With its warm weather and beautiful beaches, of course you expect great water sports in Miami.
But, perhaps you need some inspiration for what water activities to enjoy?
Whether you’re looking for an adrenaline rush, you want to keep the kids entertained with some water sports, or you just want to relax on the water, this list shares something for everyone.
These are 10 of the best water activities to try in Miami.
Water Sports in Miami, Florida
1. Cruising on a Catamaran
This has to be my favorite water sport in Miami; chartering a catamaran for the day to see Miami by boat.
Seeing Miami from the water is a great way to spend a day, whether it’s with your family or with a group of friends.
And don’t worry if you can’t sail, you can charter a boat with a skipper so that you can just relax and enjoy!
If you love a party, be sure to sail to the Nixon Beach Sandbar in Key Biscayne, a favorite watering hole for the locals.
Watching the sun go down with a drink in your hand, music playing, while you slowly sail along the coast of Miami… Does it get any better?
You can rent a catamaran, or, if you prefer, instead of a catamaran you can of course rent a monohull or motorboat as well. There are plenty of options in Miami. Sailo is a good website to rent boats for a wide range of budgets.
Or book a shared sunset cruise as a cheaper alternative.
2. Windsurfing
If you’re looking for great exercise and a thrilling experience, windsurfing is a great option, and Miami is a perfect place for it.
The bay of Key Biscayne is your best choice for windsurfing. The calm seas with good consistent wind year-round make this a windsurfers’ paradise.
You can take lessons or just rent gear from Miami Watersports, located in Key Biscayne.
Note: kitesurfing is a similarly popular water sport in Miami worth trying. There are several kiteboarding schools throughout Miami where you can take lessons and rent gear.
3. Flyboarding
Do you enjoy high-tech watersports? You’ll love flyboarding, a popular watersport that’s currently very trendy on Miami Beach.
It involves standing on what looks like a hoverboard connected to a jet ski with a long hose. The water pressure created by the jet ski gets diverted through the hose to the jet nozzles under the board.
You’ll be strapped in on the board, with the jets underneath providing thrust as the jet ski increases power.
This thrust allows you to soar through the air or plunge into the water, like a watery roller coaster ride.
It takes some practice, but it’s an incredible experience once you get the hang of it!
This exciting watersport isn’t suitable for young children or the faint-hearted, but adrenaline junkies will love it.
You can book your flyboard session at Flyboard 305 located at Dinner Key Marina.
4. Scuba Diving
Miami is a great place both for beginners and experienced scuba divers.
Biscayne National Park is actually one of the top places for scuba diving in the United States. A portion of the world’s third-longest living coral reef falls inside this national park, as do the northernmost Florida Keys.
There are several dive shops in Miami that offer scuba diving trips and courses.
Miami Scuba Diver in South Beach is a good option. They will take you to some great dive sites, including several shipwrecks, on their very comfortable dive boat.
Also Read: Where to Go for the Best Scuba Diving in the Caribbean
5. Paddleboarding
Paddleboarding can be both a good workout and quite a relaxing watersport.
It’s a great way to spend time on the water, see Miami in a different way, and get some exercise without even noticing it.
And don’t worry, if you’ve never tried paddleboarding before, it’s a fairly simple watersport and you’ll get the hang of it in no-time!
You can rent paddleboards at Miami Beach Paddleboard, on Sunset Harbor Drive. They also offer paddleboard tours and, if you’d rather sit than stand up, they rent kayaks as well.
6. Snorkeling
Snorkeling is a great way to see Miami’s underwater world.
With its clear and warm waters, great reefs, and beautiful marine life, snorkeling is a popular water activity in Miami.
If you’re new to snorkeling, it’s not difficult to learn how to snorkel, but good swimming skills are important.
Biscayne National Park is without a doubt the best place to snorkel in Miami.
You can book half-day or full-day snorkeling tours with Biscayne National Park Institute to enjoy a true eco-adventure, snorkel, learn about the National Park’s unique marine habitat and explore the area by boat.
If you’re lucky you’ll spot dolphins, rays, and sea turtles!
7. Jet Skiing
Looking for something that gets your adrenaline super-pumped? Jet skiing is the watersport for you.
It’s a popular watersport in Miami, but can be scary for beginners, so take your time to get used to the jetski.
There are various places in Miami where you can rent a jet ski. Miami Jet Ski Rental on Biscayne Boulevard is a good option, with good quality jet skis and great customer service.
8. Parasailing
Miami is a beautiful place, but to truly enjoy your surroundings, you need to see it from the air. And what better way to do that than by parasailing?
Fly 350 feet above the water and admire Biscayne Bay’s crystal clear waters below. If you’re lucky you can even spot playful dolphins in the surf from above!
For me, this was a real bucket list experience.
And if you have teenagers you need to keep entertained, this is a water activity they will surely love!
There are a few companies in Miami offering parasailing. South Beach Parasail is centrally located, on the beach behind Loews Miami Beach Hotel.
9. Water Skiing
This is one of the oldest watersports, dating back to the 1920s, and still delights Miami’s water sports fans to this day.
Water Skiing is very popular in Miami, with several businesses offering this as one of their water activities.
The Miami Watersports Complex is one of the best choices for anyone new to water skiing here.
They have one of the largest cable parks in the US, they are very family-friendly and offer lessons both for beginners and for people who want to improve their skills.
Or, if you’d rather try wakeboarding than water skiing, they offer that as well.
It may take a little time to get the hang of water skiing, but once you’ve got it, it’s such a great feeling!
10. Freediving
Freediving is quite a unique water sport and it does require some training.
A freediving course teaches you several breathing techniques and diving skills to increase your time underwater and the depths you can reach.
You’ll start your training in a pool and continue to the open ocean once you’ve mastered the basics.
It’s a great skill to learn and will really make you feel good about what your body (and mind) can do!
You can get a PADI freediving certification right here in Miami, and go explore the beautiful underwater world!
Freediving has become quite popular all over the world in recent years, and has also become a popular water sport in Miami.
Miami Water Sports – Conclusions
I hope this list has given you an idea of how many different water sports you can enjoy in Miami.
From scuba diving to sailing, and from jetskiing to paddleboarding, water activities in Miami are really part of what makes Miami such a great place!
Enjoy Miami, the sunshine, and the great water sports.
Also Read:
- The Best Places to Visit in Miami by Boat
- A Complete Travel Guide for Miami
- Why You Shouldn’t Buy Seashells or Take Them From the Beach
- The Best Day Trips From Orlando, Florida
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