We had so much fun on your airboat tour!  Thank you so much!  It was a great way to start our girls weekend!  We got some great pictures and will email them to you.  Thanks again!  Becky, Sue Cindy and Kristy

Hi Debi, Thanks to you and Captain Harold for a most enjoyable experience on your airboat.  We will happily recommend your tours to our friends who visit Florida.  Please find attached a few of my photos which you can use on your web site or blog - please can you let me know the different bird names for the attached too. Best Regards, Chris (& Lydia, Sam and Dan) Smith, UK

Spirit of the Swamp Airboat Tours is by far the best airboat ride in Central Florida. I have been on three other ones in the area in years past and have never had such a great experience. From the eyes of my 5 year old...mommy can we go again tomorrow?

Captain Harold and Debi take one on one care of all the passengers...even stopping to make sure everyone gets pictures. You can talk to each other via their personalized headsets and that is a big plus. Both of them are very knowledgeable about the wildlife and plant life in the area making the trip both fun and educational! We saw gators big and small and just had a fabulous time.  Brande Brown, St. Cloud, Florida

What a fantastic time we had on the Spirit of the Swamp today. It's so intimate and Captain Harold made us feel at home and told us about everything we saw. He is extremely knowledgeable on all the local habitat and animals.

I did not want it to end. I recommend this to anyone coming to Florida, if you don't take a trip on Spirit of the Swamp you have missed out big time.  Ron Lackore, Fairfield, California

What a great day out! The fan boat we took was a 6 seater so there was plenty of room for the two of us plus Captain Harold and Debi.  The headsets were a nice touch so you keep moving all the time while talking to each other, instead of having to stop the boat and take off the headsets to talk to each others as had happened on another tour we took...

We took a 5 minute high speed ride, through the lock and on to the rivers where we came across our first alligator. The next 2 and a half hours simply flew by as we came across many different varieties of birds, (including bald eagles) turtles, raccoons, cows (yes, they really are there) and approximately 20 or 30 alligators, mainly large adults.

I would highly recommend this tour to anyone and we cannot wait til we return again next year to try and organise a longer tour. Many thanks, Matthew and Sarah Richardson, Derbyshire, England

Wow...WHAT a GREAT time!  Though the weather today wasn't the greatest Capt. Harold and Debi made our trip so, so wonderful!

We saw many little gators, and then at the end we saw the big mama!  Bald eagles, snail kites, herons, cows (yes cows in the water) and more! A lot of education as well. Being that it's a private tour (up to 6 of you can go) you feel very, very comfortable and with great service. It sprinkled a bit and they pulled out the rain slickers. No sooner did we put them on then the sun came out.

Our tour was a bit longer than the one hour on their site, but we weren't complaining. My kids were 17, 13, 10. Even a younger one (5) would love it as the headsets had mic's and you could talk to each other.

Much more personal than those big 15 person tours with strangers!  Kim Hurley, South Lyon, Michigan

We did a ride with Spirit of the Swamp. Brilliant. We were on the boat for about 2 1/2 hours. Captain Harold took us up lots of small creeks and rivers. We saw gators from 1ft to 10ft long, eagles, turtles and lots of other birds.

They provide drinks and snacks and the boat only takes 6 passengers.  We had done an airboat ride on a previous trip which was good but not as good as this trip.

They would stop/or turn around for any photos we wanted to take. You each have a set of headphones with a mic so you can talk to each other. They also took some group photos of us.  Susan Harris, UK

Hi Debi – I don’t know if you remember us or not but we went with you and the Captain on an airboat tour on April 25th, 2009 when we were visiting from Baltimore.  It was so much fun and we won’t ever forget it.  Thank you and give our regards to the Captain.  Thomas, Janet, Travis and Jadon, The Hardy Family, Baltimore, MD

I had the opportunity to take an airboat tour with Debi and Captain Harold and I have to say that it was definitely one of the coolest things I have ever done.

