Private boat tours & water sports for Gulfport, St. Pete Beach & Treasure Island · Call or text Captain Allen
Boat tours near Saint Petersburg
Island stops, dolphin runs and towed water sports on Tampa Bay, planned around guests coming from Saint Petersburg.
Your boarding pass
Saint Petersburg to the ramp
$225
Your day on Tampa Bay
St. Petersburg sits right beside our Gulfport launch, so most guests from downtown, the Old Northeast or the south side reach the ramp in about 20 minutes. From there, Captain Allen runs private dolphin watching tours on Boca Ciega Bay, snorkeling trips to Egmont Key and evening cruises out toward Pass-A-Grille. Your group has the boat to itself, and the price covers everyone aboard rather than each person.
Boat tours St Petersburg locals book with us leave from Gulfport, not from downtown. We don't dock at the St. Pete Pier or pick up in the city. Every trip starts at our Gulfport launch on Boca Ciega Bay, 15 to 25 minutes from most of St. Petersburg.
Many Saint Petersburg locals know the bay from the St. Pete Pier or the bike lanes along the downtown waterfront. Getting out on the water changes the view completely. Morning trips on Boca Ciega Bay usually bring the calmest conditions, and playful dolphins sometimes race alongside to ride the wake, though nobody can promise wild animals will show up on schedule.
The most requested half-day trip from Saint Petersburg runs south to Egmont Key, an island reachable only by boat. Our Egmont Key snorkeling and history tours let you swim around the sunken Fort Dade ruins, walk to the lighthouse that has stood since 1858 and look for gopher tortoises. Snorkel masks, fins and life vests cost nothing extra. Leave time to explore the beach, which is far less crowded than the shores closer to town.
Groups who want more action can add wakeboarding lessons or a round of tubing on Boca Ciega Bay. No experience is needed, and Captain Allen gives as little or as much coaching as you want. A 4-hour charter at $450 plus fuel is the most popular way to pair water sports with snorkeling or shelling.
Saint Petersburg couples and visiting families often finish a weekend with a sunset cruise through Pass-A-Grille. The intracoastal route passes waterfront homes before the sun drops into the Gulf. Friends staying out on the barrier islands can meet you at the ramp too, and our St. Pete Beach boat tours follow the same sunset route.
Private boat tours St Petersburg families book and the boat charters St Petersburg groups reserve both meet at the Gulfport ramp, where parking is free, then head out toward Egmont Key, Shell Key and the dolphins of Boca Ciega Bay.
Around town
Downtown guests are steps from the St. Pete Pier and the Dali Museum, and a short drive southwest brings them to our Gulfport launch. Many visitors staying downtown book a morning trip and are back in time for lunch on Central Avenue.
The brick streets and bayfront parks of the Old Northeast face open Tampa Bay, where the wind can stir up a chop. The calmer water for water sports is on the Gulfport side. Families from here often start with kneeboarding for first-timers, since a hook on the board holds the rope while riders get up.
Kenwood's bungalows sit just off Central Avenue, a straight shot west toward Boca Ciega Bay. Friends from the Grand Central District often plan birthday boat parties and gather everyone at the ramp with their own coolers and decorations.
Lakewood Estates is one of the St. Pete neighborhoods closest to our Gulfport launch. Residents can be on the water within minutes of leaving home. That makes a quick 2-hour dolphin trip easy to fit into a weekday afternoon.
Pick your day on the water
Every trip below is open to Saint Petersburg groups. Rates are per trip, not per person, and the Gulfport boat tour prices list shows each package.
Landmarks near Saint Petersburg
Familiar spots Saint Petersburg guests often mention when they plan a day on the water. Our Tampa Bay boat tour photo gallery shows what waits on the Gulfport side.
Meet me at the ramp
Every trip starts at our Gulfport boat launch location, never at a pickup point in Saint Petersburg.
Captain Allen's tips
Getting from St. Petersburg to the boat is the easy part. Most of the city is 15 to 25 minutes from our Gulfport launch, and parking there is free. Plan to arrive 15 minutes early so everyone can put on sunscreen and visit the dock restroom, because there is no bathroom aboard.
Timing matters more than distance. Dolphin activity peaks early in the day and picks up again late in the afternoon. Summer afternoons in Pinellas County often bring thunderstorms, so it pays to head out in the morning during the hottest months. If weather turns, Captain Allen helps you reschedule or refunds the trip at no charge.
For a same-day trip, skip the online system, which needs 18 hours, and call or text instead. Each package's hourly rate and fuel range is laid out under Saint Petersburg boat tour pricing and booking. Parking and dock details are explained on our Gulfport launch location page.
What our guests say
Recent words from guests who spent a day aboard Making Memories. More Google reviews of Captain Allen's tours cover every kind of trip.
Review from Ramona MacIntyre: My family and I had an amazing time with Captain Allen! From our very first interaction, he was knowledgeable, friendly, and professional, making us feel confident that we were in great hands. During our boat adventure, Captain Allen took the time to understand exactly what we were hoping to experience, and he delivered beyond our expectations. One of the highlights of the day was watching our daughters (ages 16 and 19) learn to wakeboard. Allen patiently coached them through every step, giving them the confidence they needed to get up and have an incredible time. His enthusiasm, patience, and genuine commitment to making sure everyone had fun made this an unforgettable experience. We highly recommend Allen's Aquatic Adventure to anyone looking for a fun, memorable day on the water. We'll definitely book with him again the next time we're in the area!
Review from Myles Blake: We had an awesome day on the water with Captain Allen! He was friendly, knowledgeable, and made the entire trip feel relaxed and fun from start to finish. He took us to some beautiful spots around Florida, gave us plenty of time to snorkel in the water, and made sure everyone had a great time wakeboarding. Captain Allen was professional, safety-conscious, and knew all the best places to visit. The boat was clean and well-maintained, and the whole experience exceeded our expectations. If you’re looking for a fun, memorable day on the water, I highly recommend booking with Captain Allen. We’d absolutely do it again!
Review from Katherine Sorrentino: Allen was awesome. We took a group of 12 and 13 year old kids out for water sports, and Allen made the entire experience seamless and a lot of fun! From minute one he was communicative and helpful, and he had all of the equipment anyone could ever want. On the day of the charter, he had already provided all of the info we needed, but double checked everything for us. We felt 100% comfortable with him and the kids said he was a great teacher. He literally had a smile on his face all day and brought a fantastic attitude. We could not be more pleased and are already talking about booking again!
Neighbors book with us too
Reserve your time online, or call or text with any questions. You can also get to know Captain Allen, your Gulfport boat captain before the trip.
