For something unique and exciting, we highly recommend a jet ski rental while on the island. Jet skis are a perfect way to bounce around the island, providing easy access to the numerous wildlife refuges, mangroves, and inlets.
The Rules of Renting Jet Skis
There are a few rules and requirements when booking drivable watercraft in Florida. Most companies suggest reservations when renting jet skis on Anna Maria Island to ensure an easy rental process. Florida requires a valid driver's license and a completed boating safety course certificate to rent and drive jet skis or motorboats. This law applies to anyone born after 1988. Jet ski rental companies usually list company-specific requirements on their websites or Facebook pages, like deposit requirements and minimum ages to rent watercraft.
Where to Rent Jet Skis
Finding a jet ski rental place is the easy part. There are dozens of beach accessories, watercraft, and tour rental companies throughout Tampa Bay and Anna Maria Island.Here are just a few jet ski rentals with an established connection with Anna Maria Island.
Photo Credit Via Instagram - 5324 Marina Dr, Holmes Beach, FL 34217
(941) 773-7175
AMI Watersports is family-owned and offers boat and jet ski rentals, charters, and tours that serve Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key. Located just off the marina at Holmes Beach, pricing and booking are available online.
Zara Supersport
Photo Credit Via Instagram @zarasupersport- 752 Manatee Ave, Holmes Beach, FL 34217
(941) 281-5960
Zara Supersport is known for creating a positive customer experience. Their high-performance Sea-Doo jet ski rentals serve Anna Maria Island, Holmes Beach, Bradenton, and Sarasota. Fishing trips and eco-tours are also available for charter. Jet ski rentals at Anna Maria Island are reserved by the hour, half-day, or day.Located off Manatee Avenue, Zara Supersport operates exclusively by appointment.
Wavesplash Watersports
Photo Credit Via Instagram @wavesplashwatersports- 12208 Cortez Road West, Cortez, FL
34215 (941) 778-4178
Wavesplash Watersports offers a Florida water vacation for the whole family, including a door-to-door shuttle service. Book a boat tour aboard a deck boat, catamaran, or pontoon boat. Rent jet skis to go dolphin watching just off of Anna Maria Island or try parasailing in the Gulf for a full day of adventure.
Cortez Watersports
- 4328 127th Street W, Cortez, FL 34215
(941) 798-3721
Cortez Watersports rents jet skis and pontoon boats and provides guided tours throughout the Anna Maria Island area seven days a week. Specializing in guided tours such as Dolphin Encounters, Champagne Cruises, or Sunset Cruises.
Coastal Watersports
- 1301 Gulf Dr. N, Bradenton Beach, Florida
(941) 778-4969
Photo Credit Via Instagram - 4110 127th St W, Cortez, Florida 34215
(941) 538-4290
Conveniently located on the mainland at the Cortez Causeway Bridge, H2O Watersportz serves Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key, Sarasota, and Bradenton. And they are the only company that offers unguided, unrestricted jet ski rentals throughout the Anna Maria Island area. H2O Watersportz also offers deep-sea & backwater bay fishing trips for charter.
Bradenton Beach Marina
402 Church St N, Bradenton Beach, Florida (941) 778-2288.Bradenton Beach Marina is a full-service resort marina just off the Intracoastal Waterway and minutes from the Gulf of Mexico via Longboat Pass. Bradenton Beach Marina offers jet skis and a wide variety of boat rentals for the whole family.Where to Play on A Jet Ski on AMI
And with the perfect jet ski in hand, Anna Maria Island offers genuine fun in the sun. The Cortez Bridge to the Ringling Causeway Bridge provides wide-open spaces for the perfect jet ski experience. This free-run space allows even the novice jet skier an open water experience.Wildlife abounds on Anna Maria Island, and jet skis offer a unique perspective for manatee watching. Grab a guide to find the best off-shore spots to see bottle-nosed dolphins. If beach-combing for seashells or shark's teeth is more your speed, jet skis are a great way to access hidden beaches away from the crowds.
Try a visit to Palma Sola Bay and a stop at The Jewfish Sandbar for a short break and a quick dip. Many jet ski rental companies offer guided eco-tours for families who want to learn about the area's significant marine animal and plant diversity.
Egmont Key Wildlife Refuge is a secluded island at the mouth of Tampa Bay and is famous for guided jet ski tours. Egmont Key sits a quick two miles from Anna Maria Island. The adventurous can find ancient ruins on its shores, including the Spanish-American War ruins, Fort Dade, the Egmont Key Lighthouse, and Battery Burchsted for exploration. Egmont Key State Park and Wildlife preserve are excellent for hiking.
And nothing beats enjoying an Anna Maria Island sunset sitting on a jet ski in crystal blue waters.If you are looking for a more laid-back water adventure, Anna Maria Island doesn't disappoint. AMI Adventure Rentals offers easy access to all things 'beach' such as paddleboard and kayak rentals or even private cabanas.
Dependent on people-power, these are two perfect ways to see the island's mangroves. Or experience nature in protected waters for a 90-minute Paddleboard Yoga class. Whether on a kayak or a SeaDoo GX, the waters around Tampa Bay and Anna Maria Island are jet-ski friendly and offer dozens of places to explore and enjoy.