Both Debi and Captain Harold were extremely friendly, professional and knowledgeable. This was a day that I won't soon forget.   If you are in the Orlando area you have to check out Spirit of the Swamp. You will have one of the best experiences of your life. Thank you Debi and Captain Harold. Dan, Boston, MA

When Ryan finishes Marine boot camp in October, he has said he may want to come back and do another tour with you guys.  We all had a great time; this was by far the best tour we have taken.  Margo, Joe, Ryan and Matthew Bruce

  Captain Harold and Debi, 

We wanted to let you both know that we had a great time on your beautiful airboat it was more than we thought it would be.  Krystal hasn't stopped telling everyone how nice you both were and what great fun we had It was a highlight to our trip.

You both go out of your way to personalize the trip.  Thank You both so much.  The directions to the beach were great.  Thank you again and good luck with your business.  Deborah and Krystal Dailey

Hi Captain Harold and Debi!
 
What a super airboat ride that was. Carlotta is still talking about the "mouse" (armadillo) she has seen!  And that airboat is really the best thing to do for a family in Florida.

Never thought that my daughter would talk more about the airboat ride than Mickey Mouse...
 
Here are some photos of yesterday.  The alligator has really a Colgate smile don't you think? Thank you again for this airboat tour that we won’t soon forget!  Kind regards of Mauri, Sandra and Carlotta, Hillegom, Netherlands

 Just a note to say what a great time we had on our 2 hour airboat trip. Off roading on the water, the only way to go.

You guys were great. No rush at all and a very cold and windy day still produced a lot of sightings. Once again thanks. It was the best thing we did on our vacation.   John and Claudia Mills, Toms River, NJ

Hey Captain Harold and Debi,

Our airboat ride was one of the “Highlights” of our Florida trip.  Great memories with good people, Leslie and I both felt like we made new friends.  The hospitality we experienced - just doesn’t exist – or so we thought – The Spirit of the Swamp experience is a rare gem!  Keep up the good work!

Hope you two are well – let’s keep in touch! We plan on coming back out in 2010 for another airboat ride and a shuttle launch! Sincerely, Dan Skelly, California

I wanted to thank Captain Harold and Debi for the wonderful tour. They described all wildlife and every piece of nature. My niece loved the ride. I liked the fact you could talk to each other easily without interruption of the noisy motor. They did not stop until we found a gator. Tammy – Thompson, Canada

On a recent trip to Orlando we took your awesome tour.  We were from Massachusetts. 

We had an awesome time on the ride and look forward to doing it again on our next trip down to Orlando.  We have made copies of you card and put them up at work and my wife’s school, and we have highly recommended you tour to all our friends. Thanks again, The Lupiens of Massachusetts

  Hi Captain Harold and Debi!

Just a quick note to say thank you so much for our fantastic airboat tour. You gave us a great experience, that we will never forget. You were both so nice and hospitable. Very nice people and a lovely location to do the tour.

We really appreciated you stopping to take pics and have a chat. Wonderful!! We will be back and telling everyone yours is the place to go.... I still agree with my comment that all the other companies are rubbish!!! Angel Doyle, United Kingdom

Captain Harold & Debi, We are finally back to the snow and cold of Kansas.  It was very hard to leave the beautiful weather in Orlando.

I would like to extend our thanks once again for the wonderful adventure you provided.  With six teenagers and four adults, you had a very diverse audience to entertain.  Amazingly, all of us will have wonderful memories of our time on the swamp.  You really went out of your way to make sure both tours were special, and I can't tell you how much I appreciate your efforts. Spirit of the Swamp is definitely worth the trip! Thanks again, and have a safe and happy New Year! - Cindy Pauls, Kansas

I wanted to say that me & my other half Claire had a great time on the tour we had with Captain Harold & Debi. Was an unforgettable experience.

We had our ride, I think on the 29th December at Sunset. Have highly recommended it to Claire's folks who live in Davenport.  Thanks once again for being great tour guides. Steve Panther and Claire Offord, United Kingdom

Hi guys - First of all thanks for a really great day out on the lakes searching for Alligators – we experienced much more than we hoped for since we saw snakes, an enormous amount of birds, otter, etc. - It was really great to see all those animals living in their natural habitat instead of some cage in a zoo.  

Attached are some of the pictures we (my wife took – she has not really recovered yet from the fact she didn’t break the record of photos taken on one of your trips – she was close and if she gets a new opportunity she will definitely break the record).

