Water is part of Miami’s DNA. It’s the shimmering backdrop to our city skyline and home to marine life that includes everything from brightly colored fish to manatees, dolphins and seahorses. Our waters – ranging in color from delicate turquoise to moody cobalt, depending on the depth – are our playground. They’re where we sail, paddleboard and swim, a place where we relax, renew and retreat. It’s hard to feel anything other than happiness with the sun on your skin and breeze in your hair as you skim the water’s surface by kayak, canoe or boat.
Perhaps the easiest way to get out on the water is on a half-day cruise departing from Downtown Miami’s Bayside Marketplace or the Miami Beach Marina. Visitors can hop on a sightseeing cruise to see the celebrity mansions on Star Island or strap themselves in for a high-speed jet boat tour.
As you’d expect, fishing is a popular pastime here. Visitors can charter a boat and captain from several marinas to lead them in search of kingfish, bonita and amberjack. Miami’s proximity to the Gulf Stream is a boon for sports fishing enthusiasts, too, who can try their hand at catching sailfish, blackfin tuna and wahoo just 15 minutes from shore. Paddling, whether in a kayak, canoe or on a stand-up paddleboard, is an equally thrilling way to explore the water.
A fully immersive experience, however, requires… immersion! Jump in and swim in Miami’s calm, warm waters. Snorkelers should head for the southernmost section of South Beach or Key Biscayne’s Crandon Park. Divers can discover the coral shelves and reefs of the Florida Straits – the third largest barrier reef in the world – on excursions with operators departing from South Beach, Coconut Grove or Key Biscayne.