Anna Maria Island Boat Tours & Adventures

Choosing the boat tour that's right for you involves careful research; it's important to consider a boat tour's captains, safety, experience and whether they have obtained the necessary license and insurance. The captain or tour guide should be experienced and have a valid license; additionally, you should make sure that their boat is up to date with safety and insurance requirements.

An experienced boat captain can provide invaluable insights into the area, making for a much more enjoyable experience overall. In addition to considering experience, make sure safety isn't being compromised in any way; ask if life jackets are provided and if there are emergency procedures in place should something unexpected happen. Be sure to look for customer reviews online and ask locals about their boat tour experiences.

Some tour boats are limited to 6 passengers due to safety requirements set by government or coast guard regulations. The boat must be licensed and they must have experience-specific boat insurance policies in place. Additionally, the boat captain must meet the strict safety standards set by the Coast Guard.

Lastly, consider things such as price and length of time allotted so you can make an informed decision while choosing the best boat tour for you. All of this information can help you make an informed decision on which boat tour may be most suitable for you and your needs.

Boat tours on Anna Maria Island are one of the best ways to admire and appreciate dolphins, particularly bottle nose dolphins. Hop aboard a dolphin tour boat and learn some fun facts about these incredible animals! Boat tours offer a unique opportunity to observe bottle nose dolphins in their natural habitat. Spotting a dolphin is always a memorable experience, and tour boats with experienced guides always know how to find them. 

Dolphins are highly intelligent and social animals, living in pods, or groups. The "bottle" part of the name does not refer to a bottle, but instead is in reference to their short shiny nose which resembles that of a bottle. Bottle nose dolphins have been known to collaborate with humans in hunting fish and other activities and have been observed using tools such as seaweed to herd fish into tighter areas. They live up to 50 years; and some species have specialized muscles which allow them to purposefully beach themselves to catch fish. Bottle nose dolphins are highly intelligent and capable of forming strong social bonds with each other as well as humans making them incredibly unique creatures.  In addition to being able to communicate with one another, they even have distinct personalities! They use echolocation to locate food, navigate their environment, and communicate with each other -- even when living in different parts of the ocean! 

Get acquainted with dolphins and learn interesting facts about these amazing animals along the way. See them jump, play and “toss” their food for fun. You never know what kind of dolphin experience awaits you on a dolphin boat tour!