Snorkeling Tours at Egmont Key from Gulfport

Snorkeling the Egmont Key Fort Ruins

Egmont Key sits at the mouth of Tampa Bay and is only accessible by boat. Off its shore, the sunken ruins of the old fort have become a habitat of their own. Fish gather around the structure and coral grows across it, so even a short swim turns up plenty to see.

Visibility changes with the tide and the wind, so no two trips look quite the same. Guests often spot sea urchins tucked into the ruins, and Captain Allen sometimes swims in to point out sea animals up close.

The spot is about 6 feet deep, which keeps first-timers relaxed. You can float on the surface in a life vest and look straight down at the ruins, or dive down a little if you are comfortable. That shallow depth is why families with younger snorkelers like this stop so much.

Tips for First-Time Snorkelers

New snorkelers do best when they take it slow. Start by floating next to the boat with your face in the water, breathing slowly through the snorkel until it feels normal. Then kick gently with your fins and let the life vest do the floating. Captain Allen checks every mask before you get in, since a leaky mask is the quickest way to spoil a swim.

Bring a towel, sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses, plus your own snacks and water. An underwater phone case lets you take pictures of the fort ruins and the fish around them. Snorkeling also suits guests who would rather skip the tow sports, so a mixed group can split the day between the water and the boat.

Gear Is Included, or Bring Your Own

Your snorkeling adventure includes all the necessary equipment: masks, fins and life vests for comfortable floating. The life vests let even weaker swimmers float easily at the surface, so nobody in the group has to sit out.

There is no extra charge for snorkeling or for the gear. Want your own setup? We partner with Tidal Masks. Use promo code captainallen for 20% off snorkeling equipment and underwater phone cases at the Tidal Masks store.

Build a Full Day Around the Snorkel Stop

Snorkeling at Egmont Key works well as part of a combination trip. Many groups book 3 or 4 hours and add shelling and island hopping at Shell Key or a round of Gulfport tubing before or after the swim. On a 2-hour snorkeling trip to Egmont Key, fuel usually runs around $20-$50.

A longer charter also leaves time to walk Egmont Key after the swim, with the Fort Dade ruins, the lighthouse and quiet beaches to explore. Snorkeling here does depend on the weather. If wind has the water stirred up, Captain Allen will tell you straight and suggest another plan for the day.

Guests come from all around the bay for this trip. Visitors staying in Tampa can reach our Gulfport launch in under an hour, and beachgoers from Clearwater Beach make the drive south for a day at Egmont.

Families who have snorkeled with us share their trips in our snorkeling tour reviews. Text or phone Captain Allen at 727-709-0088 and map out a day exploring Tampa Bay's underwater world. Online booking needs 18 hours notice, so call or text for anything sooner.

Our snorkeling boat tours Egmont Key guests love center on the sunken Fort Dade ruins, and the private snorkeling boat charters Tampa Bay guests reserve can also fit in shelling, tubing or a beach break when you book more hours.