Discover Boating and Watersports

Cape Coral/ Pine Island

Aqua Nut Boat Rentals at Tarpon Point Marina, 1430 Rose Garden Road, (239) 542-5001. Pontoons, deck boats and bowriders. Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Dockside Boat Rentals, 2401 Andalusia Blvd., (239) 772-4463. Suzuki dealer and boat transporter. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Genmar/Evinrude Backwater Fishing School, 13771 Waterfront Drive, Pineland, (941) 356-0785. The historic Tarpon Lodge hosts this unique educational opportunity. This season's courses begin April 2005 and include three days of hands-on instruction by fishing instructors, licensed charter boat captains and guides. www.genmarbackwaterfishingschool.com.

Matlacha Boat Ramp, 4577 Pine Island Road N.W., Matlacha. (239) 283-4110. Two-slip boat launching facility with parking for vehicles with boat trailers. Ready access to Matlacha Pass. Parking fee $3. Annual passes available for $40 at the Matlacha Community Center or Terry Park offices. 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Estero

Estero River Tackle and Canoe Outfitters, 20991 Tamiami Trail S., (239) 992-4050. Canoe or kayak along the Estero River to Estero Bay. Full-line bait and tackle shop. 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., or call for special tour times. www.esteroriveroutfitters.com.

Fort Myers

Adventures in Paradise and Port Sanibel Marina, 14341 Port Comfort Road, (239) 482-5296. Backwater fishing, sea-life tours, sunset cruises, powerboat rentals, eco-dolphin tours, shelling and snorkeling tours, trolley tours and canoe trails. 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Back Country Fishing Charters with Capt. Paul Hobby. 13371 Electron Drive, (239) 433-1007. Super-light-tackle and fly-fishing for snook, redfish and tarpon. Specializing in fly-fishing. Predawn lure fishing for larger snook during warmer months, as well as big tarpon on fly tackle, 16-foot Egret flats boat. Fish off Sanibel, Captiva and Pine islands. www.fishinghobby.com.

Davis Boat Ramp, (239) 461-7400, 2227 Davis Blvd. Community boat ramp with vehicle/trailer parking. Parking $3 per day. Dawn until dusk.

Fossil Expeditions, 213 Lincoln Ave., (239) 368-3252. Guided Everglades half- and full-day tours with airboat rides, or stroll the boardwalk into the cypress swamp. Guided fossil tours for shark teeth, mammoth, camel, sloth and whale bones; $60/adult, $55/child; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. www.fossilexpeditions.com.

GAEA Guides, Guided Kayak Tours, (239) 694-5513 or (866) 256-6388. Kayak tours with a naturalist through back bays, aquatic preserves, wildlife refuges, creeks, bayous, rivers and mangrove forests. Specialty trips include bird rookery, manatee, archaeological, full-moon, sunset and bat tours; $50/person for full day (shorter tours available). Reservations required. www.gaea-guides.com.

J.C. Sightseeing and Dinner Boat Cruises, 2313 Edwards Drive, (239) 334-7474. Several boating and cruising options. Lunch, dinner, sightseeing tours, private parties. Year-round cruising. http://modernsurf.com/jccruises.

Manatee World, 5605 Palm Beach Blvd., (239) 693-1434. Ecological boat tours offer the opportunity to view manatees, alligators and birds in a natural setting. Gift shop, group tours and school presentations. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Mullock Creek Marina, 18501 Mullock Creek Lane, (239) 267-3717. Bait, tackle and fuel, plus boat charters. Open daily, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Cabana area with refreshments.

Offshore Sailing School, office headquarters at 16731 McGregor Blvd., sailing courses at South Seas Resort on Captiva Island, (800) 221-4326. Three- to five-day sailing courses plus daily introductory clinics and beginner through advanced cruising; racing and sailors' clinics are available. www.offshore-sailing.com.

Old Florida River Tours, 1300 Lee St., (239) 826-2457. The Black Tie is a 60-foot charter yacht built in 1936 that will accommodate up to six people and crew on full-day and half-day river cruises. Also bed-and-breakfast cruises ($299 per couple). Lunch served. Departs from the City Yacht Basin in downtown Fort Myers. www.ofrt.com.

Punta Rassa Boat Ramp, 18500 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. (239) 432-2006.Two double boat ramps, restrooms, fish cleaning station. Parking $3 per 24 hours. The ramp is Open 24 hours.

Southwest Florida Yachts/Florida Sailing and Cruising School, 3444 Marinatown Lane, Suite 19, (239) 656-1339 or (800) 262-7939. Offering American Sailing Association courses from basic to advanced. Powerboat cruising courses; single and twin engine. Sail and power-yacht charters from 24 to 42 -feet, bare-boat captained. Cruise the barrier islands of Southwest Florida aboard your private yacht. All courses live-aboard. Minimum two students, maximum four/vessel. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Sunday. www.swfyachts.com and www.flsailandcruiseschool.com.

