drove around Hollywood for a bit, then made our way to LAX for our flight back to Dallas.
Final Thoughts
Overall, we’d give this adventure an 8 out of 10.
Would we do it again?
Sherri: No. She’s glad she did it and proud she completed it—but once was enough.
Me: I’d do it again in a heartbeat—with the right group of adventurous people.
This wasn’t an easy experience. It tested us physically and mentally, pushed us outside our comfort zone, and left us sore, exhausted, and incredibly proud.
And honestly?
That’s exactly the kind of travel we live for.