Mariana with Javier, winners of Fury's Facebook Photo Contest.

By Shayne Benowitz

And the winner of a Key West vacation for two, including roundtrip airfare, luxury accommodations, complimentary dinner, and all-you-can-play action with Fury Water Adventures… is Mariana Fernandez! Congratulations!

What an impressive win! Mariana entered the Facebook Fan Photo Contest in May and won the monthly prize. Her photo was our profile picture the entire month! I got to chat with Mariana via email and she was so sweet and so enthusiastic about her experience in Key West!

Mariana's winning photo!

She made the trip down from Miami with her husband Javier to celebrate her 28^th birthday in September 2010 and joined us on our snorkel trip. Mariana said of snorkeling, “The first impression we had as we descended into the water and glanced below was: ‘OMG!! IT’S SUPER DEEP!!!!’ Then, little by little, we lost the fear and before we knew it we were like two fish in the sea, swimming around, staring at the unknown world that was just beneath us!”

I love the way she describes her experience and I’m sure many of you can relate! Over the course of the contest Mariana rallied a whopping 1,842 “likes” for her photo. So impressive! She says she and Javier absolutely fell in love with Key West’s landscape and the kindness of the people. They are dying to get back and give parasailing a try, and it looks like they’ll have their chance and then some!

Congrats again Mariana! Thanks for being such a true Fury fan! Can’t wait to see you out on the water in Key West.

Shayne Benowitz is a freelance writer and Fury crew member. Follow her on Twitter @ShayneBenowitz.

Mariana Fernandez's photo, leading in votes for contest.

By Shayne Benowitz

Well, the countdown is certainly on and the competition is fierce! Throughout 2011 and the beginning of 2012, we’ve had hundreds of colorful photos from your Key West vacations posted to our wall. It’s been such a fun competition and so great to share the good times on Fury in Key West with people from all over the country and around the world. Voting for the contest will officially close on Wednesday February 1st, and we’ll announce the winner the following day, so now’s the time to rock the vote! Head to our Facebook page, and click on the Photo Contest Vote tab to the left.

The prize pack for the photo with the most votes wins a Key West vacation for two that includes airfare, luxury hotel accommodations for three days and two nights, their choice of Fury trips, spa treatments, dinner, and more! It’s a little something from us to you for being such amazing and loyal fans! Each month, we’ve given out  free sunset sails, snorkel trips, or Fury t-shirts to our monthly winner and shared their winning photo in our profile pic.

We’ve seen some great stuff and I’ve loved interacting with everyone on Facebook. Contest or no contest, keep the pictures coming! Right now, it looks like May’s winner Mariana Fernandez has a controlling lead with more than 1,600 votes. Not too far behind is Stephanie Werner with nearly 900. And in third place, it’s Brian Larson. Good luck to all of our semi-finalists! You’ve got a couple more days to rock the vote. We’ll announce the winner of February 2nd!

Shayne Benowitz is a Fury crew member and freelance writer. Follow her on Twitter @ShayneBenowitz.

Photo courtesy of Fury Fan Elina Eskina.

By Shayne Benowitz

It was a few months ago that I came across these pictures on our Facebook wall posted by Fury Fan Elina Eskina. I’ve had them flagged waiting to share with you all because they are too cute to pass up! During her jet ski tour, Elina and her family were treated with a dolphin sighting of amazing proportions. I’m not sure which is more adorable, though, the dolphins or her little boy in the pictures!

Photo courtesy of Fury Fan Elina Eskina.

On any given Fury trip, whether you’re snorkeling, parasailing, or sunset sailing, there’s a possibility that we might spot some dolphins. It happens more often than you might think. Dolphins travel in pods, so if you spot one chances are you’re going to see more!

Sometimes you catch one glimpse and they’re gone without a sight, and other times they’re playful and will frolic alongside the boat or surf in its wake. On even more rare occasions, you’ll actually see a dolphin leap all the way out of the water! Elina captured an amazing picture of this!

Photo courtesy of Fury Fan Elina Eskina.

During the jet ski tour, we always take a time-out at a sandbar to relax in the water and take in the beautiful surroundings. There’s lots of interesting critters to be found there, not to mention possible dolphin sightings! We try to give you a little bit of everything on this tour: free time to rev it up, a tour of the island, and gorgeous Mother Nature.

