Watersports here cluster in two places: the beachfront behind the big resorts, and the John's Pass boardwalk at Madeira Beach. The beach operators are more convenient, the John's Pass ones have more choice.
On the sand at St Pete Beach
Suncoast Watersports has been running since 1978 and claims the longest continuously operating parasail on the planet. Their huts sit behind the Sirata and TradeWinds, so if you are staying at either you can walk to them barefoot. Parasailing, waverunners, banana boats and kayaks.
At John's Pass, Madeira Beach
The boardwalk has half a dozen operators within a few hundred metres of each other, which means you can walk the strip and compare rather than book blind.
Kayaks and paddleboards
The calm water is on the bay side, not the Gulf side. Shell Key Preserve and the mangrove tunnels around Tierra Verde are the reason to paddle here, and clear-bottom kayaks have become the popular way to do it.
Last updated August 8, 2026. Something changed? Tell us.
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