Things to Do in Iona

True to its name, All Water Excursions sets sail for adventures above or below sea level with boat rentals, guided tours, and underwater activities. Narrated cruises tour the backwaters of Florida while guides share stories about local history and wildlife and schools of dolphins choreograph underwater ballets beneath the boat. Windsurfing raises patrons to a bird's-eye view, and scuba-diving sessions explore coral reefs and shipwrecks located near the ocean floor. All Water Excursions will also rent pontoons, deck boats, and center consoles to patrons who want to sail for themselves and conduct ocean and backwater fishing trips to catch sea trout, catfish, or mangrove snapper.

With more than 31,000 nautical miles of sailing under his boat shoes, Captain David Richardson is more than capable of navigating his sailboat, Sundance, on the leisure cruises for which he has become known. The half-day charters he leads out of Bonita Bill's Waterfront Café take in the many moods of the Gulf of Mexico, from its tranquil disposition in the sun to the turbulent waters it experiences when it realizes it'll never be a full-grown ocean. The Sundance itself boasts comfy accommodations, from cushy seats to an on-board bathroom, and many passengers bring their own food on board to eat while ogling jumping dolphins.

Florida Paddlesports' fleet of watercraft includes everything from tandem and fishing kayaks to yoga and touring paddleboards. When not selling or renting these aquatic vessels, the staff members use them to lead group tours of Florida waterways around destinations such as Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte, Pine Island, and Bokeelia. Along these trips, they lead paddlers past mangrove tunnels or glistening white beaches and point out dolphins giving manatees skincare tips. The crew also bestows paddling prowess upon groups during kayaking and standup paddleboarding lessons, and takes groups out on both vessels for fishing excursions.

Since the shop has at least one rental available of every kayak and paddleboard it sells, staff members recommend customers try out a Native Mariner kayak or Tahoe standup paddleboard before committing to one. Additionally, they deliver rentals to customers' launching spots and their retail shop brims with paddling wear and accessories from the likes of RailRiders clothing, SealLine, and Malone.

Allison Call and her brother Bo Browne, who both spent their youth fishing and kayaking in Southwest Florida's backwaters, have always talked about starting a business together. In 2012, they decided to turn talk into action with the help of their spouses, opening the family-run Bonita Kayak Company. They not only rent out next-to-new kayaks, most of which are outfitted with comfortable, high-backed seats, but also share their love for Florida's outdoors during guided treks and other outdoor expeditions.

During fishing tours, Bo expertly guides groups to the best spots and offers tips to reel in premium catches such as large-mouth bass, catfish, and tires from a Mercedes-Benz. The team delivers recreation or fishing kayaks anywhere within its delivery area, but one of its favorite drop-off points is at the Imperial River, which offers tranquil paddling beneath mangrove trees. "It's very cool because it's kind of an Amazonian atmosphere,” says Allison’s husband and business partner, Jacob. He also recommends the New Pass drop-off, which has easy access to the gulf and white sand beaches, where kayakers have a good chance of spotting dolphins, manatees, and Moby Dicks under witness-protection programs.

Jacob says that he and the rest of the team pride themselves on being personable and taking the time to connect with their customers. Running the business as a family has given them more time to spend with one another—and Jacob says that they have fun with it. "I consider myself extremely lucky to go kayaking and call that my job," he says.

Since launching off from the shores of Fort Myers Beach in 1982, Paradise Parasail’s signature smiley-face parachutes have become an iconic image in the sky, now flying high above the waters of both the Gulf of Mexico and the Lake of the Ozarks. USCG-licensed captains navigate each of the company's boats as riders trail behind at heights of up to 500 feet. With feet flopping in the wind, thrill-seekers are free to wave to their friends, family, and nearby migratory birds. Parasailers can also pose for photos and videos captured by the company's onboard photographers.

The gentle clap of paddles against the water and the tenor thrumming of jet-ski motors drift from Adventure Water Sports. On waverunners, diminutive sailboats, and kayaks, patrons spread out across the surf and around Estero Island, their eyes peeled for dolphins and other fauna at all times. The shoreline falls back in quiet bays and estuaries, where little fish dart among tangled knots of mangrove roots. Instructors certified by the United States Coast Guard demonstrate the operation of vessels, lead tours, and knock down sand castles lacking proper fire exits.