The good news is the bottom is almost all soft sand so when you do touch it will usually just put a shine on your prop and skeg.
One of the other surprises I had when I first boated in Florida was that it is not nearly as rough as the New England coastal waters. On most days the waves run in the 1 foot range and a lot of times it is nearly flat. There are a lot of sandy beaches to pull up on.
And when you see a fin go by in the water (and you will) no worries, it is a most likely a dolphin, not a shark.
