Best Water Activities in Miami

Miami is a destination that stands out for the beauty of its marine landscapes and its exotic fauna. The best way to live it to the extreme is to enjoy the many water activities offered by this place.

Carmen Navarro

Carmen Navarro

9 min read

Best Water Activities in Miami

Miami | ©Mack Male

The city of Miami is known for its paradisiacal beaches, with dreamy blue waters and golden sand. It is not surprising that water activities are its strong point. In addition, many of them allow you to closely observe part of the natural beauty of this paradise, such as the coral reefs of the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.

If you like paddle boarding, which lately everyone is talking about, then this is your destination. But, if you prefer something different, in Miami there is a lot to do and see and you have everything to choose how to have fun.

Discover the coral reefs at Coral Reef State Park

Coral Reef State Park coral reefs| ©Cindy Zheng
Coral Reef State Park coral reefs| ©Cindy Zheng

If you like scuba diving or snorkeling, you will surely enjoy the beautiful underwater scenery. Coral reefs are underwater structures with a particular charm and unique beauty. When we talk about the one located in Miami, we are in front of the third largest in the world.

Pennekamp Coral Reef Park is very close to the city, just an hour's drive away. There it is possible to swim and even dive among the mangroves and corals, to discover the wonderful and exotic marine life that takes refuge in this incredible ecosystem.

Even, if you have enough patience and a little luck, it is possible to have a sighting of dolphins, manatees and some sea turtles.

To enjoy it, we recommend you to take a guided tour, where experts will take you to the most interesting points and provide you with interesting information about this fantastic place.

The Christ of the Abyss, one of the main attractions of Coral Reef State Park.

One of the main attractions of Coral Reef is the Christ of the Abyss. A statue of more than two and a half meters that is located near 25 feet deep and that divers love to visit.

The statue is the third of its kind and represents a Christ with outstretched arms, a copy of the one found in Genoa, Italy. As a curious fact, according to its current location, both statues would be facing each other across the water.

Book a cruise in Miami with water activities

Experience Flyboarding in Miami

Flyboard in Miami| ©Jessee Vervecken
Flyboard in Miami| ©Jessee Vervecken

Another of the aquatic disciplines that has been conquering spaces is flyboarding. This activity consists of balancing on a board that literally rises above the sea surface, using a powerful jet of water.

This sport is very popular in Miami, and even the most famous people have decided to try it out. The view from the heights makes this experience simply incredible, full of adrenaline and fun to the extreme.

In most of the beaches where this service is offered, there is an instructor who explains the details about what flyboarding is, as well as giving the necessary support and advice to master it.

Most of those who have practiced it for the first time assure that it is all a matter of finding a point of balance and that's it. Once you're ready, all that's left is to pick up speed, soar and enjoy.

Book a Flyboard session in Miami

Ride along the coast on a jet ski

Jet Sky in Miami| ©Edgardo Garcia
Jet Sky in Miami| ©Edgardo Garcia

This is an ideal activity to do as a couple or with friends, since each jet ski has a capacity for two people. The Jet Sky is perfect to dive into an ocean of adrenaline and speed, while enjoying the breeze and the sun.

It is an excellent opportunity to soak in the scenery of Miami Bay and see some of the typical representatives of the local fauna. It is always advisable to have an expert guide for any advice on the use of the vehicle and, above all, to know the most interesting points of the tour.

Book a jet ski ride in Miami

Sail in a Kayak and get shipwrecked on a deserted island

Kayak in Miami| ©luiz Oliveira
Kayak in Miami| ©luiz Oliveira

One of the best places to navigate in a Kayak is in the Oleta River State Park.

The trip usually begins in the mangroves of Biscayne, in a quiet and relaxing ride, until you reach one of the deserted islands in the bay. Although, of course, there are many spots to enjoy this sport in Miami.

Once you get to these stops, you can explore a bit and enjoy some time on the beach, in almost absolute solitude, like a real castaway!

You can rent a double kayak for as long as you wish and take a complete tour of the islands and enjoy the scenery of beautiful Miami. Rental prices depend on the number of hours.

The ideal is to take a ride of at least three hours, to take a complete experience home.

Book a kayak tour in North Miami Beach

Parasailing, the best, the water and the air

Parasailing in Miami| ©Marco Zanferrari
Parasailing in Miami| ©Marco Zanferrari

Parasailing is an adrenaline-filled water activity that gives you a unique view of the city of Miami, from the two most privileged positions to enjoy it, the water and the air.

Needless to say, it is advisable to do it when the day is completely clear and the sun and the breeze create a perfect climate.

This aquatic activity consists of rising above the height of the sea, thanks to a parachute or parasail wing, which is propelled by attaching to a boat that travels along the coast at high speed.

It is a perfect activity to enjoy with friends or family, since these parachutes have space to carry up to three people at a time.

Once in the heights, you can appreciate the view of the bay and also enjoy the sightings of marine fauna, such as turtles and dolphins.

Book a parasailing experience

Boat ride with a variety of water activities

Scuba Diving in Miami| ©Ines Hegedus-Garcia
Scuba Diving in Miami| ©Ines Hegedus-Garcia

If you don't want to sail your own boat, but you like the idea of touring the coasts in one, you can rent a private tour for 2 to 6 people. The ride starts with a relaxed route until you reach your destination, where once you drop anchor the adrenaline will begin.

