Key West Glass Bottom Boat Tour to the Reef with Fury Water Adventures

While I love snorkeling, I know that it’s not for everybody but most people do love getting out on the water. A great option in Key West for this is the Glass Bottom Boat trip with Fury Water Adventures. It’s a good way to get to see the reef up close and observe the fish and wildlife, but not actually need the skills or physicality of snorkeling. The ride out from Key West is beautiful and the chance to explore from the comfort of an air conditioned boat is awesome. This is a solid pick for an all-ages tour on the water.

You may have heard of this sort of glass bottom boat tour at Pennekamp State Park but not known you can do it here in Key West also. Well, I’m going to fill you in on just what to expect and how you can add this glass bottom boat tour to your time in Key West. If you have any questions about this or other Fury Key West tours (we go out with them a lot) please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you plan a fun Florida Keys vacation!

Highlights of the Key West Glass Bottom Boat

A day on the waters of Key West is never a bad day, so being on a large catamaran style boat with glass bottom hulls for seeing what’s happening below the surface is always fun. The Fury Glass Bottom Boat is unique because it’s one of the only tours in Key West that goes out to the reef to explore without swimming, but you can actually see wildlife underwater. There are a few other non-swimming boat trips that will help guests enjoy the open waters and see dolphins (usually) and those can be fun, while the Glass Bottom Boat is that plus a narrated experience explaining everything you’re looking at.

I think that’s what I actually enjoy the most about doing the Key West Glass Bottom Boat is the fish by fish talk from the naturalist onboard. As you slowly navigate over the reef looking through the glass panels in each of the hulls, the naturalist moves around the floor looking with you and explaining about the many species you’re watching. I love snorkeling and know a lot about fish, and each time I go underwater I make mental notes about animals to research when I’m back at the surface. With the guided narration you get a live tour of the different fish, you can learn about their behaviors and predators, and you see them active in their natural habitat.

Of course every tour is different and on some days the water is perfectly crystal clear, while on others it’s a bit turbid and maybe with low visibility. On days like that, before the Fury Key West Glass Bottom Boat leaves the dock, they actually offer guests the chance to get a refund or come back a different day if the conditions aren’t prime. I think that’s pretty cool, because nobody wants to waste their money or time. This was offered when we went out, but we chose to still do the boat trip and it was actually fine. We could see the reef really well, albeit not as clear as we would’ve liked, and the guided viewing was excellent. We still saw lots of wildlife and the ride to and from the reef was beautiful. Even without perfect conditions we all had fun.

Book the Key West Glass Bottom Boat tour here!

Tips for a Great Glass Bottom Boat Tour

The Fury Key West Glass Bottom Boat tour is done on a double decker catamaran with both indoor and outdoor seating. The indoor area is air conditioned and on a hot day feels great! For the outdoor space, you can be on the bow of the boat getting splashed, on the back of the boat watching the city get smaller, or on the top deck enjoying the sun. Shade is very limited outside, and where it is shady there isn’t much wind, making it a pretty warm experience. Not bad at all though (but I live in Florida so it’s normal for me).

When it comes time for exploring the reef on the Glass Bottom Boat from Key West, the process is easy and it’s rather accessible for most guests. There are windows to under the water’s surface in the two hulls, and then seating and standing space around them. You can sit on the edge and dangle your feet or you can look from above. I like to sit and be close to the hull windows, but it can be uncomfortable after a while. The actual viewing time over the reef ranges from 30-45 minutes depending on conditions and how fast the boat made it out, so that can be a long time to sit.

The photography opportunities on the Glass Bottom Boat in Key West are different. Because you’re looking through glass from above, you’re not seeing a completely unobstructed view of the reef and wildlife like when you’re snorkeling. You can still see and get photos of the wildlife, but it’s through the windows. For the best photos, it’s good to zoom in a bit and focus on the more shaded underwater areas. The wildlife and underwater structures are the most clear in the shady parts if it’s a turbid day.

Being Prepared for a Glass Bottom Boat Tour in Key West

Something great about the Fury Key West Glass Bottom Boat is how easy of a tour it is for most people. You can just show up, figure out where you want to sit and enjoy the ride. Having said that, if you’re going to be outside for the ride, be sure that you’re wearing your sunblock and sunglasses. The water amplifies the rays and it’s really easy to get a sunburn quickly when you’re boating. Also, wearing a hat for outside time is a great idea, just make sure that it doesn’t fly off in the wind.

If you want to bring a camera, go for it! You’ll get some great views of Key West as you sail out and back, and you never know when you’ll see dolphins as well. For photography inside and through the windows of the glass bottom boat, a regular camera phone will do just fine. You’ll be able to adjust your zoom and light settings more easily and it’ll be much more simple to get photos of the reef and its wildlife.

There’s not food or drinks served onboard like other Fury Water Adventures tours, like the Double Dip Snorkeling or Commotion on the Ocean Sunset Cruise, but there is a small snack bar. You can purchase chips, candy, cookies and sodas if you like, or you can bring your own. I recommend having a good snack or meal before you begin your Key West Glass Bottom Boat tour as it is a two hour trip and you’ll want to be happy with happy kids (if you’re traveling with littles). Snacks onboard are inexpensive though, so if you do need something it’s there for you.

Parking for the Fury Key West Glass Bottom Boat

The Fury Key West Glass Bottom Boat doesn’t go out from one of the primary tour docks, like the Historic Seaport. It actually goes from the 0 Duval Street Marina, next to the Pier House Key West Resort. It’s kind of a hidden dock if you don’t know it’s there. Parking can be found about two blocks away at the parking garage or if you’re lucky, there is some street parking. If you’re staying in the Historic District, the best bet is just to walk to the glass bottom boat dock, as it’s no more than a 15 minute walk from nearly anywhere in this part of town. If you’re staying in the Roosevelt Blvd or Stock Island areas, hotel shuttles usually drop off a few blocks away near the Historic Seaport, so you can walk over from there as well. Ubers are able to drop right at the dock entrance, so that’s easy if you’re riding in.

Other Fury Water Adventures Tours in Key West