World Ocean Day is June 8th
Celebrate the seven seas with Florida Water Tours
The ocean is all around us in Florida, particularly St. Augustine, with the Atlantic to the east and the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) leading to the Tolomato/Matanzas River and San Sebastian River. It’s a place to go to relax, to ride waves, to fish, to sail and to enjoy. It’s a place we’ve barely discovered, with 80 percent of it still unexplored. Plus, as the world’s largest ecosystem, it’s something to be celebrated and protected. On June 8th, we invite you to help us honor World Ocean Day!
World Ocean Day is an initiative that celebrates our one ocean, one climate and one future, together. It encourages the public to learn more about the ocean and climate, and is powered by a youth advisory council uniting 141 youth from 61 countries throughout the year. At Florida Water Tours, we know the ocean connects us all, and we know the future of a healthy ocean depends on our youth and our actions today. “The ocean is our home,” shares Jessica Jadick, founder of Florida Water Tours and Executive Director of Florida Water Warriors. “It’s my favorite place, and it’s why I started Florida Water Tours. I hope our guests come away from our tours feeling educated and captivated by the magic of the ocean and marine life.” Jadick and her crew are enthusiastic about educating guests about the environment, particularly youths. Their nonprofit, Florida Water Warriors, provides K-12 Marine Science educational programming to underserved students and community members within Northeast Coastal Florida. “We aim to play a part in the larger picture of conservation by fostering an appreciation of our surrounding natural beauty and emphasizing our responsibility to its protection,” she shares. “We hope to help raise a generation of citizens that protect our valuable ocean.”
The ocean covers 70 percent of our planet, and produces over half of the world’s oxygen! It regulates climate, and with rising temperatures and pollution, particularly from plastics, the ocean is at a critical point, facing threats that could have drastic effects on the planet and our daily lives. If climate change continues, and waters continue to warm, the ocean will absorb excess carbon dioxide, shifting pH and causing marine life to suffer greatly. This ocean acidification leads to less oxygen production, which can cause oxygen depletion in some parts of the world. Warmer waters also means increased severity of storms, like hurricanes, and more of them. In order to keep our ocean healthy and our climate stable, we need to be more informed, and initiatives like World Ocean Day provide the catalyst for collective action. It’s a day that belongs to all of us, to create a better future for future generations. And it’s so much more than a day; it’s a way of life and mindset, and we here at Florida Water Tours live that lifestyle proudly. We’re committed to protecting our ocean and waterways and sharing ways to create a more sustainable environment.
To learn more about conservation and the magic of the ocean and its wildlife, join us on a tour. Our expert marine guides share ways to practice sustainability and educate guests on the variety of wildlife on the water – like the several species of endangered or threatened sea turtles, who come to our shores to nest from May 1st to October 31st. There are manatees, beach mice, gopher tortoises and shorebirds, and the Common Bottlenose Dolphin — which can be seen year round in St. Augustine, and most especially in June and July. Our tours offer a special opportunity to learn about our responsibility to protect these magnificent creatures, and you can explore the beautiful ocean and salty waterways of St. Augustine with us any day of the week.
Hop on one of our most popular tours, the Dolphin & Wildlife Adventure! It’s a true ecotour experience, where you’ll see dolphins, birds, manatees and turtles. For a more hands-on excursion, book our Marine Field Experience, where you get to be a marine biologist for the day. Collect water samples and log wildlife. Plus, ticket sales go directly to Florida Water Warriors to provide educational cruises to underserved students. And if you’re looking for something more relaxing and luxurious, try our Wine Tasting Cruise along St. Augustine’s bayfront, or the Moonlit Mysteries Tour, which takes you on the water as the sun begins to set. Using ancient navigation, the crew will narrate special celestial events, like shooting stars, full moons and planet alignments, and share the haunted tales of the oldest city. With more unique tours, and private charters available, celebrate the seven seas with Florida Water Tours.
We’re located at the Windward at Camachee Cove Yacht Harbor Marina, 107 Yacht Club Dr., St. Augustine, FL 32084. We offer free parking and restrooms are on board. Our vessels are just a short walk from our boutique, located at Dock A-23 and A-24. Email us at [email protected] to book or inquire about your next sail. To learn more about our non-profit or to make a donation, please visit www.FloridaWaterWarriors.org.