Ecotours are fun and educational for all ages and a great way to see the natural side of the Florida Keys. Wildlife is abundant. Herons, ibis, egrets, pelicans, colorful fish, sea turtles and occasionally dolphin or the rare manatee may be seen. Every tour is different in that you never know what might pop up and surprise you. Low tide is the best time to see wading birds or to see sharks, bonefish, stingrays taking advantage of fish exposed on the shallow flats and tide pools. Midday is the best time to look for fish. The direct sunlight penetrates the clear waters and allows you to see colorful fish, corals and sponges. Four major marine ecosystems provide a variety of habitat viewing: coral reef, mangrove, seagrass beds, and hardbottom (sponge beds). A few of the activities that may be enjoyed during our two hour ecotour are listed below.

Marine ecology programs: Children and parents alike enjoy our “critter getter” program. Critter Getters are given nets, buckets and gloves and a brief instruction about species to look for and methods of collecting without harming any animals. Then they wade out into the shallows catching interesting sea creatures (sea stars, sea cucumbers, sea horses, snails, etc.). After awhile, the buckets are brought back to the boat or the shore where the captain has set up a portable lab with magnifiers for viewing tiny animals. Kids learn what they can safely hold in their bare hands. They learn about camouflage, defense mechanisms, feeding, habitat, symbiotic relationships, and phylum classifications. This activity is educational and fun!

Bird watching: Bird watchers often find new species of birds for their bird lists. Some of these rare birds include the mangrove cuckoo, magnificent frigate bird, palm warbler, reddish egret, osprey. Sunset during the Fall is the best time for viewing courtship displays and nest building activities. See our wildlife sighting calendar. Low tide is the best time for watching wading birds feeding on the flats. Anytime during the year, you might see an osprey plunge down feet first to grab a fish with its talons or see a graceful frigate bird pluck a fish from the water with its beak.

Dolphin and manatee encounters: What a thrill to see wild dolphin jumping and cavorting with each other. Often one of the pod will approach us, raise his head and look at us seeming to ask for the wake that they all so enjoy jumping. Sometimes, when they are in the mood, they will follow us wake jumping for about ten or fifteen minutes. This gives everyone aboard a chance to see their sleek and agile bodies up close as they roll, jump, and cavort from one side of the wake to the other all the while smiling at you. Manatee may appear when you least expect them, often right at the marina where they seem to be seeking a dripping freshwater faucet or the water running off a boat being washed. Most manatees are here during the winter when temperatures in North Florida drop and the warm waters of the Keys attracts them.

Coastal Cleanups: From time to time, we offer coastal cleanup charters at a per person rate. This event is fun, educational, and rewarding. Everyone is equipped with net bags, snorkel gear, and other equipment for removing trash from our waters. One of our favorite spots to clean is Library Creek which often yields very old bottles which might be a collectors dream. At the end of each cleanup, all participants help with disposing of trash and cleaning up the boat. A great way to make new friends and help our fragile environment. Check our calendar for times and prices.