11:00 am and 2:00 pm
Day reef tour
Coral heads, sea turtles and schooling fish in full daylight, with a naturalist narrating the whole way out on the reef.
- About 2 hours
- $75 adults, $60 ages 5 to 17, under 5 free
Day toursNight toursBayside
Glass Bottom Boat Tours in Islamorada
See the reef without getting wet, two hours aboard the Transparensea, Islamorada’s glass-bottom boat with 16 underwater viewing windows. Reef tours by day, and night tours that start with the sunset.
What are the best glass bottom boat tours in Islamorada?
The best glass bottom boat tours in Islamorada run on the Transparensea, our 46-foot glass-bottom boat: 16 underwater viewing windows, a Seakeeper gyro stabilizer that keeps the hull steady over the reef so the view stays clear, about two hours on the water, and a guide trained in marine science. Day reef, night and bayside trips all leave from World Wide Sportsman Bayside Marina.
What is a glass bottom boat tour?
A glass bottom boat tour is a boat trip with glass panels set into the hull, so you stand on deck and look straight down onto the coral reef, dry and in the shade. Ours, the 46-foot Transparensea, has 16 underwater viewing windows and a Seakeeper gyro stabilizer that keeps the hull steady over the reef, so the view stays clear. Each trip runs about two hours with a guide trained in marine science who explains what you are seeing.
Why the Transparensea
Not your average glass-bottom boat
- Stabilized by
Florida’s only Seakeeper-stabilized glass-bottom boat
Up to 95% less roll at anchor (Seakeeper’s rating)
A gyro stabilizer that pushes back against rocking exactly when we stop over the reef. Steadier view, happier stomachs.
How the Seakeeper works Starts with the sunset
The night tour begins with sunset from the open deck, then lights up the reef after dark.
Learn more: Starts with the sunsetNever a full boat
Certified for 49, we keep it to about 30, so there is room to move and everyone gets time at the glass.
A plan B before cancelling
Too windy for the reef? We run a calm bayside tour instead, and tell you ahead of time.
Learn more: A plan B before cancellingOpen air, full shade
Sea breeze on an open deck with a full roof overhead and a restroom on board.
Bring snacks and drinks
You are welcome to bring your own. Soda and bottled water are sold on board too.
Three ways aboard
Pick your tour
Same boat, same naturalist guides. The difference is the light and the water. Not sure? Compare them side by side.
Departs 15 to 30 minutes before sunset
Night reef tour
Starts with the sunset from the water, then the reef after dark under the boat’s underwater lights. Eels, octopus and lobster come out to hunt.
- About 2 hours
- $75 adults, $60 ages 5 to 17, under 5 free
Late afternoon into sunset; daytime and night bayside trips on windy days
Bayside and sunset cruise
Calm water on the Florida Bay side: dolphins, mangroves, manatees and a Keys sunset. It is also our plan B when the reef is too rough.
- About 2 hours
- $50 ages 5 and up, under 5 free
Prices as listed on our booking calendar in September 2026. Taxes and fees are shown at checkout.
Book now
Transparensea Glass Bottom Boat Tour in Islamorada
Pick a date to see open seats and times for every tour.
Pick your tour and date
The calendar below shows live times and open seats.
Check in 30 minutes early
At World Wide Sportsman Bayside Marina, 81576 Overseas Highway, Islamorada, FL 33036.
Bring the basics
Camera, sunscreen and sunglasses. Snacks and drinks are welcome. Full list
Giving the trip as a gift? Buy a gift card
Stabilized by
Steady boat, steady view
Glass-bottom tours stop over the reef, and stopped boats rock. Ours has a Seakeeper gyro stabilizer, which Seakeeper rates at up to 95% less roll at anchor. The reef stays in the windows, kids and grandparents stay steady on their feet, and far fewer stomachs complain.
As far as we know, no other glass-bottom boat in Florida has one.
After dark
Sunset first, then the reef after dark
The night tour starts with the sunset from the open deck. Once it is dark we switch on the underwater lights, and the reef’s night shift comes out: moray eels, octopus, lobster and squid, with the water glowing turquoise around the hull.
As far as we know, it is the only night glass-bottom tour in Islamorada.
The experience
A window onto the living reef
The Transparensea is a 46-foot glass-bottom boat built for exactly this. Below the deck, 16 glass viewing windows look straight down onto the coral, so you see what snorkelers see without a mask, a wetsuit or a swim.
