On the Water
Boats, paddleboards, jet skis, dolphin cruises, parasail, the sandbar. The Gulf and the bay don't belong to the charter fleet alone — here's the rest of how you spend a day on the water.
Boat rentals
Pontoons, deck boats, center consoles. Day rentals — no captain needed if you have your boating safety card.
Paddleboard & kayak
Where to launch, where it's worth paddling, when it isn't. Best on Old River, the bay, and the State Park lagoons.
Jet skis
Rentals, where you can ride, where you can't, and a polite reminder about no-wake zones in the Pass.
Dolphin cruises
The operators who don't harass the dolphins. The ones who do are an open secret and they're not on this site.
Sandbar Sundays
The locals' Sunday ritual. Where the boats raft up, when the tide turns, the unwritten rules.
Parasail
Beach-launch operators on both sides. Bring sunglasses, leave the GoPro at home unless it has a tether.
Boater safety, briefly
- Alabama and Florida both require boater safety education for anyone born after a certain year (1988 FL, 1989 AL — verify current rules). Either state's card is recognized by the other.
- Life jackets are required to be on board for every passenger. Kids under 13 must wear one while underway in FL; under 8 in AL.
- Perdido Pass is a no-wake zone through the bridge area and at marina approaches. The current under the Pass is strong; respect it.
- Sandbar etiquette matters. Read the rules before you anchor.
- The Coast Guard is out. Wear the kid jackets. Have the registration. Don't be the boat that ruins it.