POV: Exploring the Gulf by Wave Runner Tour at South Seas
October 1, 2025
There’s something about speeding across open water that makes you feel like you’ve cracked the secret to happiness. Maybe it’s the sun glittering off the Gulf, the salt in the air, or that satisfying hum of the engine as you lean into the throttle. Whatever it is, our recent wave runner adventures at South Seas delivered all of it – and a little more.
We booked two guided tours, both led by Ghassan, a South Seas legend who’s been guiding guests through these waters for nearly 30 years. Everyone talks about him with a mix of affection and awe, equal parts fearless captain and island storyteller. And after a day with him, you understand why.
Explore Water Sports at South Seas
Part 1: Wildlife and a Wild Ride
Our first adventure began under skies that could only be described as “dramatic.” Dark clouds rolled in from the horizon, the kind that make you question your decision to wear sunscreen instead of a poncho. But Ghassan just smiled, checked the radar, and assured us, “I’m a little bit of a weather nerd – don’t worry, I know exactly where to find calm water.”
He was right.
We followed him out from Captiva Landing Marina, the engines humming low, threading through turquoise channels that quickly turned to still, glassy water tucked between mangrove islands. Within minutes, the wind softened, and it felt like we’d slipped into another world.
As beginners, we were nervous at first, trying to balance speed and control; but Ghassan’s calm guidance (and the occasional thumbs-up from him over the water) helped us find our rhythm. Soon we were carving gentle arcs across the surface, laughing as we raced side by side.
Then came the magic.
A lone dolphin appeared, as eager to catch a glimpse of us as we were of him. Moments later, a gentle manatee surfaced nearby, impossibly serene. Overhead, water birds traced circles in the sky, and the air smelled faintly of salt and mangrove.
By the end of the tour, the storm had passed, the water was calm, and we felt like pros. The Gulf has a way of doing that – reminding you that even when the weather turns, there’s beauty waiting just beyond it.
Part 2: Sunshine, Sea Spray, and Frozen Key Lime Pie
The second time we ventured out with Ghassan – this time joined by another guest-favorite guide, Cailtin – the sky was a painter’s blue, and the water shimmered in shades of aquamarine so clear you could see straight down to the sandy bottom. We zipped along the coast, spray catching the light like tiny diamonds, headed for Cabbage Key, an island accessible only by boat (or, in our case, by wave runner).
The ride there was pure bliss: glassy water, private islands in the distance, and that perfect mix of adrenaline and calm that comes with gliding over open sea. Pulling up to the dock felt like arriving in a storybook.
We explored the island’s shaded trails and climbed the old water tower, where the view stretched endlessly over mangrove channels and back toward Captiva. Then came the highlight: smoky Mahi dip and frozen Key Lime Pie at the island’s cozy restaurant – refreshing, creamy, and just the right mix of sweet and tangy.
After lunch, we coasted past the historic fishing shacks: weathered wood structures standing on stilts above the water, once home to fishermen and their families who lived here for months at a time. You can still camp overnight on a few of them, and though we didn’t, it was easy to imagine the quiet simplicity of life spent fishing under starlit skies.
Before heading home, Ghassan and Caitlin led us to Cayo Costa State Park, where white sand beaches stretched untouched in every direction. We walked barefoot along the shore, the only footprints our own, before hopping back on our wave runners for the return trip to South Seas.
As we glided back into the marina, the sun beginning its descent, it hit us – this was the kind of day that stays with you forever.
The Afterglow
By the end of both tours, we’d gone from nervous first-timers to confident explorers, powered by salt air and just enough speed to make us grin like kids. Ghassan and Caitlin had shown us hidden corners of the islands, places we never would have found on our own, and stories that brought each stretch of coastline to life.
If you’ve ever wanted to experience Captiva from a new perspective, feeling the thrill of open water, the quiet of mangrove tunnels, and the joy of seeing dolphins race alongside you…book a Wave Runner Tour at South Seas.
Whether your adventure is under blue skies or stormy ones, one thing’s certain: once you’ve felt the freedom of the Gulf on a wave runner, you’ll never look at the horizon the same way again.