Both Markus and Sofia will present some of the pictures we took, including the ones we took that day of all the animals in their respective class as a part of their homework.  Markus is also really working on me to buy a similar boat – he thinks it would be really cool to run around the sea in one of those during summer time (it’s those 360 degrees turns you did he wants to show his friends)  – even if I have tried to explain to him we live by the sea and not a lake and the waves would probably flip the boat.  

Have a great new year.  Best regards, Anders, Susan, Markus and Sofia, Denmark

We just wanted to let you know that we had just a super time on your airboat.  We liked the fact that we were the only group (family) on your boat and you really seemed to personalize it to meet the needs of our family. We saw lots of alligators, endangered birds and even a bald eagle.  They took us to places that the larger airboats can't go.  The headsets were cool, they allowed us to communicate with Captain Harold and Skipper Debi all the time. They probably got sick of all of our questions.  Too bad the WI Badger Football team lost to those Seminoles.  I just wanted you to know that your ride out does any Disney ride and was a highlight of our trip.  Thanks and good luck as you expand your business.  Our only regret, we should have taken the 2 hour tour!!  Thanks,  The Schecher Family, Juneau, WI

Captain Harold and Debi, Thank you so much for providing a major highlight during our trip to Orlando. Taking your tour into the swamp was such a pleasant contrast to the theme parks. The private tour was fantastic and we were highly entertained by your stories and banter.

We also appreciate your dedication to find us some gators. Although it seemed bleak for a while, we were thrilled to see the 3 gators we did along with all the other wildlife. We STRONGLY recommend this tour for anyone visiting Orlando and looking for something off the beaten path. Dalreen Fobler and David Pereira, Toronto, Ontario

 Without a doubt, the ride with Captain Harold and Debi was the highlight to our trip.  Our kids have not stopped talking about the great time they had, and are looking forward to our next excursion when return to the Orlando area in 09. 

While they loved the theme parks, and the our trip to the Space Coast, this day was a major highlight.  To have such a great interactive trip, and the hints for after the journey as to where we could spot a bald eagle made for the best day during our vacation.  Thanks for a great trip.  The pictures will be on the way soon.   Fred Hofstetter, Randolph, NJ

 I just wanted to say that I had a FABULOUS time on the airboat ride with Captain Harold and Debi.  They are two of the nicest people and I just love them to death! 

My husband and I couldn't have asked for a more enjoyable ride nor better company.  Captain Harold is very knowledgeable about the wildlife and surroundings and answered all our questions.  It was also nice to be on a private boat and not have to deal with strangers on this day.  The headsets made it nice to be able to talk to each other and to Captain Harold and Debi. 

My husband saw the first gator and because of the headsets was able to tell Captain Harold who promptly turned the boat around and went to find this gator!  Debi is a gem!  She kept Captain Harold in line and on the right course.  We saw several bald eagles which were my sons all time favorite.  It was a great time and made even more special because of the hospitality shown to us by Captain Harold and Deb. Thanks again for a wonderful time! 
- Paula and Eric Daugherty, Bon Aqua, Tennessee

Captain Harold & Debi, The Spirit of the Swamp boat trip was indeed unique and memorable and I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to experience the wildlife Florida has to offer up close and personal. The trip was tailored to suit our families needs and both Captain Harold and Debi went out of their way to ensure that we all had a great trip and seen all the wildlife we could which included alligators, Bald Eagles, wild turkeys, vultures, kites and much more.

Compared to the other airboats we seen out that day which all seemed to be crammed full of people and following a set route our trip was private and completely flexible.  The main priorities of the Spirit of the Swamp are safety and customer satisfaction both of which they excel at. The whole trip was a great experience and it felt like we were out with friends for the day. On our next visit to Florida we will without a doubt be rebooking a trip with Captain Harold and Debi.

Again for anyone looking to book an Airboat trip please look no further than the Spirit of The Swamp for the complete package. - Thanks again for a great trip. John & Trish Synnott and family, Arklow, Ireland. 

