Captain Ernie gave us our instructions and strapped us in. Our large boat tour had about 15 passengers and I have been air boating all of my life - this is the safest time I have ever felt on an airboat. We wore seatbelts that fit 2-3 people together, had ear protection gear which worked and fit well, and the boat had metal arms that came down to keep you safely inside the boat if we would lean.
Ernie stopped the boat a few times to come down to the front to talk to us. He emphasized that we signed up for a swamp tour and not an alligator tour…..alligators are reptiles and they basically hibernate for the cold months. Luckily, it was warm enough that we did see several gators, a poisonous snake in a tree (yes, that really happened), birds and lots of deer.
Ernie talked to us about how these areas where salt and fresh water mix act as filters for our environment. We talked about alligators, how hurricanes have affected these areas, what is means to be a Cajun, and “swamp people.” No question was off limits and we had a great time.
This was family-safe and I would not hesitate to take my own child on this tour.