Reminds me of the weird Beachcombers Island that Disney World created for recreational activities too, for a wave machine for surfing! When the Polynesian Resort was being constructed, the Vice President of Park Operations (Dick Nunis) came up with the idea of adding surfing as a recreational activity for guests, since Disney wanted to be able to compete with the miles and miles of existing Floridian beaches, and they believed outdoor recreation was the key! They knew they had to build it before the Seven Seas Lagoon was filled, a cove area would have to be carved out, and the costs of building WDW were already extremely high, but he wouldn't take no for an answer and with help from WED and Roy O. Disney, he secured the funds. The wave machine had three problems that Disney did not expect. The main thing was the Seven Seas Lagoon and the beaches suffered from severe erosion. The wave machine did such a good job of creating ocean like waves that the manmade beaches could not withstand the force. Another issue was the transportation around the lagoon. The wave machine made it very difficult to operate watercraft in and around the Polynesian docks, specifically the Southern Seas. The Southern Seas was the 100 foot long side steamship used to transport guests from 1971 to 1975. It was incredibly vulnerable to the rolling waves coming off of Beachcomber cove and made it difficult for the captains to navigate the area. There were also reports that the wave machine machinery failed often, and the wave machine could only run for a few hours at a time.

I've lived in San Diego over 50 years, and I never knew about this place. This is a fascinating video. Also, you are a great video host. I learned a lot from this video and I really enjoyed watching it.

Very interesting and entertaining. A friend and I rented a 16 foot Snipe sailboat on Mission Bay back in the late 1970s. We had a wonderful time sailing, beached the boat on West Ski Island and had our lunch on the beach there. It was very relaxing. Thanks for posting this video!

You find the coolest things to research Steve... most people wouldn't care about some tiny island but this is what sets you apart from other channels. Thank you for protecting the seagull and thank you Mrs. Steve for your lifesaving efforts 😊

Seagull encounter, history and power sports! This one has it all! AND… it’s darn nice to meet you, Steve, a couple years in.

Born there in 1949... I lived in Mission Beach in the 60s. I remember swimming in the bay and thinking how yucky, mucky the bottom was. It freaked me out, so mostly, I crossed MB Blvd and did my swimming in the ocean. I used to live on San Jose Pl for $100/mo. Boy... are those days gone!

I was born in San Diego in 1959. My family would rent a cabin in Mission Bay with another family (friends). It had a concrete floor in the living room with a drain in the center. For over a decade we would spend all summer there in the 60s. My sister and I ran free. "Here's a dollar. See you at dinner." when I was only 6. Different world... I don't remember there being an island. I do remember that I couldn't stand the feeling of the grass in the sand near the shore. My mom would have to float me out on a raft until we were past it. Picky kid! We spent more time on the ocean side. Thank you for the into and the memories.

I grew up in the 1950s and 60s in San Diego. I still remember seeing the dredging operations. As they were dredging they dug up all the oil, petroleum and other waste that had accumulated from the ships that dumped it there and the smell was terrible depending on the wind. i was also in one of the first school trips to visit Sea World when it first opened. The Marines used that area when it was still a swamp to train. You could see them occasionally from the highway and my Dad, who was in the Navy, would always laugh and point at the Swamp Turkeys when we drove by. Thanks for your videos as they always bring back memories of the years my brother and I lived in San Diego as boys.

Here's another odd island that's a part of the US that people don't think about: Wake Island. It even has its own unofficial flag that was designed in 1976 for the US Bicentennial by Filipino workers on the island. What if I were to tell you that this random island in middle of the Pacific was the ORIGINAL San Francisco? Wake Island derives its name from British sea captain Samuel Wake, who rediscovered the atoll in 1796. However, the first Europeans to discover the island were the SPANISH by Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira! He saw the island on October 2, 1568, the eve of the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, so he named it San Francisco. The more famous San Francisco in California on the other hand wasn't named as such until JUNE 1776!

I've lived in San Diego for most of my adult life. I worked at Sea World from 1990 to 2009 and never knew there was an East Ski Island. I also didn't know what West Ski Island was called, just remember seeing it from Ski Beach when we had bonfires there. Thanks for making this video.

Lived in SD 37 years, never knew about these little islands, i also never knew that mission bay is the biggest "manmade aquatic park" pretty cool! Love learning more about our awesome city. Great job BTW on the video and hosting .

