10 Water Adventures You Can’t Miss in North Myrtle Beach

Three hundred feet up, the jet ski engine noise fades to nothing. It’s just you, the harness, and the entire Grand Strand stretched out below — the coastline curving north toward Cherry Grove, the Intracoastal Waterway threading through green marsh like a silver ribbon, the ocean shifting from turquoise to deep blue as the shelf drops off. For ten silent minutes, you’re not a tourist on a beach trip. You’re flying.

That’s parasailing. And it’s just one of the North Myrtle Beach water activities that turn the Atlantic and the Intracoastal from scenery into story. Here are 10 of the best, with specific outfitters and tips from someone who’s tried them all.

1. Jet Ski Dolphin Tours

My pick for: the single best water experience in NMB

You twist the throttle and the jet ski jumps forward, salt spray hitting your face and arms as you carve through the wake of the boat ahead. The guide leads you single-file through the Intracoastal Waterway — marsh grass blurring past on both sides, pelicans lifting off the channel markers as you approach. Then the guide cuts the engine and signals everyone to idle. You drift. The water goes still. And then — a dorsal fin, maybe fifteen feet away, followed by two more, breaking the surface with that soft exhale you can actually hear when the engines are off. Nobody says a word. The dolphins circle, dive under the jet skis, surface again. You are sitting on a machine that does 55 mph and you have zero interest in moving.

That’s the moment people come back talking about.

Top picks:
– Myrtle Beach Watersports (Harbourgate Marina, NMB) — Family-owned since 1996. Their North Myrtle Beach location is the best — closer to the ocean, more scenic routes, and includes an island stop where you can wade and explore. Dolphin sightings are guaranteed or you get a voucher for a dolphin cruise boat.
– Action Water Sportz — Two NMB locations with adventures through the ICW to remote islands and backcountry.
– Aloha Watersports — Great for first-timers with professional guides who keep the pace comfortable.
– East Coast Jet Ski Adventures — NMB-based, solid tours with good equipment.

What to know: Drivers must be 16+ with a valid license. No boater’s license required. Book the morning tour for the highest dolphin sighting rates — the pods are most active before the midday boat traffic picks up.

2. Parasailing

My pick for: the most unforgettable 10 minutes of your trip

The takeoff is the part that surprises everyone. There’s no jump, no jolt. The line tightens, you take two steps on the deck, and then your feet just… leave. The boat shrinks below you. The noise fades. And by the time you’re at 300 feet, the only sound is the wind and the creak of the harness. Below you, the Grand Strand stretches in both directions — the coastline curving north toward Cherry Grove, the marsh creeks threading like capillaries through the green, the ocean shifting from pale turquoise to dark blue where the continental shelf drops off. You can see for miles and you can hear nothing. Ten minutes of absolute silence and a view that makes your phone camera feel inadequate.

The descent is gentle — you float down to the deck and land on your feet, and you immediately want to go back up.

Top picks:
– New Wave Watersports — Banana boat ride out to the parasail boat, up to 300 feet high, very family-friendly.
– Aloha Watersports — 2–3 person parasails with photo packages.
– Atlantic Watersports — Panoramic ocean views from their launch point.

3. Salt Marsh Kayaking

My pick for: the experience most visitors never discover

This is my personal favorite, and I’ll tell you exactly why. You paddle away from the launch and within five minutes the sounds of the road disappear. Just gone. It’s you, the drip of the paddle, and the marsh. The water is flat and copper-colored in the morning light. Fiddler crabs scatter by the hundreds along the mudflats — a miniature stampede every time your kayak glides past. A great blue heron stands completely motionless in the shallows, and it doesn’t flinch until you’re ten feet away, when it lifts off with a wingspan that genuinely startles you. The air smells like pluff mud — that rich, dark, almost sulfuric smell that newcomers wrinkle their noses at and locals call the perfume of the Lowcountry. You’ll either love it or hate it, but you’ll never forget it.

Guided tours take you through the salt marshes behind Cherry Grove and along the Intracoastal Waterway. You’ll see dolphins, sea turtles, crabs, osprey, herons, and an entire ecosystem that most beach visitors drive right over on the bridge and never experience.

