Partners in a parasailing firm yesterday fired back at cruise lines which warned their passengers away from taking part in the activity they offer.

Island Parasailing partners, MP Wayne Perinchief and Phillip Anderson, challenged any shipping agents and cruise line members who felt the activity was unsafe to come take a ride on their specifically-built parasailing vessel, the Skinny Dipper .

The duo were responding to an article in The Royal Gazette which revealed that Carnival Cruise Lines had circulated a pamphlet amongst its passengers aboard the Inspiration which advised them that activities such as parasailing and moped riding were risky.

It later emerged that the warning was standard practice on some cruise lines who were seeking to protect themselves from any liability which might arise if a passenger was injured.

"The only thing coming out of this is a bad reputation for parasailing which is a perfectly safe thing to do if it is done with professional people,'' said Mr. Anderson.

Mr. Anderson, who captains the Skinny Dipper , added: "I have two international certifications from international parasailing associations. I also have certification which qualifies me to be a parasailing instructor.'' And he noted: "Bermuda has some of the highest standards in the world when it comes to parasailing.'' Mr. Anderson claimed the lines which warned their passengers about parasailing's supposed dangers were basing their information on parasailing operations at other destinations "where there are not high standard rules and regulations''.

And his partner Mr. Perinchief, a Government backbencher, pointed out that there was only one parasailing-related accident on record for Bermuda.

This was caused when a swimmer had grabbed hold of the parasail's chute as he swam in the water and was lifted up in the air before falling to his death.

"The person in the parasail was perfectly safe,'' noted Mr. Anderson.

"We have been doing this for three years and we are incident free,'' stressed Mr. Perinchief. "We have had thousands of customers each year who have been nothing but satisfied with the experience.''