Egmont Key Snorkeling Dolphin Tour — Snorkel Historic Ruins and Grass Flats from Madeira Beach
Difficulty
moderate
Duration
4 hours
Fitness Level
Basic swimming ability recommended for snorkel spots; general mobility for boarding the boat needed
Overview
Spend four hours on the water from Madeira Beach snorkeling historic ruins, shallow grass flats, and watching dolphins bow-ride the wake. Small-group runs, snorkel gear included, and a captain who narrates the island's military and maritime past.
Egmont Key Snorkeling Dolphin Tour — Snorkel Historic Ruins and Grass Flats from Madeira Beach
Select participants and date
The boat slips awake before dawn, engines humming like a patient animal. You step onto the floating dock behind the Cambria Hotel in Madeira Beach and the Gulf reaches out—wide, bright, a shallow bowl of turquoise that wants to be tested. On the Bad Dog boat, the captain runs through safety and gear while the horizon changes from pale silver to salt-blue. Within an hour you round the mouth of Tampa Bay and Egmont Key rises: a small island with a lighthouse backbone, coral-scrubbed beaches, and the rumble of history under its sand.
Adventure Photos
Adventure Tips
Bring reef-safe sunscreen
Protect the reef and your skin; apply 30 minutes before boarding and reapply after snorkeling.
Wear a rashguard
A long-sleeve rashguard saves skin from sun and prevents chafing when using snorkeling gear.
Take seasickness meds early
If you are prone to motion sickness, take medication at least 30 minutes before departure for the calmest experience.
Protect your camera
Use a waterproof housing or a floating strap so your camera survives an enthusiastic dolphin encounter.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- bottlenose dolphin
- green sea turtle
History
Egmont Key served as a navigational and defensive site from early European contact to a late 19th-century Fort Dade installation; the lighthouse marks its maritime significance.
Conservation
This is a protected state park; use reef-safe products, avoid touching coral or wildlife, and follow Leave No Trace guidance to minimize impact.
Select participants and date
Adventure Hotspots in Madeira Beach
Frequently Asked Questions
Recommended Gear
Reef-safe sunscreen
Protects skin and the marine environment in shallow, sun-exposed waters.
summer specific
Rashguard or wetsuit top
Shields against sun, jellyfish stings, and abrasion from gear.
spring specific
Waterproof camera or housing
Captures dolphins, turtles, and underwater ruins without risking your phone.
summer specific
Motion-sickness tablets or band
Helps prevent nausea on choppier days or for sensitive travelers.