Where do we meet for the tour?

Meet at Holmes Beach public boat ramp - 6398 Marina Way, Holmes Beach, FL 34217; arrive early to load coolers and find parking.

Is snorkeling gear provided?

Yes, snorkeling gear is provided only if pre-arranged when you book—reserve sizes in advance to ensure availability.

Alcohol is permitted, but no glass containers; intoxicated or disruptive behavior will end the trip immediately.

What is the passenger limit?

Maximum six passengers per trip, including infants and children. Please notify the operator if your group size changes.

Are life jackets available?

Life jackets are provided for all passengers; children 13 & under must wear one and you should provide their weights for proper sizing.

Can I bring pets or smoke on board?

Smoking is not allowed and pets are not mentioned as permitted—contact the operator directly to confirm animal policies.

Island and Sandbar Hopping from Holmes Beach: Snorkel, Shells & Private Sandbars

Adventure Brief

Trade crowded beaches for a private day on Florida’s Gulf: a small-boat island hop from Holmes Beach to sandbars, snorkel spots, and secluded shell beds. Orca Pro Charters, AMI runs customizable 4–8 hour trips for up to six guests—perfect for families, sunsets, and shell hunts.

4–8 hours

easy

From $530.00

Off Anna Maria Island’s western rim, Orca Pro Charters, AMI runs an intimate island- and sandbar-hopping tour that turns a Gulf day into a choose-your-own adventure. Departing from Holmes Beach Public Boat Ramp at 6398 Marina Way, Holmes Beach, FL 34217, the crew guides groups of up to six to shallow shoals, remote spits of shelly sand, and narrow mangrove inlets that are unreachable from shore. This 4–8 hour trip is a hands-free way to sample Florida’s Gulf coast: turquoise shallows over quartz sand; low limestone ledges where shell beds gather; and ribbon-like sandbars that appear at low tide, perfect for wading, picnicking, or snorkeling. The boat’s small size keeps noise and wake low, so sightings of bottlenose dolphins, shore birds, and occasional manatees are common. If you opt for snorkeling, pre-arranged gear is supplied so you can drift over seagrass beds and inspect scalloped shells, juvenile fish, and finger corals. What sets this outing apart is personalization: stops, pace, and even the soundtrack are yours. Orca Pro Charters enforces a maximum six-person passenger limit, which means more space for sunning, cooler storage for BYO snacks, and a captain who actually remembers names. Practical rules matter here—no glass, no spray sunscreen, non-marking shoes only—and the crew brings life jackets for all passengers (children 13 & under must wear one; provide weights for proper sizing). The route threads across shifting sandbars and around mangrove fringe—landforms shaped by tides and fine quartz sand carried from Florida’s interior. Those geological features create ephemeral beaches that feel private even on busy weekends. Local shell-hunters prize the fine coquina and olive shells that wash into pockets behind low points on the bars. Plan ahead: bring reef-safe lotion, a wide-brim hat, plenty of water, and a dry bag for electronics. If you want to snorkel, reserve gear when you book. The meeting point is the Holmes Beach public boat ramp at 6398 Marina Way; arrive early to load coolers and secure parking. For families, the shallow water and short hops make this a low‑stress, high-reward day on the Gulf. Whether you’re hunting shells, casting an idle line from the bow, or watching a sunset from an exposed sandbar, this small-boat island hop captures the hands-on, tidal personality of Anna Maria Island’s coastline—unhurried, accessible, and undeniably marine. Bookings run year-round with cooling sea breezes in winter and hot, sunlit afternoons in summer; captains monitor tides and weather to design the best route for each day. Because the trip is private, it’s ideal for birthdays, proposals, or a quiet day exploring shell-strewn shoals. To reserve, include any swimmers or small children when you book so Orca Pro Charters can arrange appropriate life jackets and timing based on tides.