Snorkeling, Sightseeing, Fishing & Scuba on Anna Maria Island

Explore Florida's Gulf Coast with Scuba Ethan. We run private Egmont Key snorkeling tours, dolphin and manatee sightseeing cruises, inshore and deep sea fishing trips, and PADI scuba diving courses from Anna Maria Island and Bradenton.

Snorkelers by the old fort ruins at Egmont Key near Anna Maria Island

Egmont Key Snorkeling Tours from Anna Maria Island

Private tours for up to 6 guests

Egmont Key sits just north of Anna Maria Island at the mouth of Tampa Bay, and it's one of the best snorkeling spots on Florida's Gulf Coast. On a private tour you'll snorkel clear, shallow water around the sunken ruins of Fort Dade, look for sand dollars and colorful fish, and watch for gopher tortoises, ospreys and bald eagles on the island. With its historic fort and 1858 lighthouse, Egmont Key is as much a history trip as a snorkeling trip, and it's easy for beginners and experienced snorkelers alike.

 

Dolphin & Manatee Sightseeing Tours on Anna Maria Island

Two dolphins leaping out of the water in the Gulf of Mexico

Private wildlife & sandbar-hopping tours

Watch for dolphins, manatees and sea turtles as you cruise Tampa Bay and the Gulf, then step off the boat to explore nearby islands and sandbars like Beer Can Island, Passage Key, Jewfish Key, Egmont Key and Longboat Key. Every tour is fully private, so it's just your family and friends on board.

 

Family & Beginner Inshore Fishing Trips

Angler holding a redfish on an inshore fishing charter near Anna Maria Island

Calm bays, grass flats & mangroves

Snook • Redfish • Trout • Sharks • Permit • Tarpon

 

Gulf Reef & Wreck Fishing Trips

Angler holding a big fish caught on a deep sea fishing charter in the Gulf of Mexico

Offshore reefs, ledges & wrecks

Grouper • Snapper • Tuna • Mahi • Wahoo • Cobia • Permit • Amberjack • Sharks

 

PADI Scuba Certification on Anna Maria Island

PADI scuba diving students in wetsuits after a certification dive

Open Water, Advanced & Rescue Diver

Get certified with just 2 days of in-water training

Getting PADI certified in Open Water, Advanced Open Water or Rescue Diver is as easy as 1-2-3:

1. Buy your PADI eLearning online and complete it at home, at your own pace.

2. Once your eLearning is done, call or text to schedule your 2 days of in-water training.

3. Complete your training with Captain Ethan, a PADI IDC Staff Instructor and Master Scuba Diver Trainer, and you're certified.

 

PADI Discover Scuba Diving on Anna Maria Island

Discover Scuba Diving group in shallow water with dive flag near Anna Maria Island

Try scuba diving with no certification needed

Discover Scuba Diving is one of our most popular adventures.

Your instructor, Captain Ethan Brannock, is a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, PADI IDC Staff Instructor and Emergency First Responder Instructor.

It's easy enough for kids 10 and up, so the whole family can try it together. We'll meet you at your hotel or at a local beach on Anna Maria Island, and dives stay in a comfortable 10 to 15 feet of water.

Please note: we don't offer guided boat dives.

 
 

Anna Maria Island Pickup Location

Kingfish Boat Ramp – Holmes Beach, Florida

All Scuba Ethan snorkeling tours and fishing charters depart from the Kingfish Boat Ramp located at:

752 Manatee Avenue
Holmes Beach, FL 34217

Get directions in Google Maps →

Kingfish Boat Ramp is a well-maintained public boat launch in Holmes Beach, conveniently located near the northern bridge on Anna Maria Island. This central pickup location provides quick access to Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico for snorkeling tours, dolphin and manatee cruises, and inshore or offshore fishing charters.

Guests may drive their car or golf cart directly to the ramp for easy boarding. Parking is available on both the east and west sides of the boat ramp, just past the trailer parking areas.

Please arrive 10–15 minutes early to ensure smooth boarding for your Anna Maria Island adventure.

About Captain Ethan Brannock

Native Florida Fishing & Scuba Guide | Anna Maria Island & Bradenton

Captain Ethan Brannock, known locally as “Scuba Ethan,” earned his nickname growing up diving and spearfishing along Florida’s Gulf Coast. A native Floridian raised in the Anna Maria Island and Bradenton area, Ethan has spent over 30 years fishing and exploring the waters of Tampa Bay, the Gulf of Mexico, the Florida Keys, and Crystal River.

Fishing and scuba diving have always been his true passions. From shallow inshore flats to offshore reefs and wrecks, Captain Ethan has developed deep knowledge of Florida’s diverse marine ecosystems and seasonal fish patterns. He skillfully targets snook, redfish, trout, tarpon, snapper, grouper, and other Gulf Coast species using proven techniques tailored to each environment.

While live bait is often his preferred method for maximizing client success, Ethan also incorporates cut bait and artificial lures when conditions call for it. He understands that fishing is both art and science — each species requires specific tactics, timing, and presentation to produce consistent results.

Over decades on the water, Captain Ethan has discovered productive fishing grounds and hidden local spots throughout Anna Maria Island, Bradenton, and surrounding Gulf waters. He takes pride in sharing these areas and techniques with guests, giving every client the opportunity to fish like a true local.

When you book with Captain Ethan, you’re not just booking a trip — you’re gaining the experience, local knowledge, and passion of a lifelong Florida waterman dedicated to creating unforgettable adventures.

Captain Ethan Brannock fishing on his boat near Anna Maria Island

Always a great time when Captain Ethan has a chance to drop a line!

5-Star Reviews on Google

Book Your Trip of a Lifetime: 941-580-2931

Call or text to book and talk with Captain Ethan directly.

Prefer to book online?

Send Captain Ethan a trip request and he’ll call or text you back.