We drove to Clearwater on our last visit to Florida as I saw advertised on the Forum for a boat called the sea screamer. I called first to make a reservation but was told that the quay office opened at 10. 00 am and it was first come first serve. They go out in the summer from June 1st to September 15th four times at day at 12. We booked to go at 12. 00 Noon so there was just time for breakfast along the quay. There are loads of boats that you can hire to go out fishing and you could buy there catch on the quay. It was a fish lover’s paradise.
We arrived about 10 minuets before the sea screamer left the dock. It was a really hot day for the first week in April. We were told that if you sit on the back of the boat the dolphins like to jump in the waves that the boat made and you also got a bit wet. My daughter age 11 was a bit worried about the speed of the boat so we sat at the front, but you still got a really good view.
You are guaranteed to see dolphins or you get another go. We set off slowly and the captain gave us a running commentary of who owned the very expensive houses along the beach front the water is very blue and the sand was very white, it would have been great to stop and dive in for a swim. We had to go out at about 5 knots which is not fast until we turned to the right and went under the bridge 3 dolphins followed us from just out of the dock one was a baby they put on a great show.
As we turned right and went under a big bridge you could see that we were going out to sea and another group of dolphins came towards the boat, and as we got the speed up they started to chase the boat and kept jumping out of the water. My daughter thought is great to see them in the wild and they were so playful in the waves. Even when the boat got up to full speed it wasn't to fast really and we all really enjoyed the experience. I would say that it took about 15 minuets to get out of the dock and really get some speed up, but I felt we still have plenty of time to go fast and really appreciate the fact that we where seeing dolphins in the wild.