Egmont Key Snorkeling Charters | Anna Maria Island

Explore Egmont Key with Private Snorkeling & Wildlife Tours

Egmont Key is one of the best snorkeling destinations near Anna Maria Island, Florida. Just a short boat ride from AMI, this protected island at the entrance to Tampa Bay offers crystal-clear Gulf waters, historic ruins, and abundant marine life — making it perfect for private snorkeling charters and sightseeing tours.

Step ashore and explore the island’s rich natural beauty and history. Encounter native wildlife including gopher tortoises, ospreys, and bald eagles while touring Fort Dade, a historic military fort built over 100 years ago. The iconic Egmont Key Lighthouse, guiding ships for more than 160 years, adds to the island’s unique coastal charm.

During your snorkeling adventure, discover sand dollars, seagrass beds, and vibrant subtropical fish swimming around submerged fort ruins beneath the clear waters. The shallow Gulf waters surrounding Egmont Key provide excellent visibility and safe, family-friendly snorkeling conditions.

Your Anna Maria Island snorkeling charter may also include scenic cruising past Passage Key, sandbar stops for shelling, and incredible wildlife encounters. Spot playful dolphins riding boat wakes, peaceful manatees gliding through calm waters, and sea turtles surfacing along the shoreline.

Scuba Ethan’s private Egmont Key snorkeling tours offer the perfect combination of adventure, history, wildlife viewing, and relaxation along Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Book your Egmont Key snorkeling charter today and experience one of the most unforgettable boat tours near Anna Maria Island.

Why Choose Our Egmont Key Snorkeling Tours?

Private Egmont Key boat charters
Convenient departures near Anna Maria Island
Up to 6 guests per boat
Family-friendly and beginner-friendly
Calm Gulf waters with excellent visibility
One of the original top-rated Egmont Key snorkeling tours

Egmont Key Snorkeling Charters Near Anna Maria Island

Private Egmont Key Boat Tours with Scuba Ethan

Explore one of Florida’s most beautiful island destinations with a private Egmont Key snorkeling charter near Anna Maria Island. Located at the entrance to Tampa Bay, Egmont Key offers crystal-clear Gulf waters, historic fort ruins, vibrant marine life, and pristine beaches — making it one of the top snorkeling tours near Anna Maria Island.

Our Egmont Key snorkeling charters are private boat tours reserved exclusively for your group. Perfect for families, couples, and small groups, each trip combines snorkeling, sightseeing, wildlife viewing, and relaxing beach time in calm Gulf waters.

4-Hour Private Egmont Key Snorkeling Charter

$495 per boat | Up to 6 guests

Our most popular Egmont Key snorkeling tour from Anna Maria Island. Enjoy extended time exploring submerged fort ruins, snorkeling clear waters, relaxing on secluded beaches, and spotting tropical fish, rays, dolphins, and sea turtles.

✔ Private boat — no shared passengers
✔ Best snorkeling tour near Anna Maria Island
✔ Ideal for families and small groups

3-Hour Private Egmont Key Snorkeling Charter

$395 per boat | Up to 6 guests

A balanced snorkeling and sightseeing tour perfect for Anna Maria Island vacationers. Explore top snorkeling spots, enjoy calm shallow waters, and experience beach time without committing to a full half-day trip.

✔ Great for first-time visitors
✔ Calm, beginner-friendly waters
✔ Popular Anna Maria Island island tour

2-Hour Private Egmont Key Snorkeling Charter

$300 per boat | Up to 6 guests

Perfect for guests short on time. Enjoy a scenic boat ride, light snorkeling, and beach exploration on one of Florida’s most iconic barrier islands.

✔ Affordable private snorkeling tour
✔ Excellent for kids and beginners
✔ Quick island escape from Anna Maria Island

What’s Included with Your Egmont Key Snorkeling Charter

Snorkeling Equipment

We provide quality snorkeling gear for all guests:

Mask
Snorkel
Fins
Defog solution

Suitable for beginners and experienced snorkelers.

Cooler & Water

Cooler stocked with drinking water
Guests may bring their own cooler with food or beverages

Alcohol Policy

Allowed for guests 21+
Cans or plastic containers only (no glass)

Dry Storage

Secure onboard dry storage for towels, small bags, and personal items.

A Brief History of Egmont Key

Egmont Key State Park Near Anna Maria Island

Located at the entrance to Tampa Bay near Anna Maria Island, Egmont Key has played a significant role in Florida’s coastal history for thousands of years. Today, Egmont Key State Park preserves both its natural beauty and its remarkable historical legacy.

Spanish & British Era

Spanish explorers mapped the island in the mid-1700s, naming it Isla de San Blas y Barreda. After Britain took control of Florida in 1763, the island was renamed Egmont Key in honor of the Earl of Egmont, a British Admiralty official.

Egmont Key Lighthouse

As maritime traffic increased along Florida’s Gulf Coast, the U.S. Congress authorized construction of the Egmont Key Lighthouse in 1848. It became the first lighthouse built on Florida’s Gulf Coast between St. Marks and Key West. After hurricane damage later that year, the structure was rebuilt in 1858 with stronger construction to withstand severe storms. The lighthouse remains one of the island’s most iconic landmarks today.

Military & Civil War Significance

Following the Third Seminole War in the late 1850s, Egmont Key was used as a temporary detention site for Seminole individuals, including Chief Billy Bowlegs, prior to relocation to Oklahoma.

During the Civil War, Union forces occupied and fortified the island beginning in 1861, using it as a strategic base and prison location at the entrance to Tampa Bay.

In 1898, the U.S. military constructed Fort Dade to defend Tampa Bay during the Spanish-American War. The fort remained active until 1923 and supported a small military community. Egmont Key continued to serve strategic purposes into the 20th century, including harbor patrol and ammunition storage during World War II.

Egmont Key Today

Today, Egmont Key is protected as Egmont Key State Park. Visitors arriving by private boat or snorkeling charter from Anna Maria Island can explore historic Fort Dade ruins, walk along pristine beaches, snorkel clear Gulf waters, and observe native wildlife including gopher tortoises, ospreys, and bald eagles.

A visit to Egmont Key combines Florida history, natural beauty, and unforgettable coastal adventure.