Egmont Key snorkeling tour: Fort Dade ruins and island wildlife

Snorkel a Spanish-American War fort, then walk the island it guards

This 4-hour private snorkeling tour takes you from Sarasota or Anna Maria Island to Egmont Key, where you descend to the sunken remains of Fort Dade—a Spanish-American War fortification built in 1898—then surface to explore the historic fort structure and the secluded island itself. Snorkeling equipment and bottled water are included; pickup from your departure point is arranged.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Egmont Key Island and Fort Dade

• Sign waiver before tour
• Ride luxury cruiser to Egmont Key
• Snorkel sunken ruins of Fort Dade
• Wander historic Fort Dade
• Explore island wildlife and nature

The Experience

Egmont Key sits at the mouth of Tampa Bay, and the boat ride out on the 28-foot Regal cruiser is part of the day. You arrive at an island that most visitors never reach, where the main draw is underwater: the ruins of Fort Dade lie submerged offshore, and you'll snorkel directly to them. The fort was built in 1898 as a coastal defense during the Spanish-American War, and what remains is a structure you can swim around and through, seeing how the stone has settled and what marine life has claimed it.

After snorkeling, you leave the water and walk the island itself. The fort's above-ground sections are still standing—walls, gun emplacements, the bones of the installation—and the island around it is wild and largely undisturbed. Wildlife moves through it; the place feels remote even though you're in a populated region. The 4-hour window covers the boat ride, the snorkeling time, the fort exploration and the return, so the day is contained and you're back on the mainland by early afternoon.

The tour is private, which means the boat, the guide and the timing are yours alone. Snorkeling gear is provided, so you don't pack it; water is on board. You do need to sign a waiver before departure. The operator notes that moderate physical fitness helps—you're entering the water, moving around the ruins, and walking an island—but this is built for people who want to snorkel, not for spectators.

What’s included

• Snorkeling equipment and bottled water.
• private boat ride on a 28-foot Regal cruiser.
• access to the sunken Fort Dade ruins and the historic fort structure on Egmont Key.
• hotel or meeting-point pickup from Sarasota or Anna Maria Island.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Passage Key Dolphin Tours

Is this one for you?This is a private tour, so the boat and guide are yours alone—book it if you want the island and the snorkeling without sharing the experience or waiting for a group to assemble. The 4-hour window and included gear mean you're not coordinating rentals or transport separately; the day is built and ready to go.

Top questions

What is Fort Dade and why is it underwater on Egmont Key?

Fort Dade is a Spanish-American War fortification built in 1898 on Egmont Key to defend the mouth of Tampa Bay. The ruins now sit submerged offshore, and snorkeling lets you swim around the stone structure and see how it has settled on the seafloor over more than a century.

Do I need to be an experienced snorkeler to book this tour?

The tour is described as ideal for experienced snorkelers, and the operator notes that moderate physical fitness is needed. If you're comfortable in the water and can swim, you can manage it; if snorkeling is new to you, this may not be the right fit.

What's included in the 4-hour tour, and what do I need to bring?

Snorkeling equipment and bottled water are included. You don't need to bring or rent gear separately. Bring a towel, sunscreen, and a change of clothes; wear something you don't mind getting wet for the boat ride and the island walk.

Where does the boat depart from, and is pickup included?

The tour departs from either Sarasota or Anna Maria Island—you choose at checkout. Pickup from your hotel or a nearby meeting point is included in the tour price.

Is there anything to see and do on Egmont Key besides snorkeling?

Yes. After snorkeling the fort ruins, you explore the island on foot. The above-ground sections of Fort Dade are still standing, and the island itself is filled with wildlife and natural landscape, so there's walking and wildlife viewing built into the day.