Anna Maria Island Boat Tour: Snorkeling, Paddleboarding, Dolphins

A three-hour boat is yours alone, outfitted with everything to swim, snorkel and paddle.

A private boat charter around Anna Maria Island in Sarasota with a USCG Master-Licensed Captain, snorkeling gear, paddleboards and a floating water mat included. You decide what happens each trip (hunt for sand dollars, paddleboard, swim with dolphins or anchor on a sandbar), and the captain knows the spots tourists miss and where manatees and live sand dollars actually are. Alcoholic beverages are welcome. Bottled water and ice are provided.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private boat tour and water activities

• Arrive at boat departure point
• Customize activities with captain
• Boat trip around Anna Maria Island
• Snorkel in designated spots
• Paddleboard on calm waters
• Swim and relax on sandbar
• Spot dolphins and wildlife

The experience

You arrive at the dock with a free afternoon and no plan locked in. The captain meets your group, asks what sounds good (snorkeling, paddleboarding, a sandbar stop, dolphin hunting), and builds the three hours around it. Every trip is custom. The boat is spacious with comfortable seating and premium speakers, so the ride itself is part of the day, not just the transport to it. Coolers keep drinks cold and everything you need to get in the water is already on board.

Snorkeling gear, paddleboards and a massive floating water mat come with the charter: no rental fees, no surprises at the end. Kids gravitate to the water mat. Adults take paddleboards out to the shallows or stay in the boat with a drink and the sound system. The captain knows Beer Can Island, the sandbars where the water runs clear, and the routes that avoid the crowded tour-boat traffic. Dolphins and manatees show up often enough that the captain knows where to look, and spotting them is the kind of moment that reshapes an afternoon.

Safety runs through everything: the captain holds a USCG Master license and the boat is equipped to handle it. Wheelchair access is available, infants can ride in a pram or stroller, and service animals are welcome. The whole group moves at your pace: linger at a sandbar, cut a stop short, ask to try something else. That freedom is what a private charter buys.

What’s included

• All snorkeling gear (mask, fins, snorkel).
• paddleboards.
• a floating water mat.
• bottled water and ice.
• comfortable seating and premium speakers on the boat.
• a USCG Master-Licensed Captain who speaks English and knows the local waters.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:30 and 13:00

Book up to12h before

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by ISLAND TIME BOAT TOURS

Is this one for you?The captain speaks English and narrates the trip as it unfolds, so anyone in your group can follow the route and the wildlife moments without needing to read a script or follow along on a map. Book this if your group wants to decide on the fly: no itinerary set in stone, no crowded boat, no rental fees tacked on at the end.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can I bring alcohol on the private boat charter?

Yes, alcoholic beverages are welcome aboard. Bottled water and ice are provided, so you can mix drinks or stay hydrated between swims.

What's included in the snorkeling and paddleboarding gear?

All snorkeling equipment is provided (mask, fins, snorkel) along with paddleboards and a large floating water mat. There are no rental fees. Everything comes with the charter.

How does the captain know where to find dolphins and manatees?

The captain has elite local knowledge of Anna Maria Island's waters and knows the routes and times when dolphins and manatees are most likely to appear, plus the hidden spots that avoid heavy tourist crowds.

Can we change what we do during the three hours?

Yes, the entire charter is customizable. When you arrive, the captain asks what your group is interested in and adjusts the route and stops to match. Every trip is built around what you want to do that day.

Is the boat accessible for wheelchairs?

Yes, all areas and surfaces of the boat are wheelchair accessible. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and service animals are allowed.