6 Best Glass Bottom Boat Tours in Florida

Last Updated on November 5, 2023

Did you know there are glass bottom boat tours in Florida?

As the name suggests, glass bottom boats have a translucent glass bottom that allows you to see directly beneath you in the water.

With the clear Florida waters in lakes, rivers, and the ocean, glass bottom boats allow riders a unique opportunity.

On these boats, you can see creatures and habitats while exploring the waters around them, providing a more immersive experience.

These types of boats can also provide seemingly magical moments if you are participating in a nighttime bioluminescent kayaking tour. 

There are glass-bottom boat tours located around the Sunshine State that allow people to see different areas in an entirely new way.

Whether you are already familiar with Florida waters or new to exploring them, consider a glass-bottom boat tour to see even more of the area around you and cruise through bodies of water around the state.

Prepare for Your Glass Bottom Boat Tour

Before you go on a glass bottom boat tour, make sure to call or check the website of the tour operator you booked with so you have all the necessary information.

This ensures you’ll have an enjoyable and fun experience.

Here are a few standard tips:

• Arrive early. – Most tours ask that you arrive 15-30 minutes before the boat departs.
• See the tour’s food and beverage policy. – Some tours sell snacks aboard the boat. Some allow guest to carry on their own food and beverages.
• Wear comfortable clothing. – Weather can vary greatly in Florida – especially on the water. It can help to pack a light jacket and/or raincoat depending on the season you are touring in.
• Pack bug spray and sunscreen.

The best glass-bottom boat tours in Florida

Silver Springs State Park – Silver Springs, FL

What better place to start than where glass bottom boats were invented? 

Silver Springs State Park is a huge 4000-acre destination with so much to do.

There are hiking trails, a museum, gardens, restaurants, and more.

Glass bottom boat tours are popular here thanks to their origin in Silver Springs back in the 1870s.

Today, visitors can book glass bottom boat tours. These are the best way to see Mammoth Spring, the head spring of Silver River, while observing fish swim beneath the boat in the sparkling spring waters. 

Silver Springs State Park Address: 5656 E Silver Springs Blvd, Silver Springs, FL 34488

Key Largo Princess – Key Largo, FL

Key Largo Princess is a glass-bottom boat cruise operator in the Florida Keys. The Key Largo Princess is a luxury glass bottom boat sailed by an experienced captain.

Guests can relax in the boat’s air-conditioned cabin while visiting the United States’ only undersea park, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.

Sights to see during your glass bottom boat ride include marine life from the Molasses Reef.

Enjoy the boat’s sun deck and full-service snack bar while viewing a variety of tropical fish from the Atlantic Ocean. 

Key Largo Princess Address: 99701 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037

Sharkey’s Glass Bottom Tours – St. Petersburg, FL & Sarasota, FL

Sharkey’s Glass Bottom Tours in St. Petersburg and Sarasota specializes in LED eco-tours. The company offers both day and nighttime kayak tours.

In St. Pete, you can choose between a daytime tour that takes you through a mangrove tunnel and a large sandbar where you can spend your morning or afternoon swimming and snorkeling in the water around the sandbar.

At night, they offer LED-illuminated tours from St. Pete Beach. Here you can see sea life around the illuminated ocean floor beneath you.

In Sarasota, they offer similar day and nighttime experiences. 

Sharkey’s Glass Bottom Tours Address: 4237 Gulf Blvd, St Pete Beach, FL 33706

Fury Water Adventures – Key West, FL

Fury Water Adventures is another great glass-bottom boat tour option in the Florida Keys.

Located on Duval Street in Key West, the Glass Bottom Boat Reef Eco Tour also takes guests to North America’s only living coral reef.

With a sundeck, an enclosed, air-conditioned viewing area, restrooms, and a snack bar, Fury Water Adventures allows you to see fish, sea turtles, and other marine life in their natural habitat in comfort.

It also keeps the delicate reefs safe. 

Fury Water Adventures Address: 0 Duval St, Key West, FL 33040

Sea Experience – Fort Lauderdale, FL

Sea Experience is a company that offers scuba diving and snorkeling trips in Fort Lauderdale.

Their glass bottom boat tour departs from Bahia Mar Marina and cruises along Fort Lauderdale’s unique Intracoastal waterways.

See some of the glamourous yachts and mansions the city is known for before making your way out to the ocean.

You’ll see the magnificent marine life beneath you from the boat’s glass bottom.

From there, you can join the action by jumping in for a snorkeling adventure!

Sea Experience Address: 801 Seabreeze Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

Pennekamp Park is home to a glass bottom boat tour you won’t want to miss.

Step aboard the Spirit of the Pennekamp to see a variety of shallow water reefs.

The two-and-a-half-hour tours run multiple times a day. It offers you a look at things you may normally never see.

Pennekamp Glass Bottom Boat Tour Address: 102601 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037

If you enjoyed this article on the best glass bottom boat tours in Florida and are looking for a few other recommendations, check out these suggestions:

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• 6 Best Places to Swim with Dolphins in the Florida Keys
• Top 10 Best Beaches in Southwest Florida
• 7 Best Places to See Flamingos in Florida
• 6 Magical Places to See Florida Mermaids
• Oh, Ocala! Things to Do in Ocala
• Florida in Fall: The Best Places for Camping