Gilligan’s Watersports Parasailing, Pontoon Boats & Waverunner Rentals

Gilligan's of Destin – Where to Kick Off All Your Florida Adventures in Style
Local Expert's Rating:
4 / 5
The Bottom Line:

Do you want to fly high above the Emerald Coast? Or get down on the water and zip around to your heart’s content? If so, let Gilligan’s of Destin jumpstart your adventures. Their watercraft rentals, dolphin tours, and parasailing trips all promise to leave you wholly impressed.

- The FloridaPanhandle.com Local Expert Team

If you want to kick your Florida adventures into high gear, look to Gilligan’s of Destin for all you need. They’re the place to go for pontoon boat and Waverunner rentals plus exciting dolphin tours. Want to see the Emerald Coast from an all-new perspective? Then, just sign up for a parasailing trip to remember.

No matter how you want to experience the oceanside, you just have to sign up for your experience through their online booking system. Through that process, you’ll get to select your preferred date and departure time, securing your spot in an instant. Plan to confirm your booking the day before your selected date, and then arrive 30 minutes early to get checked in.

After that, you’ll meet with the captain and crew to go over what to expect and learn about all their safety rules. Pay close attention to the rundown, so you can simply focus on having a great time once you get on the water or in the air. Unless you go out on your own, the captain will expertly pilot the boat, ensuring you have a great time while keeping you safe. If any crew comes along, they’ll be there to assist in improving your experience plus offering support whenever needed.

Their most popular activities:

Parasailing
On their Parasailing adventure, you get to ride solo or side by side with up to two other people while flying 400 feet above the Emerald Coast. From that vantage point, you can see from Destin to Fort Walton plus gaze in awe at Okaloosa Island. Dolphins and other marine life often make an appearance, too. Want to capture the memories to share far and wide? Just ask for their photo package before you go.

Dolphin Tours
Do you dream of getting to see dolphins swimming about in their natural habitat? If so, you definitely need to go on a Dolphin Tour. For this trip, you’ll hop on a Waverunner and follow your guide to all the top dolphin hotspots. Then, you can watch in awe as the dolphins swim around you all while learning more about these magnificent creatures.

Waverunners
If you’ve always wanted to feel the wind through your hair while you zip through the water at breakneck speed, sign up for a Waverunner rental. You can take your watercraft up and down the coast in search of sea turtles, dolphins, and tropical fish. Or head over to Crab Island to party the day away with other like-minded watercraft enthusiasts.

Pontoon Boats
The Pontoon Boats allow you to take your entire family and all your friends out on the water for adventures of a lifetime. You can take the boats out fishing, jet on over to Crab Island, or just putt along the coast at your leisure. For an even more exciting trip, ask for their double-decker boat with dual slides and a second-story platform.

Planning on renting a pontoon boat? You’ll need to be over 18 years of age and have a valid boating education certificate. If you don’t have a certificate, you can complete their online boating education course online before your arrival. Plan to study a bit before taking the exam to pass with flying colors. You have unlimited exam attempts, so if you don’t pass the first time, just try again until you do. Once you get 76% or higher, the system will provide your temporary boating certificate to show at check-in.

Insider Tips:
-You must give at least 24 hours’ notice for all cancellations. Otherwise, you won’t get any of your money back.
-Even when giving proper notice on cancellations, expect to see a small service fee taken out of your refund.
-If the weather does not cooperate, the crew will cancel your reservations. You’ll have a chance to reschedule at that time or just ask for a refund.
-All throughout the summer, the captain holds nighttime pontoon boat cruises along The Harborwalk. From that vantage point, you get to admire the sunset, and then stick around for a wonderful fireworks show.