A titanium sapphire laser spectrometer along with velocity modulation detection was used to record, between 12000 and 13400cm(-1), the absorption spectrum of the (A) over tilde(2)A(1)-(X) over tilde(2)B(1) electronic transition of H2O+ produced in an ac glow discharge with a gas mixture of He/H2O. The Sigma(0,7,0)-(0,0,0) transition has been observed at 13411cm(-1) and revised rotational assignments are presented. The Delta(0,7,0)-(0,0,0) and Pi(0,6,0)-(0,0,0) transitions have been observed for the first time, at 13331 and 12494 cm(-1), respectively. The vibrational assignment follows the vibrational numbering of Brommer ct al. [J. Chem. Phys. 98, 5222 (1993)]. The rotational analysis was performed using the combination differences technique. Strong perturbations are observed, they are tentatively explained in term of rovibronic interactions. A set of effective molecular parameters has been obtained for each vibrational level of the A state. The values of the spin-orbit parameter are reported, they illustrate the vibronic coupling between the two electronic states. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.