Top picks:
– J & L Kayaks (4208 Exchange St, Little River) — Guided tours through salt marshes and the ICW. Knowledgeable guides who know the local wildlife by name and habit.
– Great Escapes Kayak Expeditions (Longs, SC) — Guided adventures to barrier islands with time to explore on your own.
– Kokopelli Surf Camp & Kayak Tours — Kayak tours plus surf lessons if you want a two-for-one day.

4. Paddleboarding

My pick for: a quiet morning on the water

The first three minutes are all balance — your legs shaking, your paddle gripping too tight, your center of gravity searching for something it doesn’t trust yet. And then it clicks. Your knees soften, the board steadies, and suddenly you’re gliding. The calm water behind Cherry Grove is glass-flat on a windless morning, and from your standing height you can see straight down to the sandy bottom — stingrays ghosting along, small fish darting in schools that change direction as one. The salt marsh creeks are sheltered from ocean waves, which makes them perfect for beginners and perfect for the meditative rhythm of paddle, glide, paddle, glide.

Most kayak outfitters also rent paddleboards — ask when you book.

5. Dolphin Cruises

My pick for: families with young kids or anyone who wants to relax

If jet skiing isn’t your speed, dolphin cruises are the other way to meet the locals. The difference is pace. You’re on a 75-foot boat with comfortable seating, a drink in your hand, and a captain narrating the ecology of the Intracoastal while you scan the water. There’s no engine noise to compete with — just the low hum of the boat and the conversations around you. When the fins appear, it’s almost casual. Someone points, the boat slows, and the dolphins surface and dive alongside you while kids press against the railing with phones out. It’s the relaxed version of the jet ski tour — same dolphins, different heartbeat.

Top picks:
– Myrtle Beach Watersports — 75-foot dolphin cruise boats in addition to jet ski tours.
– Voyager Deep Sea Fishing & Dolphin Cruises (1525 13th Ave N, NMB) — Dual-purpose charter.
– Sea Screamer & Sea Thunder Dolphin Cruises — Narrated tours from the ICW to the Atlantic.
– Enchanted Sailing Charters — Half-day cruises to romantic sunset voyages.

Tip: Morning tours consistently have the highest dolphin sighting rates.

6. Surfing

My pick for: a story you’ll retell for years

The waves at North Myrtle Beach are gentle, which is exactly what you want when you’re learning. The instructor pushes you into a knee-high swell, you pop up on wobbly arms, and for two or three seconds you’re standing on the ocean — sandy water churning around your ankles, salt on your lips, the shore rushing toward you. Then you fall. And you come up laughing, sand in places sand shouldn’t be, already paddling back out. The mellow North Myrtle Beach water activities scene makes this a great place to learn because the waves are forgiving and the lineups aren’t intimidating.

Cherry Grove is the go-to spot for surfers because it has no restricted surfing hours, less crowded lineups, and reliable conditions.

Lessons: Kokopelli Surf Camp offers lessons for all ages and skill levels. Summer months have the most consistent surf.

7. Fishing

My pick for: the angler in every family (even the one who doesn’t know it yet)

Cherry Grove Pier at dawn is something. The sky is pink and gray, the pier stretching out over dark water, and a dozen lines are already in. You can hear the reels clicking, the low conversation of regulars who’ve been fishing this pier for twenty years, the occasional slap of a bluefish hitting the boards. Then your rod tip bends — a real bend, not a nibble — and you set the hook and the fight starts. Even a two-pound whiting will pull hard enough to make your morning. That’s the thing about pier fishing: you don’t need experience or expensive gear. Rent a pole at the pier, bait up, drop it down, and wait. The ocean does the rest.

The Grand Strand is a fishing destination year-round:

• Cherry Grove Pier — Pole rentals available, excellent pier fishing. Great for families and beginners. The early morning regulars will give you tips if you ask.
• Little River Fishing Fleet & Calabash Fishing Fleet — Deep sea charters to the Gulf Stream for mahi, tuna, and wahoo. Full-day trips that are worth every dollar.
• Captain Smiley Fishing Charters — Inshore and nearshore trips for flounder, redfish, and speckled trout in the backwater creeks.
• Boat ramp at 53rd Avenue North (Cherry Grove) — Launch your own boat for creek and flounder fishing.
• Surf fishing — Popular year-round from the beach. Spanish mackerel and bluefish run April–May, and all you need is a rod, a sand spike, and some patience.