If spotting a dolphin’s in the wild is a must on your list, then we’re happy to have added a Dolphin Watch & Snorkel Tour to our menu. Our expert captains cruise out to the “dolphin playground,” an area in the backcountry ideal for their habitat. Sightings are almost always guaranteed. Afterwards, cool off in the crystal clear water for a little snorkeling and swimming of your own. You never know what amazing things you might spot when you’re on the water in Key West!

Let's go kayaking!

By Shayne Benowitz

I adore our new Island Adventure trip. Yes, you’ve heard me say it before, and I’m going to keep saying it! Perhaps it’s the small power cat facilitating a more intimate experience, perhaps it’s that there’s so much to discover in the backcountry, perhaps it’s the laid back pace that makes you never want to return to shore… Whatever it happens to be, I’m absolutely loving it!

I embarked on the Island Adventure a few weeks ago with Captain Steve F. at the helm and Christy and Chad working crew. I was psyched to see Chad on the boat since he trained me when I first started at Fury back in the summer of 2005! We don’t get to work together much anymore, so it’s always fun to get on the water with him.

We made it out to Rock Key for the snorkeling portion of the trip. It’s January and the water temps have definitely dropped, not so much that it’s too cold to get in, but enough that it will give you a chill at first plunge. As crew, we’re definitely more sensitive to the water temperature since we’re out in it every day, but just in case you get chilly too, we offer wetsuit rentals during the winter months for only $10 per person. It’s a nice option to have this time of year!

Snorkeling was great. We spotted plenty of yellowtail snapper and my favorite, the rainbow parrotfish. We cruised to the backcountry for a full afternoon of kayaking. The tide was high, so the sandbar that we normally go to was completely submerged. This just meant that Chrissy was going to lead us on an amazing kayak tour through the mangroves.

I hopped in a kayak with Chad and we launched out towards Woman Key. We paddled atop seagrass meadows and the hardbottom, and before too long we spotted a conch shell in the shallow water. We picked it up to discover that the conch was in there. After showing it to a few other passengers, we put him safely back in the water. That was the first of many conch shell sightings that afternoon.

Chrissy also pointed out the abundance of sea cucumbers where we were paddling and showed us the trick where you pick up the sea cucumber and it squirts out water. Pretty entertaining! We paddled along the fringe of a large mangrove island and ducked into a small trail where we were canopied by the tree branches until we made it out to the other side. The setting was so peaceful in the calm, shallow waters with the sun slowly lowering into the western horizon.

During the paddle, we spotted a couple of juvenile sharks at two different points. You could actually see their dorsal fins on the surface of the water. They were small–only two to three feet long–and we were able to get close and catch a glimpse of them. I’ve seen larger nurse sharks at the reef plenty of times, but it was very cool to see these little guys in such shallow water. It was a totally different experience.

We paddled back to the boat and pulled the last kayak onto the catamaran right as the sun melted into the water, concluding another gorgeous day in paradise.

2012 Conch Drop at Sloppy Joe's.

By Shayne Benowitz

Is it too late to still be wishing people Happy New Year’s? I don’t think so! Although I did mean to get to this New Year’s blog sooner, I think we can take our sweet time looking forward to what the new year will bring. We had a great celebration in Key West, and it was actually the first New Year’s I’d spent here since 2006, the year I moved here. Some of my best friends and I have a longstanding tradition of traveling for New Year’s. They all came to Key West to ring in 2007, and since then we’ve been to Seattle, Las Vegas, and twice to Miami. For 2012, it was time to bring the party back to the island!

A couple of good friends from New York, Ted and Colin, came down to celebrate  with me and we got the weekend started right on the Commotion on the Ocean. Nicole’s mom was in town and so was longtime Fury Girl Becky for the holiday, so they joined us as Cory & the band rocked us into a spectacular Key West sunset.

For New Year’s Eve, we got a nice group together for dinner at one of my favorite restaurants Blackfin Bistro and then cruised down Duval Street for the festivities. At 801 Bourbon, we saw Sushi in her stiletto before it dropped to ring in 2012. The block was absolutely packed, so we continued to Fogarty’s for the countdown. Everyone was out and ready to celebrate! We bounced around after that from Rick’s to the Lazy Gecko and finally to the Porch. And, of course, we couldn’t end the night without spotting the conch that dropped at Sloppy Joe’s. It was a great night!

