Want to Drive a Speed Boat? Cruise Tampa Bay with Speed Boat Adventures!

If you want the thrill of driving a speed boat while taking in the sparkling beauty of Tampa Bay, book a tour with Speed Boat Adventure Tours. 

The tour is lots of fun!  Our group was made up of three single drivers and Jim and I (no I didn’t want to drive!) and the boats were compact fast speedboats.  The tour guide led the group of boats and we followed in line like ducklings as we cruised through the marina and the exclusive community of Terre Verde where each impressive waterside mansion was fronted by a large boat dock, most of which held expensive sparkling white yachts.

But the real fun began when we reached the open water of the bay!  We had been told to go full throttle at the signal from our guide and the tiny speedboats flew spaying water behind us.  Our boats danced on the water as we cut wide curving slices through the bay towards the first of a few bridges we were to navigate beneath.  At the signal from our guide, we slowed our boats and floated quietly under the bridge and on to our next burst of speed. 

Flying on the water again, we headed out toward the graceful Skyway Bridge which towers over the bay; its delicate harp-like cables stretched toward the sky, seeming to pull it up, arching from the sea.  In the distance we could see the mangroves and palms of Fort De Soto Park, a lush green strip that seemed to float on the blue-green water. 

We weren’t alone on the bay though….. dolphins played, crossing daringly in front of us, and a devil-ray exploded from the water so close to us he almost ended up in our boat!  Pelicans floated out on the shallows waiting for big fat fish to swim by, and sea-birds perched on the channel markers, squawking at us as we made our way back into the protected area of the marina.

During our pre-tour lesson, we were advised by our guide to slow down a little when some of the larger speed boats rocketed by creating deep wakes.  Pay attention here…… and do as they advise.  Our small boats bumped so high over those wakes that when we came down my poor tail-bone complained mightily!   Slowing down slightly will soften your landing as you navigate them and hopefully you won’t have the sore butt I have as a souvenir.

Even with a sore butt, I have to say this was a fun and exciting adventure and we highly recommend it!  Check out Speed Boat Adventures!