8. Shark Wake Park

My pick for: teenagers and anyone with energy to burn

Here’s something completely different. The cable system grabs you and pulls you forward across the lake — no boat, no driver, just a continuous overhead cable that tows you around the course. It feels different from being towed behind a boat because the pull is steady and overhead, which changes your balance and body position in ways that take a few runs to figure out. Located at the NMB Park and Sports Complex, Shark Wake Park is a state-of-the-art cable wakeboard park — wakeboarding, kneeboarding, and waterskiing at all skill levels. Then there’s Obstacle Island: an inflatable water obstacle course that turns into absolute chaos. Kids scrambling over walls, launching off slides, belly-flopping into the water, and screaming the entire time. Adults too, if we’re being honest.

No ocean needed — this is a fantastic alternative if the surf is rough or you want a break from saltwater.

9. Sailing & Boat Rentals

My pick for: couples and anyone who wants to slow down

There’s a moment on a sailboat when the captain cuts the engine and the sails catch the wind — the boat heels slightly, the motor noise drops to nothing, and the only sounds are the water against the hull and the canvas above you snapping taut. You’re moving, but it doesn’t feel like effort. It feels like the Intracoastal Waterway is sliding past you. The marsh, the osprey nests in the dead pines, the houses along the shore — all of it drifts by at a pace that makes you realize how fast you’ve been going all week.

Several outfitters rent pontoon boats for self-guided cruises or offer crewed sailing experiences:

• Blackbeard Boat Rentals — Pontoon boats for self-guided ICW cruises. No boating license required for most rentals.
• Enchanted Sailing Charters — Sunset sailing voyages for a more romantic experience. Bring a bottle of wine.
• Barefoot Princess Riverboat Cruise — Scenic ICW tour on a classic paddlewheel riverboat with narration.
• Pontiki Myrtle Beach — Party cruises with karaoke (yes, really). Not quiet. Not subtle. Exactly as fun as it sounds.

10. Banana Boat Rides

My pick for: pure, unfiltered chaos

There is no graceful way to ride a banana boat. Your group climbs onto the inflatable, everyone grips the handles, the speedboat driver guns it, and within thirty seconds someone is hanging on sideways, someone else is already in the water, and the rest of you are screaming and laughing so hard you can barely hold on. The driver takes a sharp turn. The banana tips. Everyone goes in. You surface, salt water up your nose, hair in your face, and the first thing you hear is your kid yelling “AGAIN.” Nobody cares about looking cool. Nobody cares about anything except climbing back on and holding on for one more turn. Most watersports outfitters include banana boats in their lineup — New Wave Watersports is a good bet.

Planning Your Water Day

A few tips for getting the most out of your time on the water:

• Book early. Popular tours (especially jet ski dolphin tours) sell out during peak season. Reserve a few days in advance — morning slots go first.
• Go in the morning. Calmer water, better dolphin sightings, less heat. The ocean is a different animal before 10 AM.
• Wear water shoes. Especially for kayaking and paddleboarding launches. The oyster shells on the marsh banks don’t care about your feet.
• Bring waterproof phone protection. You’ll want photos. A waterproof pouch costs ten dollars and saves a thousand-dollar phone.
• Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen. On the water, the sun is amplified by the reflection. You’ll burn faster than you think, especially on a jet ski or parasail where the wind makes you forget the heat.

Salt-Crusted, Sun-Tired, and Grinning — You’ll Need Somewhere to Collapse

After parasailing 300 feet above the Grand Strand, chasing dolphins through the Intracoastal on a jet ski, and paddling through salt marshes where osprey nest in the dead pines — you’re going to need a hot shower, a cold drink, and a couch. Our 3BR/2BA condo at 601 Hillside Dr N in Ocean Keyes has three bedrooms to spread out in, a full kitchen for cooking whatever you caught off Cherry Grove Pier, and a 0.65-mile walk to the beach for when you’re ready to do it all again tomorrow.

Every water adventure on this list is within 15 minutes of your door.

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