Sarasota Bay Explorers - Sarasota, Florida

Rachelle H.

We had a great time on our boat tour today! We had 3 adults and 2 kids (ages 4 and 6). Everyone enjoyed it! Molly and Chuck had great information to share with the group the whole tour. We saw several dolphin groups, many species of birds, and beautiful houses along the way.

It was a neat addition to the tour when the crew was able to trawl with a net and bring up several different creatures from the bay! We even got to pass them around and touch some of them.

Family friendly experience that we would definitely do again!

Jennifer S.

Great tour and awesome tour guides! My 14 year old son and I did this tour March 15th at 130pm with beautiful weather and scenery. They had chips and water for purchase as a snack which came in handy, bring cash! They did allow food on board as well, so that was great! It was a little chilly and windy of course, so make sure to bring a sweater or jacket if that's a concern for you. We hope to do it again soon!

Lauren K.

The ecoboat discovery tour was a worthwhile excursion! The guide was incredibly entertaining and shared their in-depth knowledge of countless underwater creatures and their habitats, making the information accessible for all ages. We were able to get a close-up view of many of the sea critters. And bonus, the boat is shaded with the option to stand near the rails for direct sunlight, while enjoying a nice breeze. Two hours was the right amount of time. Highly recommend — just arrive early to find parking!

Ciennali G.

Great boat tour! We did the Eco marine life tour and It was a beautiful experience. We got to see a pod of dolphins, crabs, cowfish, birds, a manatee, fish, and many more. The marine biologist on board, Molly, was very knowledgeable and fun. She made sure to answer any curiosity questions about marine life that we had. Great excursion for all ages. I get weary with different excursions that I see online, but I found this one through the actual website of MOTE. Trustworthy, GREAT price, and a great experience. Located on the lido key!

Sandy K.

Great educational boat excursion. This trip was recommended by a friend & did not disappoint! The Captain, Marine Biologist & Volunteer were all extremely informational & friendly. Who knew the Sarasota Bay is only 6’ deep…and the Roseate Spoonbill’s were magnificent. We also saw dolphins, learned about mangroves & were shown live specimen of fish, sponges, etc. brought up from the bay. Well worth every penny!!

Margaret L.

Our cruise was on an unusually cold day, so the staff sent an email first thing in the morning recommending that we wear warm clothing. That was very helpful because we probably would have frozen otherwise! Our guide Molly was fabulous: knowledgeable, enthusiastic and engaging. The volunteer docent was also excellent. He was very knowledgeable of the botany and bird life of the little islands that dot Sarasota Harbor. The captain very good, too. Sarasota Bay is a natural treasure and we appreciate it now more than ever.

Chaitanya P.

We booked tickets with the Sarasota Bay Explorers on a chilly January afternoon where the temperatures were in the low 50s. While they had to reschedule the tour from afternoon to evening because of lack of minimum head count, the evening tour was wonderful!
My 5 year old daughter and I were able to learn so much about the mangroves, coastal geology, the Sarasota bay, coastal birds, dolphins and the fishes.
The guide was very warm and caring. She gave a set of blankets to the passengers to keep us warm and as comfortable as possible. The group took us to the Sarasota bay, Edwards islands, up to the Siesta key and brought us back to the dock. On the way, we saw hundreds of birds, at least a dozen dolphin sightings. The crew caught some fish in the nets, segregated them, showed us each fish (crabs, seahorse, sea star, shrimp, jellyfish, puffer fish to name a few). They taught us about the behavior of each of these fishes and then released them back to the waters.
It was 2 hours well spent! Highly recommend!

H M.

SARASOTA BAY EXPLORERS BOAT TOURS

MOTE AQUARIUM

Magnificent research and science tour.
Marine Biology. Biologist tour guide. A real experience of Sarasota Bay Marine Life. An amazing experience for all ages! This Tour Boat begins outside of Mote Aquarium. They have a fun filled 2 hour Voyage. Many scenic homes along the Bay. Scientific explanation of the Mangroves filtering the Bay Water. A grand experience viewing an Audubon Bird Nesting Island. The boat stops for a view and exploration of a public island among the Mangrove Islands in Sarasota Bay.
They are a catch and release program. We got to view Seahorses, Anemones, Sponges, Fish, Crabs, etc. Educational experience for young and old.