Typically 9:30 am, 12:00 pm and 3:00 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
Night glass-bottom boat tour: sunset, then the reef after dark
We head out as the sun goes down, watch the sunset from the open deck, then switch on the underwater lights over the reef. The night shift comes out to hunt, and you watch it all through the glass.
- About 2 hours
- $75 adults, $60 ages 5 to 17, under 5 free
- Starts with the sunset
- Seakeeper stabilized
Live times and open seats are on the booking calendar. Prefer to talk? (305) 214-5277
At a glance
- How long
- About 2 hours
- When
- We head out as the sun goes down, so you watch the sunset from the water, then reach the reef after dark. The time moves with the season; the booking calendar shows the exact departure for your date.
- Check-in
- 30 minutes before departure at World Wide Sportsman Bayside Marina, 81576 Overseas Highway, Islamorada, FL 33036
- Best for
- Sunset lovers, couples, curious kids, anyone who has seen the reef by day
- Weather
- Runs only when the reef is reachable. It does not switch to a bayside trip.
- Stability
- Seakeeper gyro stabilizer, rated by Seakeeper at up to 95% less roll at anchor. How it works
Live availability
Check dates and book
Pick a date to see open seats and departure times.
Why the Transparensea
What makes this boat different
- 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.
What you’ll see
A different reef once the sun goes down
At night the reef changes shifts. Animals that hide all day come out into the open, and the boat’s underwater lights make the water glow turquoise around the hull.
Guests on the night tour have watched moray eels, octopus, spiny lobster, squid, crabs, nurse sharks and sea turtles. One guest even saw a squid catch a fish. Nothing is guaranteed, which is half the fun.
On clear nights, look up too: stars, the moon and the mast lights of sailboats anchored on the reef.
Timing your night tour
The tour starts with the sunset, so the departure time moves through the year with it. The booking calendar always shows the exact time for your date.
Check in 30 minutes before departure.
Weather note: the night tour needs the reef. If it is too windy to go out, the night tour does not run and we will contact you ahead of time. On those days, only the 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm bayside trips go out.
From our blog
Questions about this tour
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.
Is there a night glass-bottom boat tour in Islamorada?
Yes. The Transparensea’s night reef tour starts with the sunset from the water, then lights up the reef after dark with underwater lights. As far as we know, it is the only night glass-bottom tour in Islamorada. About the night tour.
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.
Does the night tour run on windy days?
No. The night tour needs the reef. On windy days only the 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm bayside trips run.
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 the night tour OK for children?
Yes, all ages are welcome on the night tour. Keep in mind it starts around sunset and runs about two hours, so think about bedtime for little ones.
Where do we meet the boat?
At World Wide Sportsman Bayside Marina (at Bass Pro Shops), 81576 Overseas Highway, Islamorada, FL 33036. See directions and parking.
When should we arrive?
Check in 30 minutes before your departure time.
See all FAQs or read how to plan your visit.
Other ways aboard
Late afternoon into sunset; midday 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
Book the night reef tour
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.