While on vacation, we wanted to do a jet ski excursion. We aren't super familiar with all the waterways in the area, but didn't want to be babysat either. Last year we chartered a carolina skiff with a local captain. She was able to show us some cool stuff, but the girls got sea sick a little and the only dolphin we saw was at the bait boat waiting to eat scraps.
I called a couple of days ago and asked for the availability for a couple of skis. They took my name and card number and advised they were not charging me until we got there. My brother and sister-in-law called in later, but there were no extra skis on my time slot. They said I could move to their new slot no problem-which was just a couple hours later. So we got there 30 minutes early and signed the form and paid.
You have two options.
Option number 1-go with a guide for 45 minutes. Scott will take you out and show you dolphins and SHARKS. He knows exactly where to take you. Then you have the option to go off by yourself for the remainder of your time, or stop by the sandbar. It was just 5 minutes from where the dolphins like to hang out. It's a big sandbar where you can walk out and snorkel if you want. There are shells out on the edge. Just be careful of the boating traffic!!
Option number 2- If you are familiar (or I guess if you're not) you can take off on your own for a couple of hours.
If you are 27 or older, all you need is money. If not, check out the website as you will need to take a boating safety test. Keep in mind this can be done online. However, as you move through the screens, there is a timer that only lets you progress so quickly (to ensure you are digesting the important lessons about safety). So make sure you either do this at home before your trip or a couple of days before. They will let you do a paper version at the launch, but it takes about 45 minutes according to their website. So allow for that time if you have a younger adult in the group.
The charge for us on the tour was $110. He gave us a 20 minute safety lesson on the skis and how to act around the other boaters. Once we were done he assigned us skis and we were off. We did the tour with Shell Island (option #1)
Scott took us straight to a pair of dolphins. He was very respectful of the other boaters and especially the dolphins. He told us when to cut off the engines (if we were close to the wild life) and where to drive to safely navigate the other boaters and divers. It can get a little crowded as the dolphins draw a lot of attention. We saw those up close for a few minutes hung out with the dolphins. They were awesome!! Afterward, Scott said,"Let's go find some sharks!" Within about 10 minutes we had found several black tipped sharks that were swimming about 25 yards off of Shell Island. If I had known that last year, I probably wouldn't have snorkeled where we did. It was basically the same place we saw several sharks.
We turned back so not to go out towards the hotels-Scott spotted a whole pod of dolphins. We enjoyed them as well. He then asked if we wanted to go off on our own or go chill on the sandbar. We took a collective vote and we decided to go to the sandbar. We snorkeled around and picked up shells. The other jet skiers left before we did. No problem. We kept track of time and about 20 minutes before our time ran out, we headed back to the launch. We had enough time to carve some waves before our arrival.
Scott was pretty firm with us when it came to certain rules, but I can imagine all the idiots that get on these motorized watercraft and don't obey the rules-and he has to deal with them. But so long as you obey the rules and keep up, there won't be any issues.
***************IMPORTANT*****************
Pay careful attention when he tells you the areas to stay away from-or you will get seaweed stuck in the intake under your jet ski. Not saying that happened to me. Just not saying it didn't happen. (=
We skated in just in time to meet our time goal. Overall, I had a BLAST! So did the rest of our group (4). The Mrs. had more fun that I expected and my Bro and Sis in law did as well. It was a vacation memory that will last forever. We are already talking about next year!
Thanks Scott! You made my vacation! read more