We run about 4 miles out to reefs like Cheeca Rocks, Alligator Reef and Caloosa Rocks. On the way, a guide trained in marine science tells you what you are looking at: corals, sea fans, tropical fish, eels, sea turtles, and whatever else the reef turns up that day.
- Seakeeper gyro stabilizer to cut down the rocking
- Open-air deck with full shade overhead
- Never loaded to capacity, so there is room to move around
- Windy day? We run a calm bayside tour instead of cancelling
- Clean restroom on board
- Coast Guard certified, with quiet, smoke-free engines
Honest about the weather
Wind happens. You’ll hear it from us first.
If it’s too rough to run out to the reef on your day, the captain takes the tour bayside instead: two hours in calm water looking for dolphins, manatees and birds in the mangroves.
When wind is forecast for your date, our team reaches out ahead of time. You’ll never find out for the first time at the dock.
Sunset Cruise in Islamorada · What to do in the Florida Keys on a windy day
From our guests
Rated “Excellent” across 174 Google reviews
Review summary as shown on our site in September 2026. Quotes are shortened from public Google reviews.
“We did it 2 times while we stayed in the keys and saw different things both times. This is the easy way to see the reef without having to snorkel. Amazing!!!”
Robert H., Google review “Our family had a great time. Captain and crew were friendly, knowledgeable, and made the trip a lot of fun. We saw an incredible sunset and then tons of beautiful sea life at night.”
Heather F., Google review “This is such a great experience. The boat and crew are really nice. We saw dolphins, turtles, sharks and many little beautiful fish.”
Robyn L., Google review
Getting here
Find us at World Wide Sportsman
World Wide Sportsman Bayside Marina(at Bass Pro Shops)
81576 Overseas Highway, Islamorada, FL 33036
Mile marker 81.5, bayside. Please check in 30 minutes before departure.
We moved. Some older listings still say Robbie’s Marina. The Transparensea now leaves from World Wide Sportsman, about 4 miles up the road. More about the move
Planning the rest of your trip? See our local guide to Things to do in Islamorada.
(opens Google Maps directions)Good to know before you book
Do I need to know how to swim?
No. You stay on board and dry the whole time. There is no swimming or snorkeling on any of our tours; you watch the reef through the glass.
Should we do the day tour or the night tour?
Pick the day tour for bright colors and your first look at the reef, and the night tour to see what comes out after dark under the underwater lights. Plenty of guests do both and see different things each time. Compare the tours.
How long is the tour?
About two hours on the water. FareHarbor lists the reef tours at 2 to 2.5 hours, and the booking calendar shows the exact length for your date.
How much does it cost?
Day and night reef tours: $75 for adults (18+), $60 for ages 5 to 17, and free for kids 4 and under. The bayside and sunset cruise is $50 for ages 5 and up, free under 5. Taxes and booking fees are added and shown at checkout before you pay.
What happens if it is too windy for the reef?
The captain makes the call based on real-time conditions. When weather moves your tour from the oceanside reef to the bayside, we contact you first and offer the bayside trip or a full refund. The bayside version is two hours in calm water looking for dolphins, manatees and wildlife in the mangroves, and because Bayside Eco-tours are $50 per guest (ages 5 and up), guests who take it get a partial refund of the difference. If we cancel for weather or other unforeseen circumstances instead, you get a full refund or credit. You never find out for the first time at the dock. What to do in the Florida Keys on a windy day.
Will I get seasick?
Much less likely than on most boats. The Transparensea is the only Seakeeper-stabilized glass-bottom boat in Florida. Seakeeper says its gyro eliminates up to 95% of boat roll at anchor, at drift and at low speeds, which is exactly when we are stopped over the reef. No boat can promise that nobody feels any motion, so if you are prone to seasickness, bring whatever usually works for you. How the Seakeeper works.
Is there a bathroom on board?
Yes, there is a clean restroom on board, down a set of stairs.
Can I bring my dog?
Well-behaved animals are welcome aboard, as long as no other guests have an issue.
Is the tour good for young kids?
Yes. Kids can see the reef through the windows without swimming or snorkeling, and children 4 and under ride free. Our guides love questions from kids.
Where do we meet the boat?
At World Wide Sportsman Bayside Marina (at Bass Pro Shops), 81576 Overseas Highway, Islamorada, FL 33036. Park there and walk through the arches down to the waterfront dock, where there is a check-in kiosk. See directions and parking.
Ready to see the reef?
Pick a date on the live calendar. Prices, times and open seats shown there are the final word.
Trouble booking? Call us or email info@glassbottomtour.com.