Liquid Assets
In Fort Myers, jet skis, kiteboards and windsurfing sessions turn open water into a playground for water sports lovers.
San Carlos Bay
Fort Myers Beach, @bethanytheboss
Sparkling waters and the promise of year-round playtime in our bays, rivers and the Gulf shape Fort Myers’ reputation as a water sports mecca. Step out of your landlocked comfort zone to learn, practice or refine your skills – from zipping through the surf on personal watercraft to soaring above the water powered by the wind.
Ways to Make Waves
Book a Jet Ski or WaveRunner tour that takes you into quiet backwaters to spot dolphins and manatees. Or rent your own personal watercraft and set out to explore hidden areas and shallow waters that larger boats can’t reach. Skim across Gulf waves or seek out protected waters for a smoother ride.
Step up the thrill level with an exhilarating parasail ride that takes you sky-high over our beautiful beaches. Or learn a new board sport when you fly with the wind and grab some air with a windsurfing or kiteboarding rental and lesson with Ace Performer Watersports in Fort Myers. For an electrifying experience, shoot skyward with an instructor on a flyboarding adventure at YOLO Watersports on Captiva Island. Or learn to conquer a wakeboard, kneeboard or wake-skate with excellent instruction at Revolution Cable Park in North Fort Myers.
Take your adventure below the surface with a snorkeling or scuba diving excursion and come face to face with vibrant marine life. Local scuba outfitters offer certification courses and can guide you on dive trips to the area’s offshore artificial reefs.
Tip: Many boat tours and charters include snorkeling gear as part of their sightseeing, nature or shelling outings.
Captiva Island, @kylaheusnerbanksmd
A Chat with Captain Mark of Cruise Fish Dive
We recently talked with Captain Mark Garcy after a busy day out on the water.
Captain Mark Garcy, owner of Cruise Fish Dive in Bonita Springs, turned his lifelong love of the water into one of the largest water sports and excursion companies in Southwest Florida. His business is a PADI five-star dive center that also offers fishing, kayaking and boat tours.
Q: Have you had a surprising or magical encounter while diving in our area?
A: We’ve had dolphins come up and swim with us out on the reefs... we’ve had turtles hang out with us... huge Goliath grouper that want to swim alongside you. We’ve even seen whales out there and whale sharks.
Q: What makes diving in the Fort Myers area different from other destinations?
A: In Southwest Florida, there are a number of artificial reef systems and lots of different types of natural reefs from soft coral and sponge areas, to ledges, to hard bottom reefs. We have so much biodiversity here. There’s plenty to see.
Q: When's the best time to dive?
A: The weather has a lot to do with any dive destination. So, you have to know how to time your trip. That’s why when you call us, we don’t have a set schedule. If we’re going to dive close to shore, we generally wait for an incoming tide.
Q: If I'm not an experienced diver, how can I experience the underwater world here?
A: Because the waters are relatively shallow, this area is great for new divers. And there’s not a big current because it’s not an ocean.
If you're not certified, we have a Discover Scuba Diving Experience. We can do a one-day or two-day experience where we start in the pool so people can get comfortable with the equipment. and then have several options to go out after that. (Interviewer's note: Anyone age 10 and up can participate, and all gear is provided.)
Q: How did you end up doing this for a living?
A: I’ve been an outdoorsman all my life. I always had a dream that I wanted to do this. Being able to go down and see everything under the water is just life-changing.
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