At first I couldn’t think of exactly what my New Year’s resolution would be. 2011 was a big year for Fury and for me. The company’s expansion was exciting and we now have more trips than ever to offer our customers, including jet skiing, dolphin watching, the Double Dip snorkel trip, and the Island Adventure. All I could think of as a resolution was just to keep on keeping on. But a few days after the New Year, a mantra started to repeat itself in my mind: be energetic, be fearless, be positive. I think those will be good words to guide me through a New Year.

It was a blast to ring in 2012 in Key West and I look forward to more good times to come. Happy New Year’s everyone! May yours be healthy, wealthy, and… filled with snorkeling and parasailing!

A gorgeous Key West sunset.

By Shayne Benowitz

Anyone who knows me knows that New Year’s Eve is my favorite holiday. They would also know that I think a Key West sunset is one of the most beautiful sights a person can witness. Celebrating the final sunset of 2011 on New Year’s Eve is a fitting way to get your night of merriment started. At Fury, we now have more ways than ever to enjoy a sunset sail and we’ll be throwing a couple of great parties on the water.

On Saturday night December 31st, choose your cruise. We have many die-hard Cory Heydon Band fans, and they won’t disappoint with a special New Year’s Eve Commotion on the Ocean Sunset Sail. Dance the night away on the bow of our boat while Cory and the band rock! Our crew will be serving up the usual wine, beer, margaritas, and champagne, and we’ll have a great appetizer spread.

If you’d rather enjoy a slightly more mellow or romantic cruise, opt for our classic Champagne Sunset Sail where we’ll also be throwing a festive party complete with beer, wine, and champagne.

With all of the new trips we’ve added to our menu in 2011, we’ll have more boats on the water than ever for the final sunset of 2011. If you’d prefer a little more action or adventure while watching the sun sink into the western horizon, then book the evening Dolphin & Snorkel Adventure, Rum & Reggae, Double Dip Snorkel Trip, Island Adventure, or a cruise on the glass bottom boat.

I know I’m excited to celebrate a new year in Key West! Whether you make it out with us for the final sunset of 2011 or not, make a resolution to join us one of the 365 evenings of 2012. Happy New Year!

Stewart's winning photo!

By Shayne Benowitz

If you’ve been to our Facebook page this month, then you’ve definitely noticed our new profile picture of a lush green mangrove tree taken by Stewart Foster, our fan of the month! We especially loved his picture because our brand new trip, the Island Adventure, explores the backcountry of the Gulf of Mexico filled with mangrove tree islands.

On this trip you can kayak through the mangroves and relax on a sandbar beach while sipping Coronas. We also take you to the reef to snorkel. It’s a wonderful way to experience two completely different aspects of Key West’s water on one great trip. And, of course, we’ve got you covered with snacks and a tasty lunch from the Cuban Coffee Queen. It’s definitely my favorite new way to spend a day on the water in Key West.

Stewart and his wife at the Southernmost Point.

Stewart joined us in September of 2010 with his wife from House Springs, Missouri, a small town outside of St. Louis. They’ve been married for 32 years and travel to Florida almost every year. This was their first trip to the Keys and they stayed in Marathon. They found out about our Ultimate Adventure and sunset package from the Marathon Visitor’s Center and decided to make the 47 mile trek south to Key West for the day.

Stewart said he enjoyed the all day trip and our helpful staff. (What can I say? The Fury crew’s the best! They had a great time snorkeling and jet skiing, and even parasailing, although it made his wife a little nervous! They walked around the island and made it to the Southernmost Buoy for a photo opt before heading back to the marina for the sunset sail. It sounds like a pretty great way to spend the day in Key West!

Thanks for your great picture Stewart and congratulations again on being the Fury Fan of the Month!

Sloppy Joe's at Christmas

By Shayne Benowitz

Thanksgiving Day Ultimate Adventure, Christmas Parade down Duval Street, Lighted Boat Parade, Fury’s Annual Holiday Party, Santa’s Toys for Tots Sunset Sail… These are the holiday events we’ve already ticked off the list. Once the holiday’s get going in Key West, the island stays festive for the rest of the year. Key West is truly one of the most fun places to celebrate the holidays.

