Miami Lakes, FL Outdoor Activities

A white sail propels a 50-foot sailing catamaran out into Biscayne Bay. The wind-powered watercraft belongs to Playtime Watersports, whose captains narrate ocean sailing tours or host private and corporate events as sunsets paint the sky. Elsewhere on the bay, wave runners and pontoon boats—two of Playtime Watersports' other rental watercraft options—churn up water as they drag race with thrill-seeking dolphins.

Despite its name, Playtime Watersports doesn't limit itself to on-water revelry. The staff hosts corporate outings such as Beach Olympics, with events including beach volleyball, sand sculpting, and scavenger hunts.

Buddy closes his eyes as he sits on the deck of Buddy's Dream, letting the ocean breeze run through his gold hair as his tongue flaps in the wind. Ernie, owner of South Beach Boat Rentals, appointed his golden retriever as the company's mascot, naming all of his boats after the pooch instead of using impersonal numbers or the names of favorite Congressmen. After retiring from directing films in New York, Ernie decided to move to Miami, where he fell in love with boating, which helped him forget day-to-day concerns as he skimmed over the water.

Ernie's fleet of rental boats includes powerboats and luxury yachts, such as a 25-foot Azure Luxury 250 horsepower bow rider or an 18-foot Sea Ray sports boat, which renters can pilot themselves with a valid driver's license and boating experience. Ernie also leads private tours, including the historical Stilts Ville tour or the popular two-hour Miami Waters tour, which zooms past the homes of celebrities such as Gloria Estefan and Shaquille O'Neal while giving stunning views of the Miami skyline.

Squalo Divers, a PADI Five Star Dive Center, works in tandem with top industry brands such as Aqualung, Mares, and GoPro to outfit divers so they can explore underwater ecosystems. Equipment such as tanks, depth gauges and buoyancy-control devices prepares landlubbers for underwater travel without tricking a whale into swallowing them. Alternatively, the shop’s maintenance services can whip older gear into working order before each aqueous adventure.

Taught by certified instructors, Squalo Divers' courses run the gamut of scuba instruction, ranging from basic open-water certification to emergency-responder techniques. Courses incorporate cutting-edge training materials—including dependable gear and online study aids—and are taught in English or Spanish. The scuba center also offers trips to explore local waterways renowned for their extensive array of marine life.

Captain Wayne Conn draws on expertise garnered through tournament fishing and a native’s knowledge of South Florida’s waters when taking groups out for deep-sea charter fishing. Captains Chris Neiderman, Ryan Omsted, and Chris Temmel round out The Reward Fleet crew, which together boasts more than a century of experience.

Up to 50 passengers can climb aboard The Another Reward, a 70-foot angling boat equipped with electronics to locate fish, a galley, and a salon with eight dinettes inside. Three times a day, she sets sail on public charter-fishing trips so guests can scan ocean waves for fish such as tuna, kingfish, bonito, sailfish, snapper, and grouper. During these trips, guests will be provided with all the necessary equipment and bait. The crew also specializes in corporate charters, bachelor parties, and long-range trips.