Your raft experience was hilarious. Thanks for the chuckles.

In about 1967, my parents bought a 16 foot boat with a 100 horsepower outboard. We learned how to waterski, and we landed on both ski islands at times to take a break. People were allowed on the islands back then. The West island was the larger of the two, and it was solid all the way across. When the bay was being dredged in the winter, one place they would pump the sand was the ski islands, Fiesta island was the other. Once I jumped out of the boat at East Ski island, and I landed on a broken beer bottle, cutting my right foot.

Growing up in the '50s I remember the stench from the swamp that was to become Mission Bay. When it finally got finished we lived in Clairemont (near Genesse/Balboa) and I could hear the jet boats on Saturday morning ripping up the water. GRRRRRRRRRRRRR the engines roared and I loved listening to them. My dad always said that it was Frank Curren that was responsible for getting Mission Bay approved/completed. Don't know if that's true or not.

This was a surprise to me. I had a dog walking biz for 10 years, and I have walked around Fiesta Island (or, as I call it, Fester island) about a thousand times. I never noticed this island.

Steve! When you said you had to be rescued, and you panned the camera over to your wife standing in the water holding your raft, I blew the drink l was drinking out my nose! FUNNY!!! Seriously, thank you for all your videos, and especially your presentation. You keep on shooting, and I'll keep on watching! RV

I went by this island a while back and was curious about it. Your attempt to cross in a kids inflatable boat had me cracking up! Thanks for sharing!

Great video. We have lived in San Diego since 1988, and always love Mission Bay. For those who have never been, the boating, water skiing, kayaking, jet skiing of course, are all easily accessible. Also, boating events like Thunderboats; and even concerts by the Bay. There is waterfront shopping and great seaside restaurants. We are so fortunate to live here!

i live in san diego now and it’s really weird living in such a popular place. i’ve sat on the beach in the beginning on the video and it makes me get the chills. only been a year and i’ve seen so many people talk about things i live only miles from.

another great show 👍🏼 thank you for taking us along 😎 kick it man 😁

My Grama used to bring us here every Wednesday (those were our half days at school). She'd swim out to that island with us, such good memories from the 70's. Love and miss my Gram.

Oh man, I had major flashbacks being about 7 years old with my brother and babysitter paddling on an inflatable raft in mission bay in the 90’s. You’re a brave man.

I've lived in San Diego my whole life, and even grew up across the street on crown point drive in the early 90's and never knew any of this.. hadn't even realized that the little island I saw growing up had since changed into that shape.. I appreciate your content, thank you

Again, Steve, really appreciate the video, as always. As a graduate of Mission Bay High School back in the mid-70s, this one was of particular interest to me as I'd never noticed the islands of the bay much, either. Hit some strong nostalgia with the videos of the sidewalks I use to run for high school sports and such. I also worked a spell at Mission Bay Campland...don't know if that's still the name of the campgroup out behind my high school. As I sit up here in Washington State on a chilling fall day I can feel some of the warm of a San Diego day. As a history buff, I also found the old map of Mission Bay really informative and it gave me a greater appreciation for the changes that were made. Thanks for the info and memories.

🤦‍♂️I can't believe he tried to get there on that little boat. 🤣 That was a nice interesting video. 👍

When we first moved to SD, we lived in Claremont, my Stepfather retired from sea world, we would fly kits. In Mission bay. Later we moved to San tee , thanks for your documentaries

“Rescued!” Great laugh! I have not been on Mission Bay for forty years. I had no idea that the two ski islands had changed. Your maps and drone footage showed me the bay as I have never seen it. What a fun video!

Lived in Mission Beach for a short stint..., little sketchy but San Diego is an absolute Pearl. Mahalo

Great video Steve! I lived a block from the bay and always wondered about that island. It never made any sense to me so thanks for the history lesson. San Diego is so full of interesting history. I must say that I laughed when you started to try and sail your way there on that "boat" lol. I was like there's no way he's gonna make it on that thing!

I used to roller blade around the bay every morning. Glorious location. Absolutely my favorite place to live.

If you Google West Ski Island the first thing that comes up is this very video. Congratulations Steve!! I love, love, love your channel!

