Jet Ski Rentals and Tours on Hilton Head

Jet Ski Prices on Hilton Head

Two companies post their jet ski rates. Sky Pirate charges $150 for 90 minutes, whether one or two ride, which makes it the lowest posted price per minute. H2O Sports charges $155 for an hour with one rider and $175 with two. Lowcountry Watersports, Sea Monkeys and Velora price by trip and date, and the booking cards above show Lowcountry’s and H2O’s live prices. None of them publishes a coupon.

• To save: put two on one ski. Sky Pirate charges the same for two riders, and H2O only $20 more.

• Time on the water: Sea Monkeys runs 1 hour 15 minutes, Sky Pirate and Lowcountry 90 minutes, and Lowcountry’s Creek Run Tour two hours.

• Riders stay put: once you leave the dock you keep the same driver and passengers for the whole ride at Sky Pirate and Sea Monkeys.

Guided Jet Ski Tours

Most jet skiing on Hilton Head is guided in some way. You follow a guide out of the marina, then either ride a route with them or get turned loose in a set riding area. Lowcountry’s Creek Run Tour is the true tour: two hours behind a guide through the marsh creeks, where herons, pelicans, ospreys and dolphins are common. Its Sunset Jet Ski ride goes out in the evening light. State law keeps jet skis off the water between sunset and sunrise, so a sunset ride finishes as the sun goes down.

Dolphins often swim close to jet skis in the sound and creeks. Enjoy them from a distance: NOAA asks riders to stay at least 50 yards away, and feeding or chasing them is illegal under federal law.

Where to Rent a Jet Ski

• Sea Pines and Harbour Town: H2O Sports, at the Harbour Town Yacht Basin by the lighthouse. It is the jet ski rental inside Sea Pines, including for guests staying near South Beach.

• Broad Creek, mid-island: Sky Pirate at Broad Creek Marina, 18 Simmons Rd.

• Palmetto Bay Marina: Lowcountry Watersports, 86 Helmsman Way, also on Broad Creek.

• The north end, by the bridge: Sea Monkeys at Hilton Head Harbor on Jenkins Island, and Diamond at the C.C. Haigh Jr. landing.

These rides start from marinas and landings behind the island, not from the beach, because the water there is calmer than the ocean. Velora tells you where to meet when you book.

Jet Ski Rules and Safety

Each company sets its own ages, on top of South Carolina law. Check the rule for your group before you book, because it decides who can drive.

• H2O Sports: at least one rider on each ski must be 18 with a driver’s license. Riders 6 and up, 400 lb per ski.

• Lowcountry Watersports: drivers 21 and up with a driver’s license (confirm when you book). Riders 6 and up, 425 lb per ski.

• Sea Monkeys: the renter must be 18. Drivers can be 16 with a license, but then every passenger must be 18 or older. Riders at least 30 lb.

• Boater education: anyone born after July 1, 2007 needs a South Carolina boater education card or a rental safety certificate to drive, or a qualified adult on board. Some outfits want it done before you arrive, so ask when you book.

South Carolina Jet Ski Law

• Everyone on a jet ski wears a Coast Guard-approved life jacket. The rental companies provide them.

• The driver wears the engine cut-off lanyard, so the ski stops if they fall off.

• No jet skis on the water between sunset and sunrise.

• Keep to no-wake speed where it is posted, around marinas, landings and docks.

Calibogue Sound and Broad Creek carry a lot of boat traffic in summer, and the tide runs hard through them twice a day. Keep a good distance from other boats, cross a big boat’s wake at an angle rather than jumping it, and head in when a thunderstorm builds, as they often do on summer afternoons. You can check the day’s tides on our Hilton Head tide chart.

When to Go Jet Skiing

Jet ski rentals run through the warm months, and Sky Pirate’s are seasonal, daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The water averages 76°F in May, 81°F in June and September, and 85°F in July and August, so you will not mind getting wet. April (69°F) and October (72°F) are cooler. Weekends and holidays fill first, and mornings are usually the calmest water, before the afternoon breeze and storms. The month-by-month figures are on our Hilton Head weather guide.

Pontoon Boats and Other Rides

Several jet ski companies rent boats as well, so a group can split between a pontoon and a couple of skis: Lowcountry Watersports, H2O Sports, Sky Pirate and Sea Monkeys all rent both. Marinas, landings and boat rentals are in our guide to boating on Hilton Head. Parasailing, kayaking and paddleboarding are on our Hilton Head water sports guide, and for a towed ride try our tubing and water skiing guides.