Opportunities to spread your fins and get some playtime in the water are a dime a dozen in Myrtle Beach. When you’re not laying your towel on the white sand beaches to work on your suntan, enjoy the wide variety of other ways to splash! You could shred the ocean waves at high speeds, explore the gentle salt marshes, or learn about the local coastal ecology. From jet skiing to sightseeing tours of the Myrtle Beach dolphins, here are some of the most popular ways to catch the Atlantic Ocean waves.
Jet Skiing
There’s no greater feeling in the world than the rush of wind and salty sea spray on your face as you crest wave after wave or pursue the mammals of the deep. Rent a jet ski from Myrtle Beach Watersports, and take her out into the open ocean for half an hour, one hour, or two hours to shred the tallest waves and leave the coastline in your wake. You can also hop on a jet ski for a 2-hour-long dolphin watch tour, in which you’ll skirt 40 miles across the Intracoastal Waterway and barrier islands to find these happy playmates in their natural habitat.
Alternatively, find your aquatic motorcycle at Shawn’s Backwater Adventure. Their four distinct rides vary according to your skill and comfort level and include jet ski lessons and private tours. The 2-hour Explorer tour is ideal for families looking for a bit of exhilaration with views of historic plantations and local wildlife like alligators, osprey, eagles, and turkeys. For the more speed-happy of jet skiers, the 2-hour Adrenaline tour allows you to put the pedal to the metal along backwater trails and tight turns that send sea spray flying feet into the air.
Kayaking
Have you ever heard of ecotourism? It’s a fancy word for visiting natural habitats in ways that do not disturb or impact them negatively. Myrtle Beach is not just a beach town but a mecca for native coastal wildlife and plant life. If you feel called to explore the flora and fauna of the salt marshes and rivers, an eco-friendly kayaking tour is for you.
Check out J & L Kayak Ecoventures in North Myrtle Beach for professionally guided tours furnished with premium kayaks. Your tour guide will show you hidden estuaries and scenic vistas that other companies don’t even know about. You could paddle through still salt marshes, visit secluded islands, see bioluminescent water creatures, catch blue crabs, or watch the sunrise!
Boat Rentals
Did you know you can explore Murrells Inlet island dominated by goats and peacocks? Or that you can take yourself, your boys, and a pack of cold ones onto the open waters for some fishing? Or that you can invite all your friends and family for a loud dance party on the water? Pontoon boats make all of the above more possible. Find your half-day (4 hours) or full-day (8 hours) pontoon rental at Express Watersports. The spacious deck includes a swim platform, surround sound stereo systems, and cup holders. Plus, each boat can fit 11 people – or pets. Let’s be honest: what’s better than you and ten dogs on a boat?
Scuba Diving
Scuba diving is the kind of once-in-a-lifetime experience that everyone should have at least once in their life. It’s an entirely different world under the ocean surface, where alien-like creatures drift by, schools of fish shimmer in tight formation, and a single aloof fish surprises you with its size. There’s no other way you’d get to see the creatures of the depths in their natural habitat.
The coastline near Myrtle Beach is full of dive sites. You could head to Little River Inlet to explore a 140-year-old Civil War-era shipwreck called The Sherman. Similarly, you could keep an eye out for brass spikes and china from the Composite Wreck, a sunken ship from the 1800s with ribs sticking out of the sand. Countless other dives could take you to different parts of the South Carolina Artificial Reef Program, home to many shipwrecks, corals, barracudas, grouper, snapper, and more species.
Whether you’re a first-time diver or a seasoned pro, you’ll find all you need to get started scuba diving in Myrtle Beach at Coastal Scuba. Individuals aged eight and up can take various diving classes, or more experienced divers can go for their PADI certification. Coastal Scuba hosts scuba diving tours of many of the aforementioned sites, and you’ll also find all the equipment you’ll need for rent or purchase for your solo adventures.
Deep Sea Fishing
You haven’t yet experienced the best of fishing if you have never gone to the bountiful ocean. You stand to catch larger fish and a much wider variety than you might find in a river or near shore. The offshore anglers of Myrtle Beach always reel in big game fish like grouper, large sea bass, triggerfish, grunts, amberjacks, king mackerel, and pink snapper.
No matter your experience level with deep sea fishing, you can learn from the pros at Voyager Deep Sea Fishing & Dolphin Cruises. Their private sport fishing charter will take you out to deep waters, teach you how to find the most populated areas for the big game or smaller reef fish, and get you started using a drift line. By the time you return to shore, you will have proudly caught your biggest one yet. You could even have some grilled fish to look forward to for dinner!
In Conclusion
If you’re planning to take your adventures to Myrtle Beach, expect no less than splash-filled fun on the water for as many hours as your heart desires. While the jet skis are a great way to catch sight of some Myrtle Beach dolphins as well as some air time, the kayaks and pontoons are better suited to those who prefer a slower pace. On the other hand, scuba diving and deep sea fishing can be some of the most intense experiences of the Atlantic Ocean’s abundance and beauty. The warm waters and ocean waves await!
