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Your Guide to Captiva Watersports

A Florida vacation isn’t complete without taking advantage of Captiva watersports such as kayaking, canoeing, and more! Rent a boat at Jensen’s Marina today!

By Brand Ambassador | February 11, 2021

You have selected the perfect vacation spot when you come to Captiva Island and Sanibel Island here in sunny Florida. Have you figured out a plan yet to take advantage of the beautiful Gulf of Mexico and Intracoastal Waterway? We have your guide to Captiva watersports adventures!

To plan a proper Florida vacation, you want to take advantage of Captiva watersports that includes Captiva boat rentals, parasailing, guided tours, Jet skis and more! Find a marina that can get you started and plan your watersport adventures. 

Here’s a look at some Captiva watersports tips and activities you can find in Southwest Florida.

What is the Most Popular Water Sport?

The most popular watersports activity is boating and sailing. People just love to be out on the water, especially in a beautiful place like Southwest Florida. Other popular watersports activities include: 

  • Kite surfing
  • Snorkeling
  • Wind surfing
  • Kayaking
  • Surfing
  • Wake boarding 
  • Stand up paddling

Captiva Watersports Rentals: Kayaks, Canoes and Paddle Boards

Some of the most intimate time you can have enjoying Florida watersports is by spending time in a kayak, canoe or on top of a paddleboard. Let us count the reasons why these are so important. 

Rent a Kayak

Renting a kayak is a must do experience in Southwest Florida. Kayaks are lighter, faster and can steer easily in tight spaces. You can head into the Intracoastal Waterway or along the Gulf of Mexico shoreline, paddling with ease while you enjoy the Florida sunshine and wildlife all around you. 

To enjoy your kayak rental, try the following tips:

  • Keep your back and legs straight so you don’t get lower back strain
  • Rotate the paddle blade back and forth on both sides of the kayak
  • You can take some bait and tackle and try some kayak fishing

Enjoy a Canoe

A canoe is the perfect way to enjoy Old Time Florida, just knowing you are using a form of transportation that the Seminole Indians and others used before steamboats even made their way to Florida. 

Canoes are a bit more stable than kayaks and can hold more items securely, especially if you are looking to enjoy some fishing. 

To enjoy your canoe rental, try the following tips: 

  • Sit in the back of the canoe if you are paddling alone
  • Maintain a low center of gravity to keep your balance
  • To grip the paddle, put one hand at the top and the other hand a few feet down
  • To stay in a straight lane, alternate paddling on each side of the canoe
  • To turn your canoe, paddle on one side only
  • When rowing with a canoe partner, synchronize your paddling for speed and turning

Paddleboarding

Paddleboarding involves standing on a longboard and using a paddle to move you across the water. It traces its roots back to Polynesian and Hawaiian cultures. Paddleboarding takes endurance and involves a workout that strengthens your core muscles and helps develop your balance. 

The best part about paddling in Southwest Florida is it's a perfect Captiva watersport to try on calm bodies of water like the Gulf of Mexico and Intracoastal Waterway. 

Captiva Parasailing

Captiva parasailing

Parasailing is a fun activity to enjoy that gives you a view over the water that is unlike you will ever experience. Parasailing works with a boat attaching to what looks like a parachute, which is known as a canopy wing, to the back of the boat. When the boat is traveling along the water, the person attached to the parasail rides in the air for a trip over the water he or she will never forget! 

There are plenty of places that offer Captiva parasailing opportunities in Southwest Florida.

North Captiva Jet Ski Rentals

A Jet ski is the brand name of what is really a personal watercraft that is built by Kawasaki. These watercraft are popular to maneuver through the Intracoastal Waterway. Riders stand on the Jet ski while using a throttle that is similar to what you would find on a motorcycle. 

Jet ski rentals are a fun way to enjoy Florida waterways. You can book a Jet ski for a half hour or for multiple hours. 

Captiva Watersports Safety Tips

It’s important to stay safe on the water and follow all the rules and regulations provided by your local marina when you rent a boat or other equipment for watersports fund. Follow these watersports safety tips to stay safe on the water:

  • Always have a life jacket for every member of your party
  • Wear the life jacket
  • Do not swim alone
  • Take a boat safety course if possible
  • Review all boat rental safety rules with the marina staff
  • Have a spotter watching anyone doing watersports activities
  • Use hand signals like thumbs up and down to talk to those in the water
  • Maintain a safe distance in a boat from people in the water
  • Bring safety items such as a first aid kit, water and a flashlight.
  • Obey warning signs and pay attention to markers in the Intracoastal Waterway
  • Know how far and where you are allowed to take your rental boat and equipment
  • Wetsuits or drysuits provide flotation and help warm your body
  • It is illegal to hit or harm manatees and can come with a $50,000 fine. 
  • Observe all manatee protection zone requirements
  • Boaters should avoid protected seagrasses, which are a main source of food for manatees and green sea turtles and purify the water
  • Use navigation charts and maps
  • All boats should have a sound producing device such as a whistle
  • Boats should come equipped with navigation lights that must be on between sunset and sunrise and during times of poor visibility during rain, fog haze, etc. 
  • Do not anchor a boat in the middle of a navigation channel. 
  • Boaters need to stay 300-feet away from divers in open water and stay 100 feet away from divers in rivers, navigation channels and inlets. 
  • Anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1988 who operates a boat powering an engine of 10 horsepower or more must pass an approved boater safety course, have the proper identification and/or be with a licensed boat captain.

