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| Yamaha 3 person wave-runner |
Xtreme H2O
7 Calhoun Ave.
Destin FL
850-978-3060
Website: Xtreme H2O
Admission Cost: $115 for 90 minutes
Time: 2 hours
Trev's Rating: 5 stars
Description:
Xtreme H2O offers a variety of excursions for the adventurous thrill-seeker. Para-sail high above the crystal clear water, rent a pontoon boat for half to a full day or take a wave runner dolphin tour. They are conveniently located adjacent to Destin harbor and north of the East Pass bridge (Destin Bridge). The boat launch is directly across from Crab Island meaning you'll have little to no time riding in the no wake zones giving you ample free time to explore.
This post is related to the 90 minute wave-runner dolphin tour.
Our family discussed renting wave-runners. My personal thought was that I wouldn't get the value for the price. $115 for 90 minutes seemed like a high price tag for the short duration. As I internally debated about the value I justified the price as three people could fit on a single wave runner and per-person cost was equivalent to one of the chartered dolphin tours. The value is one-hundred times better due to the smaller group and intimate connection to the dolphins. Our Destin native tour guide led us northeast in Choctawhatchee Bay and into Joes Bayou where we were immediately surrounded by a pod of 50+ dolphins. As we idled the dolphins breached all around the waver runners in all directions providing an up close and personal connection with them. Several dolphins swam directly under our wave runner and they would breach the surface close enough to reach out and touch (we didn't). The experience was absolutely incredible. Our guide pointed seven miles east to the Mid Bay Bridge and another 7 miles west to Brooks Bridge on Okaloosa Island defining our exploration boundaries and to be back by 10:30 AM. My jaw dropped in awe at the enormous area of square miles we were just given free reign. I stayed with the pod of dolphins for several minutes before returning to the bay and getting familiar with the features of the wave runner. Our guide explained that they are not governed (speed limited) and have a top speed of 50 MPH. I don't think my speedometer topped 20 as I explored the bay returning to Crab Island to check out the various floating tiki huts, bounce houses and water fun. We encountered a second pod of five to ten dolphins nearby that drew our attention and soon realized that there was about 10 minutes remaining before we needed to return the wave runners. Time flew fat too quickly.
This was (by far) our best experience in Destin. The fun-filled, awesome adventure was an extraordinary experience for the family at an extremely fair price. I will highly recommend Extreme H2O and will definitely be a return customer to Xtreme H20.
There are no hidden fees or fuel surcharges. The rate price you see on their website is the price you pay.
My only complaint was access to a restroom. A single person shared gender restroom is available however the line was three to four people deep and the facilities resembled that of an outhouse.
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| A nearby dolphin |
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| Dolphins close to our wave runner |
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| Waterworld on Crab Island |
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