Video by @carltonward | The Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve is a place directly connected to the health of the Gulf of Mexico. On Florida’s Nature Coast, the area stretching north of Tampa, thanks to decades of conservation efforts and less development than other coastal areas, much of the original nature remains. I first explored these waters as a child growing up in neighboring Clearwater and did it again—in the same boat my brother and I used to discover the gulf as teenagers more than 30 years ago. To learn more, follow me @carltonward. This 2x speed video was taken in accordance with local regulations.