Florida Everglades by Airboat

#Florida_Everglades_Airboat

Lesson to myself; next time make an effort to read up on the local airboat companies & do not assume everything is copacetic, why you ask
 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 & (at first) strangers but WE ALL ARE adventure travellers......so friends at the end of the tour
 
 So after i did a little research & 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 & inattention to fixed objects (mangrove islands, tree branches, stumps/roots or other airboats) 

 So after the State of Florida implemented a new set of rules & 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 & 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

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

 

The Florida Everglades is a subtropical wetland ecosystem spanning over two million acres covering across central & southern Florida
At one time the ecosystem of this area was connected by both wetlands & 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  

Even after viewing the Alligator Farm & seeing these creatures up close, you REALLY still need to post this sign 
 No Swimming......Some Humans Are So Stupid 😂

As we follow another Airboat on the tour here are some 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 & moving forward are now used for ecotourism, hunting, fishing & rescues
E) Airboats were used to save thousands during Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans
F) U.S. Special Forces & the Coast Guard  use this versatile craft

There is much diversity of plants in the Everglades; with Sawgrass, Cacti, Lichens, Wildflowers, Algae, Bromeliads & Orchids which actually are found up in the trees & get their nutrients through the aerial roots 
As for trees: many different types of Cypress with the most being the Bald & Pond species
Water Tupelo, Florida Royal Palm, Red, White & Black Mangroves, plus other hardwoods that are found on areas they call Hardwood Hammocks (islands) 

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

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

I could not post this blog without mentioning my local connection (Eastern Canada & my Province of Nova Scotia) with Alexander Graham Bell (yes the phone inventor) as he had his Summer Home built in my area of Baddeck, Cape Breton 
It was here he was always experimenting with many forms of transportation (first flight in Canada......the Silver Dart Plane for example) plus he became one of the pioneers of hydrofoil experimental prototypes
 The first was built in 1905 & it was called the Ugly Duckling
 Then in 1919 one of his fanboats travelled over 115kms per hour (70 mph) a record that withstood for almost a decade 

So with that history connection I HAD to do a ride on a Planeboat in Florida even though it is 3200 kms (2000 miles) away from my home of Nova Scotia