@kayamedic says " It is an odd feeling to be half a mile out in two feet of water. Make sure you have a chart and take special care in “Passes”… Those are deeper water areas."
I went sailing once with a family friend on the Long Island Sound, Despite being the J24 boat (co) owner, he was not particularly experienced.
We were out in the middle of the sound, on a quiet afternoon, and passed a guy fishing in a small boat.
He called over and asked “do you guys have charts on board?”
Owner said “yes, why.”
The other guy responded “you should probably take them out…you’re in 4 feet of water!”
The go to, big water boat in Fla. is the surfski. They are easier to get into, out of and back into. They are also as fast as sea kayaks. Last time I was in Miami there a mess of them for sale cheap. The hip folk are on SUPs now.
The glades and south end of the state are not the place for the inexperienced. Conditions can change very quickly and every mangrove island looks like every other mangrove island. It might be a good idea to check on any guided trips and sign up for one.
There is no in between in Whitewater Bay. It is either super smooth or really nasty.