Two hours over the living coral reef with a naturalist guide. You stay dry and comfortable in the shade while the reef slides by under your feet.
Live times and open seats are on the booking calendar. Prefer to talk? (305) 214-5277
Live availability
Pick a date to see open seats and departure times.
Why the Transparensea
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 worksStarts 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.
What you’ll see
We run about 4 miles out to the reef line. Depending on conditions, that might be Cheeca Rocks, Alligator Reef, Caloosa Rocks or another spot the captain picks for the best visibility that day.
Down below, 16 glass viewing windows put the reef right under you: corals, sea fans, schools of tropical fish, eels and sea turtles. Guests have also spotted sharks and dolphins. The reef is wild, so every trip is a little different.
Your guide narrates the whole way, pointing out what is moving below and answering the questions kids (and adults) come up with.
Soda and bottled water are sold on board, and there is a restroom. Full visit checklist
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.
Corals, sea fans, schools of tropical fish, eels and sea turtles are regulars. Guests have also seen sharks, rays, lobster and dolphins. It is a wild reef, so every trip is different.
About 4 miles offshore. The captain picks the spot with the best conditions that day, such as Cheeca Rocks, Alligator Reef or Caloosa Rocks.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A gyro stabilizer mounted inside the boat. A flywheel spinning at up to 9,750 rpm in a vacuum-sealed sphere pushes back against the rocking motion waves cause, automatically and without anything hanging off the hull. Seakeeper rates it at up to 95% less roll at anchor, at drift and at low speeds.
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.
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.
Arrive with time to park and check in: our attendant is at the kiosk on the waterfront dock 30 minutes before departure, and boarding begins about 10 minutes before we leave.
See all FAQs or read how to plan your visit.
Departs 15 to 30 minutes before sunset
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.
Late afternoon into sunset; midday bayside trips on windy days
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.
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.
