The best spots in Florida
In our opinion, the Indian River Lagoon is one of the best places to go tubing in the state. Riding on a tube that’s being towed behind a boat can be a lot more fun and exciting than a lazy-river style afternoon floating around. Check out all the reasons that the Lagoon is our favorite place to go tubing below, and refresh your knowledge of tubing and towing safety at the same time. You’ll be ready to set out on your next aquatic adventure in no time. And the best part? There’s no long line for this attraction like there is in the springs and theme parks.
Why tube elsewhere when you could go tubing on the Indian River?
Tubing on the Indian River Lagoon has a huge variety of benefits. You’ll get to see tons of different wildlife, including dolphins, fish, wading birds, manatees, and more. Check out this article for information on all the different animal residents of the area. In addition, most tubing locations don’t offer much else in the way of entertainment. At 321 Boat Rental in the Lagoon, we also offer fishing equipment and wake boards to enjoy. The location is also packed with sandbars and islands to explore or relax on and some great restaurants if you’d like to stop for a bite or a drink. No need to drive out to a remote river or spring; in the Indian River Lagoon, you can plan an entire day of fun and relaxation that includes going tubing.
Tubing on the Indian River Lagoon vs. Florida’s rivers and springs
The water in the Indian River Lagoon is dramatically warmer than the water in the springs and spring-fed rivers, especially in the summer. While Florida’s famous springs (Ginnie Springs and Blue Springs come to mind) are very beautiful, that bright blue water is FREEZING at times. This is because, when the ocean water is warming up with the seasons and the sun, the water in the springs is always coming from underground in the Florida Aquifer, which stays at a consistent 70-75 degrees year round. These springs feed the rivers that run across the state so they’re generally not much warmer. In addition, many of Florida’s rivers host a large alligator population, which is intimidating to many would-be tube riders who would prefer not to get up close and personal with a gator. We get it!
Tubing Safety in the Lagoon
Towing a tube behind your boast is simple: as long as you follow some simple common-sense guidelines, it’s also safe and easy to do. The most important rule of towing tubes is to keep lots of distance between your boat, the tube rider, and everything else (the shore, markers, other boats, etc.). Imagine your boat and the tuber behind as being in the middle of a football field with empty space filling the rest of the field when you’re towing at high speeds. Ideally, nothing will enter this “football field” of empty space surrounding you and the tuber. Other than that, just use good judgement when you’re towing tubes. For example, it’s always a good policy to have a third person on the boat to keep an eye on the rider an make sure all is well; you can’t exactly keep an eye on your rider and drive the boat effectively at the same time. In addition, it’s never ideal from a safety perspective to drive a boat over to a swimmer to pick them up. If your rider falls off, have them get back on the tube or swim over to the boat to climb back on. When the rider is ready for a break, you can use the towing rope to pull the tube back to the boat while the propeller is safely turned off. Make sure you choose a brightly colored life jacket when tubing to ensure that other boats can see you bobbing in the water if you fall off the tube. Be respectful of other boats and pause your tubing fun to let them pass. Check your rope and tubes before you set out to make sure everything is ship-shape. And, just like you do every time you go boating, check the weather to make sure the forecast doesn’t ruin your plans for fun.
As long as you follow these good sense guidelines, you’ll have an incredible day on the Indian River Lagoon. We’re sure that you’ll agree with us that it’s one of the best places in Florida to tube! Feel free to contact us at 321 Boat Rentals if you have any other questions about water sports and boating in the area.