Wilton Manors, FL Outdoor Activities

The late founder of Island Water Sports, Kirk Cottrell, first opened shop in a humble 500-square-foot space in Pompano Beach in 1978. His legacy continues to thrive more than 30 years later, as his son Cheyne commands a staff of amateur and professional surfers dedicated to spreading Kirk's passion for wave riding through lessons, board repairs, and sales of gear and accessories. Now situated in more than 7,000 square feet of space, the shop facilitates every aspect of the surfing and skating lifestyle. Group surf clinics and surf camps sharpen budding surfers' longboarding chops, and board repairs rid surfboards of dings.

The PADI-certified instructors at Dixie Divers lead small scuba certification classes and ferry experienced divers to local dive sites aboard their boat, the Lady Go Diver. The vessel also shepherds snorkelers to the historic wreckage of the SS Copenhagen and through the Nursery Reef where they can get acquainted with playful wildlife through a series of secret handshakes.

During certification classes that progress to the level of master diver, small groups endeavor through classroom, pool, and open water training, and advanced diver certification includes adventure dives and trips down as deep as 100 feet. Divers stock up on all things aquatic at Dixie's full-service dive shop, which offers everything from equipment rental and repair to gear sales for activities such as scuba diving, lobstering, jellyfish racing, kayaking, and spearfishing.

On the Beach's owners, Ken "The Sun Tan Man" and Captain Tony, provide all the gear needed for a relaxing and adventurous day at the beach. Behind the Royal Vista Resort, the beachside shop rents out maritime toys—Wave Runners, sailboats, kayaks, and boogie boards— to help tourists and locals to soak up sun, skim across waves, and lounge on the sand. The shop’s seasoned mariners—all with at least 25 years of experience—pull from their stores of knowledge and Old Bay seafood rub to devise custom lessons for sailors of any ability. Ken and Tony recognize that some people and all wicked witches might rather gaze at the water than be dampened by it. To cater to this landlubbing demographic, On the Beach rents out bicycles or shaded stays underneath beachside cabanas.