If you picture a traditional white Christmas by the fireplace at home, then it may sound strange to celebrate the holidays in the tropics, but there is holiday cheer to be had all over the island. Homes are decorated in colorful lights, the palm trees are glistening, and everyone’s in a jolly spirit. There’s even a house off of Angela Street that goes all out and creates its own Winter Wonderland and holiday light show.

Fury Girl's favorite holiday light show!

For those of us who live in Key West, we’ve helped change our own family’s holiday traditions. My parents have spent more than one Christmas in Key West. And this is the time of year I’ve met many of the other Fury crew’s parents! At Fury, we’re on the water every day of the year no matter the holiday because we know it’s a special and unusual way for you, our loyal customers, to celebrate with your family and friends.

If you’re here on Christmas and want a completely new tradition, then the Christmas Ultimate Adventure is the way to go! We’ll host a special Christmas luncheon on our catamarans seven-miles offshore! The day includes breakfast, snorkeling, parasailing, jet skiing, kayaking, and an afternoon of fun on Adventure Island. No matter how you celebrate your holidays, we want to wish you and yours a very happy one from all of us at Fury!

By Shayne Benowitz

I love the holidays in Key West. Our streets are lit up with multi-colored lights, the palm trees at the Westin are sparkling, and everyone’s feeling festive and merry. Tomorrow night’s Lighted Boat Parade is an absolute highlight of the season. Schooners, fishing boats, and of course Fury will be decked out in lights and decorations on a promenade through the Key West Harbor.

There’s many options for enjoying the parade from being in it, watching from land, or viewing it on the water aboard Fury. We’ll have one catamaran in the parade all lit up with our concierge guests and special friends of Fury. Our other catamarans and the glass bottom boat will be on the water viewing the parade, and you’re invited!

We’ll be serving beer, wine, and champagne, and there’s an option to upgrade to a full liquor bar. We’ll also have appetizers and live music entertainment. Watch the sunset from Mallory Square or aboard one of our sunset sails, and then head to the Westin for the fun after the sunsets.

It’s a true spectacle, and one of those only-in-Key-West holiday events, so if you’re in town don’t miss it! I hope everyone’s enjoying the holiday season, and if you’re heading to Key West, we can’t wait to see you on the water!

Shayne Benowitz is a Fury crew member and freelance writer. Follow her on Twitter @ShayneBenowitz

A hawk the Fury crew rescued from the ocean. Photo courtesy of Fury Girl Annabelle McLeod.

By Shayne Benowitz

The headline hit the Key West Citizen on Thanksgiving Day: “Dog Rescue Makes for Many Thanks: 20-year-old blind dachshund tumbles off owner’s sailboat.” The story goes on to tell about a couple who lives aboard their sailboat in the Key West anchorage. They were in Key West on shore during the day, and when they returned to their vessel at dusk one of their two pups, Mickey, was missing. Panicked, the couple searched the boat and the surrounding waters hopelessly. No dog was in sight.

A lucky twist of fate earlier in the day got Mickey ashore safe and sound. During an afternoon jet ski tour, our crew member and guide Lyndall Canter spotted something in the ocean near Boca Chica Channel. “At first I thought it was a baby manatee,” he told The Citizen. He put the tour on hold at a nearby sandbar and everyone pitched in to give the dog fresh water and to dry him off.

Once they returned to the Westin Marina, other crew members on hand helped to wash the dog off, feed him, and try to rehydrate him before shuttling him to a nearby animal hospital. We’re happy to report that Mickey survived and was reunited with his owners through the coconut telegraph. We’re very proud of the sharp eyes and generous nature of Lyndall and the rest of the crew for getting the little pup to safety.

Coincidentally, in the last week or two, we’ve rescued a couple of feathered friends from the marina and nearby waters including the adorable hawk in the picture above, and a pigeon. This happens from time to time, and we always call the Key West Wildlife Center who promptly picks up the animals and brings them to their center for rehabilitation.

At Fury, we’re lucky to spend every day on the water observing the amazing animals and nature that make up this unique ecosystem. It’s no wonder our crew is full of animal lovers and rescuers whether it’s a furry friend, a feathered friend, or any animal!

Shayne Benowitz is a Fury crew member and freelance writer. Follow her on Twitter @ShayneBenowitz