Assawoman Bay tour from Ocean City: Wild ponies and marine life

Assateague Island's wild ponies and the bays that sustain them

This 2.5-hour boat tour of Assawoman and Sinepuxent Bays departs from Ocean City with a live guide from the Maryland Coastal Bays Program, who explains the region's conservation work while you observe wild ponies on Assateague Island and examine marine life up close. The guide brings expertise in coastal ecology and the bay's wildlife. You get hands-on learning about the animals and plants that inhabit these waters.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Maryland Coastal Bays and Assateague Island

• Tour Assawoman and Sinepuxent Bays
• Learn about Maryland Coastal Bays Program
• See wild ponies on Assateague Island
• Hands-on marine life learning

The experience

Sinepuxent Bay and Assawoman Bay sit at the heart of what the Maryland Coastal Bays Program has protected for over 24 years. The boat carries you through both, with a captain and guide aboard who work for the program itself, not a commercial tour operator. That means the person explaining what you're seeing is the same person doing the conservation work, and they know the bays' ecology in detail.

Assateague Island is the centerpiece. You'll see the wild ponies that live there, the ones most visitors only know from photographs. Beyond watching them, you get a hands-on chance to learn about the marine life in the waters around the island: the fish, crustaceans and other creatures that depend on the bay ecosystem. The guide walks you through what makes these waters work and why the program's protection matters.

The whole trip runs 2.5 hours. Bring a camera. The ponies and the bay light reward it. The boat, captain and guide are all included, and the tour suits any fitness level.

What’s included

• Boat and captain.
• live guide from the Maryland Coastal Bays Program.
• hands-on learning about marine life in the bays.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 17 Jun 2027

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (under 13)

GroupUp to 16 · max 5 per booking

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 or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Blue Bimini

Is this one for you?This tour suits anyone curious about coastal ecology and willing to spend a morning on the water learning from experts doing the work. The hands-on marine life component and the wild ponies draw families and adults alike, though the boat time and outdoor exposure mean you should be comfortable on the water for 2.5 hours.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 13).

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.

What are the wild ponies on Assateague Island like when you see them up close from the boat?

The wild ponies live year-round on Assateague Island and are visible from the water during the tour. They are smaller than domestic horses, adapted to the island's harsh conditions, and the guide explains their history and behavior as part of the bay ecosystem.

What kind of marine life will I learn about hands-on during this tour?

The tour includes hands-on learning about the marine creatures living in Assawoman and Sinepuxent Bays: fish, crustaceans and other animals that inhabit these waters. The guide demonstrates and explains them as part of the bay's natural system.

How long is the boat tour and what's included in the price?

The tour lasts 2.5 hours and includes the boat, captain and a live guide from the Maryland Coastal Bays Program who explains the bays' ecology and conservation work throughout the trip.

Who leads this tour and what is their background?

A live guide from the Maryland Coastal Bays Program leads the tour. The guide is part of the organization that has protected this coastal region for over 24 years, so they bring direct knowledge of the bays' conservation and the wildlife you'll encounter.