2 hours · Private
Two Hour Dolphin and Manatee Adventure
The short run for dolphins and manatees.
| Per charter | $375 |
|---|
Editorial spotlight · 1465 Gulf Drive South, Bradenton Beach
2026 Sunshine Awards nomineeBest Build-Your-Own Charter
Passage Key Dolphin Tours
Every trip is private and capped at six, which means the itinerary is yours: Egmont Key’s 1858 lighthouse and the ruins of Fort Dade, the shoals off Passage Key, a sandbar, or just four hours following dolphins. There is a restroom aboard, which on an eight-hour day matters.
- Two hours
- $375
- Eight hours
- $925
- 5.0
- Reviews
- 124
Editorial spotlight. Passage Key Dolphin Tours is a nominee in the 2026 Sunshine Awards. They did not pay for this page and had no say in it. We earn a commission when you book through the links here; your price is the same.
The operation
One boat, six guests, your plan
Captain Bruce runs the boat, and the reviews read like a single long endorsement of him: patient with late arrivals, generous with local history, and consistently able to find dolphins that stay with the boat. Coast Guard rules cap the charter at six passengers, so every booking is effectively private.
The build-your-own charters are the distinguishing product. Four hours covers Passage Key, wildlife and a basic snorkel; six adds Egmont Key with multiple stops; eight brings in Jewfish Key and as many sandbars as the tide allows. A second departure point operates out of Sarasota.
“With our 4, 6, or 8-hour private charter, you decide how to spend your time.”
- CB
Captain
Captain Bruce
Named throughout the operator’s reviews; the site does not publish a fuller roster.
The one to book
Snorkel and Explore Egmont Key
Egmont Key sits at the mouth of Tampa Bay: uninhabited, reachable only by boat, with an 1858 lighthouse still standing and the brick ruins of Fort Dade slipping into the Gulf. The snorkel is over the submerged part of the fort.
$575 for the boat, up to six. The four-hour build-your-own is the same price if you would rather set the route.
| Private charter | $575 |
|---|---|
| Four-hour build your own | $575 |
Checked against FareHarbor on October 2, 2026.
Check AvailabilityThe boat
Private, six guests, restroom aboard
Per the operator’s charter pages.
Capacity
- Guests
- Six, Coast Guard regulated
- Format
- Always private
Aboard
- Shade
- Spacious shaded seating
- Restroom
- Yes
Departures
- Primary
- Bradenton Beach
- Second
- Sarasota
Book it
Charters
Private, priced per boat for up to six. Checked against FareHarbor on October 2, 2026.
Evening · Private
Dolphin and Sunset Adventure
Golden hour with the pods.
| Per charter | $400 |
|---|
3 hours · Private
Three Hour Dolphins and Beginners Snorkeling
Gear and instruction for first-timers.
| Per charter | $475 |
|---|
6 hours · Private
Six Hour Build Your Own Adventure
Egmont Key plus Passage Key and the sandbars.
| Per charter | $775 |
|---|
8 hours · Private
Eight Hour Build Your Own Adventure
The full day, Jewfish Key included.
| Per charter | $925 |
|---|
4 hours · Private
Four Hour Build Your Own Adventure
Set the route yourself.
| Per charter | $575 |
|---|
Before you go
Know before you go
Departure
1465 Gulf Drive South, Bradenton Beach. A second departure runs from Sarasota; check your booking.
Group size
Six, every trip. There is no shared option, which is the point.
Egmont Key
Uninhabited, boat access only, with an 1858 lighthouse and the submerged ruins of Fort Dade.
Aboard
Shaded seating and a restroom, which matters on the six- and eight-hour charters.
Reviews
What guests say
- 5.0Google124 reviews as of October 2, 2026
- 6GuestsEvery charter, always private
- 8 hrLongest tripEgmont, Passage and Jewfish Key
Reviewers name Captain Bruce in nearly every review, praise the local history and the patience with families, and mention dolphins following the boat for long stretches.
Questions
Good to know
Where does it leave from?
1465 Gulf Drive South, Bradenton Beach, with a second departure in Sarasota.
What does it cost?
$375 for two hours up to $925 for eight. Checked October 2, 2026.
Is it shared?
No. Every charter is private, capped at six by Coast Guard rules.
What is on Egmont Key?
An 1858 lighthouse, the ruins of Fort Dade and a snorkel over the submerged brickwork.
Six people and an open itinerary
Private charters from $375, Egmont Key at $575, a full day at $925.
Check Availability