Taking an Airboat Tour

Most people meet an airboat as a passenger. A good tour is a genuinely different way to see this coast; a bad one is a loud hour.

Independent guide, not a club, dealer, outfitter or agency, and not affiliated with any organisation that previously used this domain. Rules on the water change — confirm anything legal with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission before you run.

Choosing an operator

• Ask whether hearing protection is provided — the answer tells you a lot.
• Ask the boat's capacity and how many people they actually put on it.
• Ask whether the captain holds a current US Coast Guard licence for carrying passengers for hire.
• Ask what happens in weather, and what the refund policy is.
• Read recent reviews for comments about wildlife handling and speed.

What to bring

Sun protection you can keep on at speed, a jacket or windbreaker even in warm weather, closed shoes, and a strap for glasses and hats. Phones go in a zipped pocket or a floating case. Wind at speed removes anything loose.

What you will see

Wading birds and raptors year round, alligators in warmer months, and on the coastal side the possibility of manatees in season — from a legal distance, at legal speed. An operator who chases wildlife for a better photograph is telling you what kind of operation it is.

With children

Ask about minimum ages and about hearing protection sized for a child. Noise that is uncomfortable for an adult is worse for small ears.