The stop will be perfect to enjoy not only the view, but any water activity you wish. You can choose to go kayaking or paddle boarding, scuba diving or snorkeling.

And if what you really want is to float on a mat and relax for a while, that is also your choice. You decide! There are many Miami tours to choose from.

Book a cruise to Key West with snorkeling

Experience the adrenaline rush with the Speed Boat

Speed Boat| ©Ansel Adams
Speed Boat| ©Ansel Adams

Speed along Miami's coastline in an adrenaline-filled experience. A different way to appreciate the views of the bay and learn interesting facts and stories about the major tourist attractions in the area, offered by the guides of these Speed Boat tours.

The tour lasts approximately 45 minutes, being one of the most popular routes the one that departs from Bayside and goes all the way to Miami Beach. Feel like a character from your favorite series, and enjoy the wind and the sea, at full speed.

Book a speed boat ride in Miami

Enjoy Paddleboarding, the trendiest sport in Miami

Paddleboard| ©Larry Bryant
Paddleboard| ©Larry Bryant

Surely you have heard it more than once, because it is one of the most popular water disciplines.

Paddleboarding tests your balance and physical endurance, while you enjoy the crystal blue waters and the delightful sea breeze. Where? Almost anywhere, including Miami Beach.

While paddleboarding, it is possible to observe the terrestrial landscape and its fauna from another perspective. In Miami, with its mangroves and houses near the shores, this view becomes a real enjoyment.

Don't miss this marine world

If the place is right, you can also observe the marine life, which passes placidly under your board. Virginia Key, in Miami, is just that kind of place, where you can get a close-up look, for example, at gentle manatees in their natural habitat.

These creatures are part of the icons of the State of Florida and are one of the many protected species, as they are in danger of extinction. For this reason, many foundations and programs are dedicated to caring for them.

Being able to see them and learn more about manatees is a great opportunity and a way to help these marine mammals to prevail.

Take sailing lessons and rent a boat

Boat in Miami| ©Ines Hegedus-Garcia
Boat in Miami| ©Ines Hegedus-Garcia

An activity with a unique charm that offers an experience like few others. In Miami you can decide to sail your own boat, taking a four-hour course, which includes two hours of practice.

Another modality offers a one-hour intensive course, to enjoy and take home the basic knowledge of sailing. Now, if you feel adventurous enough, you can take the 15-minute express class and rent a catamaran for half a day to sail the waters like a real captain.

From then on, you will find yourself immersed in the wonderful landscapes of Miami, being one of the many experiences that this location has to offer, and be sure to observe the flora and fauna!

Learn windsurfing in Miami

Windsurfing in Miami| ©searchofbeauty
Windsurfing in Miami| ©searchofbeauty

Windsurfing is an aquatic activity that simply cannot be missed. In Miami you will find options for short courses that allow you to learn the basics of this discipline in order to enjoy all it has to offer.

This discipline offers both the physical demands of a good water sport, as well as the possibility of relaxing while enjoying the view, the weather and the sea breeze, cooling off from the summer heat. Did you know that windsurfing was born in the United States?

When visiting Miami you must visit the Everglades

Everglades by helicopter| ©HMC
Everglades by helicopter| ©HMC

Once you are in the city of Miami, a trip to the Everglades National Park is a must. A unique opportunity to get a close look at the mighty alligators, which prowl around calmly, like the masters of the swamp.

The Everglades offers a unique natural landscape, with a particular beauty and an exotic fauna that includes birds, rodents, reptiles and insects, as well as deer and, of course, alligators.

So many wonders together have made it a World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve, another reason to put it on your list of places of interest.

You can rent a small tour of the Everglades and take a ride on a boat, one of those that have a huge fan, and look very picturesque.

On board you will have the opportunity to enter this ecosystem and get to know it in greater depth.

The Alligators

The alligator is a type of freshwater reptile, which usually measures between 4 and 6 meters, although they are rarely sighted so large. Miami is one of the places where we can find populations of this species, which in other times was hunted and driven to almost disappear.

However, in this community it is more than frequent to find them wandering and even going into the gardens of houses and public places. They rarely attack humans, but they should still be respected and given their space when encountered.

So if you come across an alligator, you know that you should take out your cell phone, take a good picture and leave without disturbing it.

Tips to enjoy water activities in Miami with an excellent climate

South Beach, Miami| ©Mike McBey
South Beach, Miami| ©Mike McBey

Now that we know what are some of the best water activities to do in Miami, we only need to know what time of the year we can enjoy them best. Of course, the best weather is found on sunny days, and although they say that in this city the sun always shines, it is true that some months can be more enjoyable.

So we start by recommending you the summer, which despite being a very hot climate, guarantees that the beaches are delicious. Besides, there is a lot to do in Miami in summer. And sunny weather is practically guaranteed.

On the other hand, if you don't want to deal with such high temperatures, you can always visit Miami in spring, in the months of March and April, when the weather is warm enough, but without the temperatures getting too high. In the evenings it drops a bit, to close the day with refreshing air.

Additionally, it is very unlikely to encounter a cold front during these months, and rainfall is very scarce. So beach days and water sports are guaranteed.