Anyone coming on holiday to Destin will undoubtedly have been attracted by the stunning emerald sea, with the crystal-clear water from the Gulf of Mexico inviting anyone in to warm their toes. For those who prefer getting their hair wet over sitting back on the beach, there are plenty of water activities to get involved in within Destin. Keep it relaxing and luxurious on a boat cruise or day trip, or embrace your inner adrenaline junkie by hopping on a jet ski or putting on your scuba gear! For some more inspiration, read about the most popular water activities for all ages right here in Destin.
Renting your own boat or jumping aboard a luxury charter may seem like the obvious option for enjoying the open waters, but Destin also offers plenty of opportunities to explore by kayak. Rent your own kayak for an afternoon or enjoy it for the whole week. Some rental companies even offer the chance to hire clear-bottomed or fully transparent kayaks to make the most of the stunning views below the surface!
One of the brilliant things about Destin’s shores is the huge amount of wildlife that you can find there, most excitingly of which are dolphins! In fact, these waters are the coastal bottlenose dolphin’s natural habitat, so there’s no more ethical way to take in these beautiful creatures firsthand. Book a spot on one of the many dolphin cruises, lots of which offer a glass-bottomed boat to make sure you don’t miss any of the action!
No, that isn’t a typo – SNUBA is the perfect combination between snorkeling and scuba-diving, which allows you to dive to greater depths and explore the seabed while your air supply floats at the surface. The simple-to-use regulator means you can explore to your heart’s content without the need to carry large, heavy air containers, and the benefit with SNUBA is you don’t need any qualifications to take part! A trained and certified guide will accompany you for your trip, as you head off to find tropical fish or even sea turtles.
So you’ve seen Destin at beach-level, and explored down deep into the waters, so now it’s time to take in the views from the skies! Soar 500 feet in the air attached to a parachute off the back of a boat, and see if you can spot sharks, dolphins and pelicans down below. There’s nothing to be scared of, as your licenced and qualified captains will take you out to sea and give you all the instructions you need to sit back, feel the wind in your hair and take in the stunning Florida views!
You’ll probably already know that Destin is known as the world’s luckiest fishing village, and there’s plenty of opportunities to join in with the fun! You can fish safely from the pier, jetties or dock, where under 16s can fish for free without the need for a fishing licence. For permit-free fun, join one of the registered fishing charters to head further out to sea. There are charters aimed for families, deep-water day trips, or shorter four-hour excursions if you’re in a rush to get back in the water!