About Ibis Bay Paddle Sports
Ibis Bay Paddle Sports operates from the Ibis Bay Beach Resort on North Roosevelt Boulevard, launching directly into the protected shallow waters of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The resort setting means guests step off the dock and onto the water without a shuttle or marina transfer, and the calm, sheltered flats in this part of Key West are ideal for beginners and families with children as young as six. Paddleboard and tandem kayak rentals are available in one-hour and three-hour blocks, with glass-bottom kayaks offering a unique window into the sea life below without getting wet.
The standout experience is the guided LED night kayak tour, a ninety-minute after-dark adventure where glass-bottom kayaks and paddleboards are fitted with powerful underwater LED lights that illuminate the ocean floor beneath you. Guests regularly spot baby sharks, stingrays, starfish, tropical fish, and even the occasional sea turtle gliding through the lit-up shallows — a magical perspective on marine life that simply is not available during daylight hours. The tour is guided by naturalist staff who point out species and explain the ecosystem as you paddle, making it as educational as it is visually striking.
For guests who want a faster-paced adventure, Ibis Bay also runs a 28-mile guided jet ski island tour that circles all of Key West, crossing from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean and back. After a day on the water, the resort's on-site Stoned Crab Restaurant and Dock to Dish Seafood dining options mean visitors can refuel without leaving the property. The combination of resort convenience, calm launch conditions, and that one-of-a-kind night kayak tour makes Ibis Bay Paddle Sports a particularly strong choice for families and couples staying on the quieter north side of the island.
