This is a truly wonderful place with beautiful decor. It has come such a long way! I absolutely…read morelove coming here to enjoy the peace and nature. Plus, Andrew who works there is always respectful and so helpful with loading me in and out safely.

I've paddled the Emerald Cut a few times now. Initially I didn't like the idea of paying to launch…read moremy own paddleboard. However, it's only $10 now that I have my own life jacket (saving me additional cost of $5 to use one of theirs, as required). Well worth the low cost for some soul-enriching, communing with nature. I have never made a reservation. I normally arrive around 10:30, most recently on a Friday. Parked for free on Baptist Camp Rd. Just a bit of a walk from there with my inflated paddleboard, but I don't mind the extra exercise. You can unload your stuff closer, if preferable. There are port-a-potties available. You can count on there being a line in the check-in office. Various recreation supplies are available there for purchase. The process moves reasonably enough. A reservation will guarantee your entrance, however, and possibly aide quicker personal info collection. I always plan to do the Emerald Cut in roughly 3 hours round-trip, allowing myself several stops to enjoy the surroundings. You do run into (quite literally at times) novice paddlers along the way, which can be a bit tricky, yet not a real nuisance for me. In general, there's friendliness along the waterway. Slighty rowdy, party vibes in some spots, but also opportunities for solace and zen in various nooks. Encountering wildlife, fragrant elderberry, and other captivating flora along this stretch is always gratifying. It's a popular recreation destination for good reason.

Had an awesome time with my family. captain Sam was a great tour guide! Highly recommend!read more

We had a great time! Our airboat driver was really knowledgeable about the area and we learned a…read morelot! Thank you!

My family and I took a beautiful boat ride with Captain Dennis and his first mate Dennis Jr. They…read morewere pleasant, professional and fun! We saw all the gulf beaches and Dennis pointed out attractions and restaurants to enjoy during our visit. Their rates were fair and the scheduling experience was easy. We will be back for sure!!

From the owner: We offer private boat charter trips to Egmont Key, Shell Key, Passage Key and Intercoastal…read morecruising. We also offer inshore fishing charters , Captain Dennis is a master captain who has been boating the area for over 40 years.

Garrett was a blast! We are just coming into the warm season and most manatees are back in the…read moregulf, he still got us to 7 manatees, 2 gators, and we caught a dolphin in kings bay towards the end. He gave us plenty of time to look for things to come up out of the water which was great for my 2 year old. Boat was shaded and was enjoyable even with a small child. Other tours wouldn't let me book because she was under 3- we brought our own lifevest but they did also have some on board that were her size.

I don't know where to start…read more This was the absolute best day. We started at the River Ventures Dive Center at 6:30AM, where we were offered coffee, tea, hot cocoa and snacks, and spent the next bit with an educational video and a wetsuit fitting. From there, we took a bus to the dock, in the most gorgeous sunrise light. let by our Guide Nat. Captain Emerson met us at the covered, heated pontoon, and our group set off through the water, for the protected manatee zone. The water was FULL of our sweet sea potatoes... in fact, it was difficult to even get off the boat because our new friends swam right up to the ladder. Nat had given excellent instructions. We immediately leaned into our pool noodles and gently followed her lead through the water. It took just moments before manatees were all around us. We stayed calm and quiet, and they either continued snoozing, or swam up to investigate us. Nat was on point with the camera, and with showing us things like the tarpon and sheepshead fish, and she was also shared little details about the manatees as we floated. Of course, with nature, there are no guarantees, and I really had no idea what to expect, but I was absolutely delighted by the interactions we had. The cold snap absolutely played into our favor, and I am so glad we showed up with our adventurous spirit. When we returned to the boat, there were more snacks, as well as hot cocoa, coffee, tea, and a variety of drinks in the cooler (water, beer, wine, soda, and white claws). We were so grateful for the boat covering and heater as we made our way back to the dock, and we had great chats with Nat, Emerson, and the other group on our tour. Was it cold? Sure. But the water felt great at 72ºF, and our wetsuits did a wonderful job of protecting us and keeping us buoyant. Our experience was incredible, from booking, to engaging with the staff with any questions we had, to the actual tour itself. The photos and videos were absolutely phenomenal, as well, and we were happy to purchase the package, as well as some gifts from the souvenir shop. We will be back for more manatee viewing, or to try one of their other tours. Thank you so much for the best day!

Good bait..the service was great ..look forward to getting back with them and do some great fishing.read more

Service by Captain Joe and his crew is always right on and professional. Not only is the fishing,…read morebait, reels lines, top line, but the fun of going through the store and seeing what would make a fun day at the beach or a wish list is right in front of you. The crew is always there to help give recommendations but are not pushy. I have not visited in over a year but have plans to be there frequently this year. Can't wait to see everyone and how things have changed. Again, great job! Barracuda Bob's Captain Joe.

Great time. A goid mix of touring the swamp, seeing the various animals and plants, most notably…read morethe beautiful cypress trees. Our captain really knew a greatbdeal and I learned a great deal about the swamps. Saw a real cold-water spring, and he got us into some open water where he could show what anbairboat can do. We came thinking it would be a cute but cheesey way to kill a day. At best a kitchy tourist trap, and at worst an overpriced, boring tourist trap. It was neither. It was fun and also surprisingly informative. We all (there were 6 of us) had a great time and will definitely go back.

IT was fun! I wish we saw more wildlife but it was so flippin hot I understand why the animals were…read morehiding .. we did see a few alligators and flew around the lake! I took my team, and we were able to buy a bucket of Bud Light and drink it on the ride. It doesn't get more MERRICA than this! PS Nice A/C and bathroom facilities where you pay and VERY friendly people who work there!

What a fun experience! We took our daughter, her husband and our 3 grandkids (3 year old and twin…read more11 year olds). We all loved it. The kids couldn't stop talking about it. Captain Chad was great - we saw many alligators, turtles, lotsa big water birds and had a blast scooting around in the Airboat. Getting to hold the baby alligator was so cool. Special shout out to Anji, who took excellent care of our group and answered all our questions. She was so knowledgeable. We spent about 2 hours there in total . . . a great value for our money.

Captain Chad did not disappoint. We saw more than 20 gator and turtles, fish and birds. The ride…read morewas amazing and the location beautiful. Captain Chad was very knowledgable ! Highly recommend!!

Had a great experience ~ would highly highly recommend. McCoy was extremely knowledgeable and…read morefreely shares his knowledge! You know you have a great guide when he is as excited about the fish you catch as you are!! Caught lots of fish and the whole experience was extremely professional beginning to end! Had a super time ~ well worth the cost!

Spent a foggy morning with Capt McCoy on the lake fishing for bass. Despite the weather, Captain…read moreMcCoy was able to guide us to the fish and we pulled in several bass and a couple of pickerels. A very personable and knowledgeable guide, Capt McCoy had several tips and tricks of the trade he shared with us that made our experience fun and interesting. Highly recommend him!