There used to be a similar island nearby that washed away. Another cool piece of trivia is that the shape of Fiesta Island and that entire area was developed specifically as a racetrack for Hydroplane Racing. Thanks for sharing!

I was born and raised in SD I only moved 5 yrs ago I never knew about this island. Wow Thank you so much.

I just found your channel. I love San Diego, but live in Mississippi. I come out every 2-3 months. I'm loving your videos to find new stuff to check out. Looking forward to my trip in October.

I laughed out loud when you got tired because when I was about 12 I tried to swim out to it thinking it was going to be easy. It was waaaay harder than it looked.

Not sure how this ended up in my recommended videos, but I checked it out and found it very interesting. I've been to Mission Bay many times and never heard of the Ski Islands.

Steve!!! 🤘🏻😊🤘🏻 Your videos are rad!! Thanks for making them!!

Very interesting! I've grew up coming to Mission Bay and was always curious about the little island!!

Exactly why I clicked on this SD native and although I didn't go tooling around the bay on a yacht, I was at Misson Bay, Misson Beach, La Jolla ALL the time and never knew about this!

This was a Great Video Steve. I had no idea that was even there considering I lived in San Diego 65 years. I have a picture in about 1956 of my Dad holding me at Mission Bay they used to allow you to drive down on the sand.

The orange raft was hilarious.

What up Steve!! I'm watching from NH and appreciate all the cool places I visit with you!! Keep up the adventures brother!!

I grew up in San Diego in the late 70's....Never knew they had names, however I do remember a party on Fiesta Island one Jan. when we carried a bunch of dead Christmas trees out to a sandbar (now I am guessing that was East Ski Island) set them on fire and had a bonfire you could feel the heat from on Fiesta.....lol

Thanks Steve for showing us West Key island up close.

This is so awesome Steve, I’m from Clairemont SD and have always wondered about the little crescent island with the concrete blocks

Peaceful guitar background....perfect

I absolutely love your videos, Steve. This episode has to be one of your best! I am just so thankful you were rescued by your wife. 🤣 Thank you for the wonderful videos. I have learned so much and I really enjoy how you deliver information in a calm and humorous manner. You Rock, San Diego Steve!

Have you ever thought about trekking out to the one island in the Mission Beach area that has what looks like a small Statue of Liberty on it? I have always wondered about taking a jet ski or small boat out to that island, just to Check it out, if I’m allowed to.

I really appreciate your interesting content, good humor, and care about wildlife (the seagull).

The inflatable boat part was funny as hell. Great video, I just moved to SD.

I'm paddling in the dragon boat races this September at Mission Bay! We race next to the Hilton!

Man I've lived in San Diego for 10 years and I've been over to the island several times. It's a great place to park when you're Jetskiing and want to take a break. Just cruise over to Seaforth Boat Rentals and get a ski over there and have a blast going out to the island. There's also a bunch of baby crabs that hang out inside the holes of the blocks during certain times of the season.

Hi Steve! Love watching all your videos. I spent years skiing around those islands, and we were always reminded by Harbor Patrol not to set-foot on the islands. Thanks for taking us there for another view!

they were always on the thomas guide maps, that one has caved in since the 1980'a, back when we used to swim out to them from fiesta island.

Cool video Steve, San Diego native, frequent Mission Bay, never knew about East or West Key Island, keep up the great videos, thanks!

I once tried to swim across Mission Bay. I underestimated how hard the current would be, and started to struggle. I turned around, and was pretty sure I might not make it back to shore when I was rescued by a dog, a black lab swam out to me, I grabbed ahold of his collar and he pulled me back to shore. My friends had fallen asleep on the beach and had no idea what i was doing. Dumb move on my part, but that dog saved my life. When we got back to shore, it took off and I never knew where he came from.

Thank you so much! You seem like a laid back, fun person to be around.

I like the way Steve is very thorough,explains everything, easy to understand! Very informative, Keep up the good work!

We live about 3 miles from there and have gone out on the bay relatively frequently over the past 50 years or so. I saw as they refurbish that island. We've got a jet boat, so it wouldn't affect us, but there used to be a fairly large area of shallow water around both of those islands. Not good for propellers or sailboat keels. The East island was pretty much right in the way of the normal course around the bay for waterskiing is probably why they took it out. And until a couple years ago, you could land your boat on that island even after they fixed it.

