The Sanibel Thriller, a high speed boat tour of Sanibel and Captiva islands on Florida’s Gulf Coast didn’t appeal to me at first. For one, the weather was cold. And two, it cost $38 per adult for two hours – which seemed a little expensive for this unemployed writer (kids cost $25).

But my sister and her boyfriend wanted to go. My dad and husband were game as well, so off we went. And as you can see from this photo taken by Tom Ardecki (more cool dolphin shots are on the jump), the show was well worth the price of admission.

If you’re going to take the Thriller, here’s a few hints:

1. Get to the Sanibel Marina early. We got to the boat 30 minutes before its 1 pm. launch – and we still ended up close to the end of the line. Where you are in line is important because….

2. The best seats are in the back. The dolphins play in the boat’s wake, jumping through the waves. So you want to sit close to the action. Failing that, get a seat on the side (although you may get wet from the spray). If you do get there late, there’s hope: The drivers allow people in the first few rows to stand. Tom was in the front row when he took these shots.

3. It’s not just about the dolphins. During the ride, our guide narrated facts about Sanibel’s history, many of which I didn’t know (and I’ve been coming to the island since I was in high school). From the water, you also get a good look at some of the Captiva and North Captiva beachside mansions that are impossible to see from roads – always a voyeuristic thrill.

4. Bundle up! The Gulf of Mexico is colder than you think, especially once the boat gets moving to its full speed (about 55 miles per hour). My sister feared getting seasick, but she felt fine (the company says they’ve been able to avoid that so far).

The biggest surprise to me was how many dolphins we saw – easily around 30. I asked the guide Elizabeth if they had ever NOT picked up a pod while circumventing the islands. “Not since we started in December ’08,” she replied. “Although we don’t guarantee it.”