Traveling for business through Florida, I made a split decision to get out and do something interesting in the evening. This bio-luminescent tour seemed very unique, and I've always wanted to try kayaking. I tried booking with first company I saw but called just after 6 and they were closed. BK was open until 8 and got me booked right away. They were a bit more expensive, but in hindsight they were the right call in the first place, because the tour group was much smaller and personal. The tours all launch from the same spot, and the cheaper option seemed more crowded.
I got an email from BK with instructions. Very clear on directions and provided a Google Maps link to exact coordinates, which was helpful given the somewhat remote location down a dirt road in a nature preserve. I went in short sleeves, swim trunks, and water shoes, but in reality that kayak is almost impossible to tip over, and you don't get we aside from some drips and splashes if you paddle aggressively. The email recommended long sleeves due to bugs, but I was slathered in 40% deet and didn't get a single bite.
The kayaking instruction was great. Our tour guide Rachel was fantastic in getting me and several other first-timers set up. I mentioned the group being very small, and that was partly due to it being a full moon, under which the bioluminesence would not be as visible (so you would think), but the full moon was under the horizon for half the tour, so it was actually the best possible conditions (and still plenty visible post-moonrise). The kayaking was smooth and easy, with a channel current at the beginning giving us a great introduction, as it carried us along with minimal paddling.
The experience itself was stunning. So many fish and shrimp swimming around or jumping out of the water, and every disturbance of the water causes an explosion of blue light. It was like fireworks going off all below you at times. Something I will never forget. The scenery was great as well, seeing the NASA site in the distance.