Florida Everglades by Airboat

#FloridaEvergladesAirboat

KeyTip
Lesson to myself; next time make an effort to read up on the local airboat companies and do not assume everything is copacetic, why you ask

Issues
 To my amazement (as i was able to read the room quickly) on how disorganized this particular operator was with his only cash policy, no headsets for the noise, trying to overcrowd the swamp boat etc,

 Then i complained to all the various safety concerns in which we got things straightened out for myself and (at first) strangers but WE ALL ARE adventure travelers, so friends at the end of the tour

Past Incidents 
 So after i did a little research and found out between 2007 to 2017 there were 55 airboat accidents which unfortunately resulted in 2 fatalities plus 130 injured passengers or the drivers
 During the investigation it was found the causes were mostly due to excessive speed plus inattention to fixed objects (mangrove islands, tree branches, stumps/roots or other airboats) 

Today & Improvements
 So after the State of Florida implemented a new set of rules and regulations (2019) to this growing industry to take it from its cowboy days to present times 

  What came out was the Drivers of Airboats, the Course Testing Providers, the Instructors plus its Qualifications now all have to follow these strict guidelines.
But after all this the State of Florida still does not require airboats or their captains to carry insurance

 So with all that above information read the reviews and only use the most qualified companies so you can enjoy your Everglades experience without worry
 

 

The Florida Everglades
It is a subtropical wetland ecosystem spanning over two million acres covering across central and southern Florida
At one time the ecosystem of this area was connected by both wetlands plus bodies of water, but since the 1800s that has changed
 As always, it was mankind sculpting the landscape through development with water diversions plus flood control structures
 The end result, the size of the National Park has been decreased  

Uneducated
Even after viewing the Alligator Farm and seeing these creatures up close, you REALLY still
need to post this sign 

 No Swimming
Some Humans Are So Stupid 😂

 Airboat Interesting Facts
 A) The preferred choice is to use an automotive engine over aircraft because of the cost of the fuel which is much cheaper

 B) The hulls are all made from either aluminum or fiberglass

C) There are no brakes or reverse on these Fanboats plus they have no operating parts
 below the waterline

 D) The first Swamp Boats started in Florida in the 1930s and moving forward are now used for ecotourism, hunting, fishing plus rescues

E) Airboats were used to save thousands during Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans

F) U.S. Special Forces and the Coast Guard  use this
versatile craft

The Vegetation
There is much diversity of plants in the Everglades; with Sawgrass, Cacti, Lichens, Wildflowers, Algae, Bromeliads plus Orchids which actually are found up in the trees and get their nutrients
through the aerial roots 

The Trees
 Many different types of Cypress with the most being the Bald and Pond species
Water Tupelo, Florida Royal Palm, Red, White / Black Mangroves, plus other hardwoods that are found on areas they call Hardwood Hammocks (islands) 

Nature Preserve
The Everglades has extraordinary wildlife with more than 360 Bird Species, Bottlenose Dolphins, West Indian Manatees, Florida Panthers (less than 100😢)
 Alligators (that are colored black with U-Shaped snout) Crocodiles (color of a lighter grayish brown with V-Shaped front) and many different types of snakes

KeyTip;
 The best time to see all the wildlife is either dawn or dusk, so try to book your tour then 

Nova Scotia Connection
I could not post this blog without mentioning my local connection with Alexander Graham Bell (yes the phone inventor) as he had his Summer Home built in my area of Baddeck, Cape Breton
 
Testing Grounds
It was here he was always experimenting with many forms of transportation, like the first flight in Canada, the Silver Dart Plane for example
  From this "lab" it produced one of the pioneers of hydrofoil experimental prototypes

Ugly Duckling
 The first was built in 1905 and in 1919 one of his Fanboats traveled over 115kms per hour (70 mph)
a record that withstood for almost a decade 

Full Circle
So with that history connection, i had to do a ride on a Swamp Boat in Florida even though it is 3200 kms (2000 miles) away from my home of Halifax