I'm a native San Diegan. I've gone water skiing out there a few times, and I don't remember it either!

“Since it’s his home and I don’t want to cause him any trouble I’m going to bring the drone in” you are so respectful 😊🥹

Again, I enjoyed another one of your videos. Thank you.

Great video!!! Love that area and have spent a lot of time there and didn't know about this little island. I'm so glad they took the time to protect it. Also, I saw that you rented the jetski from the rental place at Campland. Let's hope San Diegans push to keep Campland alive and not turn it into Condos. Thanks for the great video. Love your videos!!

Your a very brave soul. Glad you stayed safe.

Wow, I also grew up here and never heard or knew of this island much less the history behind it. Thank you, Steve, for the edumication.😎

Enjoy your videos, Steve! I was raised in San Diego, and now retired in Arizona. Learning lots of interesting things about both places thru your videos! Humorous, well-photographed and well-researched!

Something else to investigate: the NOSC Tower, off shore from Dog Beach.

I like the history lesson that you give on your adventures. More than just a video.

I got to go into San Diego bay one Xmas, on a sail boat!! I will never forget it...

This video makes me wanna go back so bad...my grandparents lived there when I was a child and would go visit every summer...its been well over 20 years since I last been there. And I'm struggling to fully remember my visits to sea world and the zoo, only few core moments...I need to go relive that lol

Thank you for the excellent video! Super interesting. And you answered a debate my friend and I had because I knew that it wasn't always crescent shaped and he was sure they made it like that to begin with.

This is Totes Island. My grandfather who has lived in PB and La Jolla his whole life "since 1951' " took me here starting back in the 90s. Why people started calling it West Ski Island is besides me.

Thanks for doing this. I did a ton of fishing in mission Bay as a kid and knew they were islands but definitely never knew all of this. Thanks

This video put a smile on my face...

I love and am a native 40yr old of San Diego. Had no idea the islands were there! .... You're videos are great! And well narrated. I went and got them up w my seadoos and it's no where near shallow enough to cause damage! get back out there ....

Before there was no trespassing I used to take my kayak out there with friends and hang out for the day in the protected cove. I'm sad to see it closed but at least it closed for good reasons.

I paddle board out there alot. It's tricky with wind and currents. It can be tough to navigate with wind against you. It's a great workout. They rent boards so I don't have to haul mine everytime. It's wonderful!

First time seeing this channel. That rescue made me LMAO. Subscribed.

“I’m being rescued right now!” 🤣

Awesome video! Looking forward to your next adventure! I’ve lived in Pacifc Beach almost 7yrs and had no clue this existed 😅

Cool video! I lived in SD for about 5 years (all over the city and different parts of the county) and never knew about West Ski Island. Thanks for the info, and I'll be sure to steer clear of that inflatable boat 🤣

Lived on Crown Point and jogged around Mission Bay a lot, saw this island all the time 1990-2019

Steve!! We love you, Steve! …and we love your super awesome content, too! I’ve gone on a couple hikes based on your vids, so thanks!! And btw - this is your best one yet 😆 bring on the personality!

I enjoy your upbeat and positive attitiude

Interesting information Steve thank you...!

Interesting video. Thanks for sharing.

Real nice video, and I have never seen this island prior to this video. so good job.

Wow, another interesting story! Thanks so much!!!

Love the vid keep ‘em coming !!!

I'll never forget this place, was the location of my first outdoor bowl movement when I was once a wee lad.

...really appreciate your selection and leveling of music...!

That is so interesting! I too, lived in San Diego all my life and I never knew of this. Thank you!

THANK YOU, I never knew that much about Mission Bay islands, but the roller skates and beach area of Mission Bay

That was very funny when you couldn't get out to the island cuz you were tired I can totally relate

Good structure for spotted bay bass and halibut too. I lived in PB for years and got married at the catamaran hotel in 1994. Very nice memories

whenever i go to the bay i always swim towards that island! it’s super fun with friends!

I've lived in San Diego my entire life and hadn't known about this. The facts about Mission Beach were awesome too! Awesome video!

That is so sad that the city got rid of one island and put cement blocks around the other one! They were fun places to go! And yes, you needed a boat. I saw these changes on google earth recently and couldn’t believe my eyes. Thank you for the update!

Hysterical man! You crack me up!!😊

Neat video! Thanks Steve!