Team Arcure, 9204 Pineapple Road, (239) 560-9366. Charter Capt. Sam Arcure fishes Pine Island Sound, Boca Grande, Charlotte Harbor, Fort Myers, Sanibel and Captiva.

Underwater Explorers, 12600 McGregor Blvd., (239) 481-4733. Scuba instruction, dive trips, snorkel lessons, service, sales and rental. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

Underwater Specialists, 13388 N. U.S. 41, (239) 656-DIVE. Scuba-diving instruction, equipment sales and service, local trips and dive travel. A PADI five-star facility. A full-line Dacor dealer. Open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

Fort Myers Beach

Big "M" Casino, 450 Harbor Court, (239) 765-PLAY. Play blackjack, roulette and over 200 slots aboard this gaming yacht. Afternoon cruises feature bingo. Evening cruises feature entertainment. Buffet available on every cruise. Ages 21 and up. www.bigMcasino.com.

Captain Tony's Fish'n Express, 18800 San Carlos Blvd., (239) 415-0515. Deep-sea fishing and half-day charters. 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fish Tale Marina, 7225 Estero Blvd., (239) 463-3600. A full-service marina offering dry or wet storage, ship's store and mechanical service on weekdays for all types of boats. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Sunday.

Fort Myers Beach Marina, 703 Fisherman's Wharf, (239) 463-9552. Gulf access, wet and dry storage, service center and rentals. Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Fun Rentals, 1901 Estero Blvd., (239) 463-8844. Harleys, wave runners, scooters and parasailing. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. six days; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

Getaway Marina, 18400 San Carlos Blvd., (239) 466-3600. Half-day deep-sea fishing trips on the 90-foot Great Getaway or full days on the Island Lady. Sunset cruises on the Privateer IV. Daily and special Saturday-night snapper trips and private charters available. www.getawaymarina.com.

Paradise Parasail, 1160 Estero Blvd., (239) 463-7272. Parasail rides. Open 10 a.m. daily. Rides start at $45 per person.

Ranalli Parasail and Watersports, 2000 Estero Blvd. at Diamond Head Beach Resort, (239) 542-5511. Parasail up to 1,200 feet. Take off and land right on the boat. Guided wave runner dolphin tours, cabana and umbrella rentals and more.

Rebel Watersports and Southern Parasailing, 1010 Estero Blvd., (239) 463-3351. Tours and watersports. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Salty Sam's Marina, 2500 Main St., (239) 463-7333. Key West-style resort marina featuring open-air waterfront dining at Parrot Key Caribbean Grill and offering fishing charters, daily Key West ferry, sightseeing and dolphin watch tours, sailing charters, boat rentals, fuel, dockage, boating accessories and service and repair. www.saltysamsmarina.com.

Seashore Scuba, 15600 San Carlos Blvd., (239) 454-3111. Scuba and snorkeling charters daily in the Gulf of Mexico, $39 to $69 per person.

North Fort Myers

Fish-Tale Marina at Caloosa Isle, 1687 Inlet Drive, (239) 656-1700. Fuel, overnight dock, restaurant, service, dry storage and parts.

Marinatown Marina, 3446 Marina-town Lane, (239) 997-2767. Overnight docking available. Restaurants on site. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sanibel/Captiva Islands

Captiva Cruises, Captiva Island, (239) 472-5300. Daily excursions to Cabbage Key, Useppa, Boca Grande and Cayo Costa. Departure times vary. Dolphin/wildlife adventure cruises depart each day at 4 p.m. A sunset serenade cruise sets sail each evening and features the music of popular island musician Danny Morgan. Departure times also vary.

Sanibel Harbour Resort and Spa Marina, 17260 Harbour Pointe Drive, (239) 466-4000. Elegant sunset and Sunday brunch cruises on the Sanibel Harbour Princess. Ecotours on the Sun Princess catamaran. There is a 19-slip marina with overnight docking available.

'Tween Waters Marina, 15951 Captiva Road, (239) 472-5161. Marina dockage, boat ramp, canoe, kayak and bicycle rentals. Launch fee, $5, and a $3 retrieve fee. Charter sailing cruises, sightseeing, kayak trips, fishing and shelling guides and more. www.tweenwaters.com.

Ultimate Charters (239) 542-9315. Capt. Gary Clark specializes in fly and light-tackle fishing, sightseeing and shelling cruises around Sanibel, Captiva and Pine Island Sound. www.ultimatecharters.com.