Captiva Cruises

Captiva cruises

Taking a leisurely cruise around Captiva Island to do the following activities is a must: 

  • Shelling on a secluded island
  • Lunch or dinner on a barrier island
  • Watch a sunset on the water
  • Search for pods of dolphins on Captiva cruises
  • Go enjoy Cayo Costa State Park

Captiva Private Charters and Island Tours

Jensen’s Marina™ offers a variety of great Captiva Island tours that you can schedule with charter boat captains at the marina. We offer the following: 

  • Water taxi boat tours to North Captiva and other areas.
  • Private tours to Cabbage Key’s secluded paradise to enjoy a nice meal and a walk.
  • Boat tours through Pine Island Sound or just a casual trip to see dolphins and a sunset. 
  • A trip to Pine Island where tourists can step back in time and walk Historic Calusa Native American Shell Mound. 
  • Water taxi rides to Boca Grande, the most northern destination spot of our tours. The historic town has a quaint downtown with shops, a museum and restaurants. 
  • An island hop tour to get a historic and up close view to the area’s barrier islands of your choosing.

Utilize a private charter or island tour for: 

  • Family reunion parties
  • Wedding party excursions
  • Private island tours
  • Corporate outing retreats

Try Fishing with North Captiva Watersports

try fishing with north captiva watersports

Who says you can’t fish and enjoy watersports at the same time? Fishing can be done with any of the watersport activities mentioned above except parasailing! 

Even experienced paddle boarders with good balance can throw out a line and enjoy fishing in calm waters while standing on their board. Bring some bait, a fishing pole and some tackle when planning your next watersports adventure. 

Jensen’s Marina™ has been making fishing adventures in the Captiva Islando for more than 40 years! It’s a fishing destination that families and friends have been coming to for generations. The marina also has fishing guides that are ready to take you out on a fishing trip you will remember for the rest of your life. These guides know the area like the back of their hand and can take you to the best fishing locations in the Southwest Florida area. All you need to worry about is if you brought a cooler big enough to handle your fish.

Enjoy a Captiva Kayak Rental at Jensen’s Marina™

Did you know Jensen’s Marina™ has one-person kayaks and two-person kayaks available for rent? It’s the perfect plan to enjoy the tranquil setting of the barrier islands. 

You can enjoy a marked kayak trail at Buck Key just south of Jensen’s Marina™ called Roosevelt Trail. The trail will take you on a wonderful journey through Florida nature and lasts two hours. Called the Kayak Roosevelt Channel, you can glide through an area known for spotting manatees, dolphins, egrets, herons, otters, ospreys, a wide variety of fish and more!

Single and tandem kayak rentals allow you to soak in all of the atmosphere of the Florida coastline through mangrove trails, the Intracoastal Waterway and the Gulf of Mexico. Use your kayaks to head to a nearby island for a beach picnic, go shelling, catch a sunset and more. 

Our one-person kayaks cost $25 for every two-hour increment. Tandem kayak cost $25 for two-hour increments. 

Captiva Boat Rentals For Your Trip

What kind of boat do you want to choose for your Captiva watersports adventure? We have the Florida boat rentals that will work best for you. 

Center Console Boats

Did you know center console boats can head into the Gulf of Mexico for a saltwater fishing excursion? The 18-foot center console boat holds five people and is a good option for fishing excursions in the Gulf of Mexico and anywhere else you want to be. 

Pontoon Leisure Boats

How about a pontoon boat for a relaxing boat party or a cruise to look for dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico or Intracoastal Waterway? These boats have more room for family get togethers and can hold up to 12 people. 

We also offer 24-foot Sylvan Pontoon boats with livewell pumps to hold your fresh bait for the perfect casual fishing experience in the Intracoastal Waterway or other fishing spots. 

All our leisure  pontoon boats offer bimini top offerings to keep you shaded from the sun.

Boston Whaler

Try an 18-foot Boston Whaler with a 150-horsepower Yamaha four-stroke motor that holds up to six people for some deep sea fishing too. This boat has a 1,000-pound weight capacity for your fishing crew and your gear.

Jensen’s Marina™ Captiva Watersports Services

At Jensen’s Marina™, we offer the following services you need to have a great watersports adventure: 

  • Boat rentals
  • Kayak rentals
  • Bimini tops for Pontoon boats
  • Livewell pumps to hold fish and bait on the boat
  • Boat rides
  • 35 wet slips
  • North Captiva water taxi trips
  • Bait
  • Tackle
  • Fishing off our private dock for guests
  • Ice
  • Gas
  • A quaint museum that shows you the history of fishing on Captiva Island
  • Coolers
  • T-Shirts, hats and more at the Ship Store 
  • Free WiFi
  • Impromptu live music events in the evenings
  • Close to nearby restaurants, galleries and shops

Rent a Boat at Jensen’s Marina™ and Cottages Today!

You have all the information you need to find Captiva watersports adventures on your Florida vacation at Jensen's Twin Palm Marina and Cottages™. The next thing you need to do is enjoy a boat rental Captiva Island experience and a North Captiva water taxi tour! Make a marina reservation now to get started.

Rent a boat, schedule a charter and sightseeing boat tour and plan a fishing excursion today at Jensen’s Marina™ on Captiva Island!

Jensen’s Twin Palm
Marina and Cottages™

15107 Captiva Drive
Captiva, FL 33924

(833) 668-7768
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