   Our first visit to Florida had to include an Airboat Tour and we are so glad we choose Spirit of the Swamp. Captain Harold and his wife Debi went out of their way to make us feel comfortable and to find as much wildlife as possible.
 
We saw various birds including Bald Eagles, wild turkey and more. We also saw several Snail Kites that are an endangered species because of its small population in the United States. We saw numerous Alligators of various sizes, some of which would swim across the surface until the boat was nearly on top of them before diving for cover.
 
We booked two trips during our 3 week vacation. The second trip was a bit different. I asked Captain Harold if he would take me out onto the lake and if I could try some fishing, which we did. I think we all had fun catching some fish that morning. Thanks again and we will see you in 2009 !!! - John & Donna Agnew (Scotland, UK)


  The ride of this morning was very exciting. We were very impressed of the beauty of the nature over there and we are sure you will respect it. We will recommend your trip to all who is interested to visit the swamp.

P.S. We can ensure you that my joke about the alligator wallet or whatever made of these amazing animals will never be bought by us!  Very best regards, Willem & Vera Niesthoven, Hazerswoude, Netherlands

Our Grandchildren came down to Clearwater for the weekend, and our daughter Kim wanted to do something exciting for them, so she booked this Airboat Ride over at St. Cloud at Lake Toho.

When we arrived at the boat launch, there was a beautiful red airboat, with a souped up engine and two rows of red and white upholstered seats.     The owners were busy getting the boat in the water and set-up for our ride.  They were very friendly, down to earth and knowledgeable of the local wildlife and swamp lore. The airboat was equipped with headset intercoms, which allowed us to talk to each other and also permitted Captain Harold and Debi to point out items of interests on our ride around the swamps of Lake Tohopekaliga (Toho).

Captain Harold piloted the boat through the swamps and slowed down or stopped anytime we wanted to take photographs of the beautiful scenery and wildlife, which included several Bald Eagle sightings.

We thoroughly enjoyed our ride, and we plan on going back several more times to take other family members and friends who come down for a  visit.

Captain Harold and Debi are strictly a family airboat operation, which doesn't try to cram a bunch of strangers into a bigger boat together to make a lot of money. Their 6 passenger boat is very comfortable for 5 or 6 family members or friends to get together for a thrilling and informative adventure ride through the shallow waters of Lake Tohopekaliga (Toho). We guarantee you will get your money's worth and have a great time. Jim & Donna Doyle, Clearwater, Florida

Debi and Captain Harold, I would like to say thanks again for a great trip. We really appreciated the privacy of being on your boat. It was like spending a day on the water boating with friends. You really went out of your way to ensure we were comfortable and had a good time.

I could not believe the time when we got back. You guys were just worried about our enjoyment and not sticking to a schedule. You provide an outstanding personal service and deserve to be successful. We wish you great success and will certainly look you up if we are ever in Florida again. It was the highlight of our trip. You beat out Universal, Disney World and Kennedy Space Center for an 8 year old!

Warmest Regards,
Larry, Marisa and Anthony, San Diego, California

  I was out on your tour with three other friends in August 08, and have been on many air boat rides with other companies. But I would say that yours was the best by miles.

Your total one on one 100% personal contact and your knowledge of the area we were in, was fantastic. Your Air boat is at the top of the league and we enjoyed the smaller style boat than a bigger one with 18 other people we don’t know.

I liked the idea of the NASCAR style headsets which allowed us all to talk and listen to each other without shouting, and also to learn a bit about the history of the area from yourself.

The boat was so comfortable and it was very relieving to know that you believed in safety first, with all sorts of lifesaving equipment on board, rather than just the money.. I would absolutely be booking with yourselves from now on and will be recommending you to any of my friends or family heading out to Florida on holiday. Good luck with your business and many successful years to come. - Duncan, Alan, Alfie and Dawn,  Glengormley, Northern Ireland


   Here are some of the better pictures that I took during our airboat tour last Wednesday morning. It was the highlight of our vacation. Feel free to use the pictures however you'd like. Maybe someone from National Geographic will see them and "discover" me!  Good Luck with your business. See you next year. - Ron L'Etoile, New Hampshire

  Captain Harold and Debi, what an excellent team you guys are. Our morning afloat on your air boat has proved a big hit, especially with the children. Quite apart from the exhilaration, the educational side with the wildlife was fantastic & to see animals in the wild where they should be gave us all an insight into the real Florida. The intercom was such a boon allowing us to talk about what we were seeing. Our customized tour provided everything we were looking for and more, it was by far the best airboat tour we have had. Wishing you both the very best and hope to see you again next time we are out on Holiday. - Ian, Tina and Family, Suffolk, UK

  Just a note to thank you for the fantastic air boat ride yesterday.  It was great to get the chance to see and experience the "real" Florida, including seeing wild Gators, Bald Eagles, Deer and bird life.  We will be sure to leave a testimonial in our villa guest book. It was one of our most memorable "rides" whilst in Florida. Many thanks from Ed, Sally, Sophie and George.  Milton Keynes, UK

  We really appreciated you coming out to us on such short notice, we really enjoyed the trip and will look you up the next time we visit. You’ll be highly recommended to our friends!! Thanks Again, Gill and Henry, Blackpool, Lancashire, England

   Just wanted to thank you once again for a very enjoyable tour!  I very much appreciate your thoughtfulness as to what we were looking for on the tour and we did get some incredible photos.  Will send you a few after I get them edited (298).

We definitely will be doing a second tour in fall  to get all the sunset pictures we can. I may even extend to a 3 hour tour.  At any rate thanks again – it was great. - Dean and Judy Yale, Solivita, Florida


 The Spirit of the Swamp airboat ride was such a fun and exhilarating experience. We all had such a great time!  Not only were all 6 of us able to ride together, but unlike the other rides I have been on, we were able to hold conversations with each other through the headsets.  This made for even a better time! 

Seeing the “True Florida” was such a welcomed change from the hustle and bustle of the everyday Florida.  We saw Bald Eagles, deer, wild hogs, a huge variety of birds, and of course, lot’s of alligators!  It was great!  If we saw something that we wanted to get a closer look at, Captain Harold would take us right up to it. 

Unlike most tours, they really focused on making the ride as exciting and fulfilling as possible.  Most tours just follow the same usual route every tour, but Captain Harold truly catered to our every request.    You could really tell that both Captain Harold and Debi, the owners of the boat, love giving these tours and care so much about customer satisfaction.  This love and passion for what they do really shines through.  They take the typical airboat ride to another level! 

I would highly recommend “Spirit of the Swamp“ airboat tours to anyone and everyone!  The ride/tour was so amazing and exciting… I can’t wait to go again! It was truly an experience that all of us will never forget! - Melissa Taylor, Kissimmee, FL


  I had family visiting from out of state that had never been on an airboat ride. My mother and I had been on several of the 30 minute / 20 people rides and we were not looking forward to going again… Spirit of the Swamp changed our minds!

Captain Harold showed us a wonderful time with a personalized experience . We saw more than gators. The cattle and horses were beautiful, the wild turkeys comical and the bald eagles breathtaking. It was something that all of us could enjoy and I will be recommending the trip to all future visitors and friends. Thank you much. - Stephanie Thelen Cocoa, FL


  Thank you so much for the airboat experience!  Your airboat in particular appeared to be of great quality and I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to ride it with you and all of my friends.  The highlight for me was certainly the 360 degree turn.  I was smiling so much with joy I managed to taste the swampy water from the splash during this maneuver! The tour really made my day and is certainly an experience to remember. - Henry James, London, England


  My family and I had a wonderful time on our Spirit of the Swamp Airboat Tour.  Captain Harold was a fantastic guide!  Lots of wildlife and gators … big gators!  After living in Florida all my life this was my first time on an Airboat.  Why did I wait so long?  This is a must adventure for the entire family!  - Rick Lackore, Gibsonton, Florida


  My tour on the Spirit of the Swamp was a lot of fun!  It was an experience like no other … was I flying or was I floating?  I forgot I was in Florida and felt like I was in a movie  - Cali Bennett, Gibsonton, Florida


  I just want to say again THANKS SO MUCH a wonderful experience. As I mentioned, we'd been on one airboat tour before, but it was nowhere near as fascinating as our hour with you.