Popular Glass Bottom Boat Tours in the USA

 Cruise ships tours and overwater boating sounds great. But these won’t let you get any closer with what’s under the sea. In other words, these tours might let you experience the peaceful sea environment with glances of a jumping dolphin or two, but you’d still be missing out on underwater marine life. Especially coral reefs and the vast ecosystems which prosper within the water. Fortunately, you can find various glass bottom boat tours, and explore the unmatchable beauty of maritime life. But first, let’s learn what a glass bottom boat actually is. 

 

About Glass Bottom Boat

 

A glass bottom boat is a boat, whose bottom surface consists of sections made with glass and is deep enough for the surface to stand below the waterline. With such an unusual setting, the passengers are able to observe the underwater life with glimpses of colorful coral reefs, turtles, sharks, whales, and many other marine animals. Such boats provide a much better view, as if you’re in the water wearing a diving mask. Although here you won’t be getting wet or attacked by anything(sharks or stingrays).   Moreover, boasting plenty of beaches, you can easily find a glass bottom sail in the USA, especially in Florida. So, quickly take cheap flights to Florida and enjoy your fun ride filled with underwater beauty. Now let’s check out the list of such tours you can take in the USA, and enjoy a memorable vacation there. 

 

Silver Springs Glass Bottom Tour, Florida

 

Being the oldest and the first glass bottom boat tour in America, you will get to learn a lot about the vintage boats, still in operation since the 19th century. In addition, this boat came into existence in the late 1870s, when Hullam Jones and Phillip Morrell, tucked a piece of glass on the bottom of a rowboat, to provide an unusual experience to the visitors and earn a living from it. Soon after, W.M. Davidson acquired the rights to this area and decided to add a pinch of perfection in the boat introducing gasoline-powered glass-surfaced boats, open for all locals and visitors to have an adventurous ride. Since the birth of this gem of a boat, Silver Springs has been providing consistent tour rides across the clear waters of Marion County, Central Florida.

 

Lost Sea Adventure, Tennessee

 

Despite offering a tour in a landlocked state, Lost Sea Adventure is a worthwhile glass bottom boat tour for all the visitors. Besides, it is the most unique tour you’d find in the nation. You won’t find tropical colored fishes here. Instead, this cruise will take you to explore the strange underwater life you won’t witness anywhere else in the USA. The duration of this adventurous ride will last 1-1.5 hour with a price of $22.95 for adults and $13.95 for kids. Moreover, the tour includes a walkthrough of a series of underground caverns and a hidden lake- The Lost Sea, lying 14 layers below earth’s surface. Surprisingly, Tennessee cave has the largest underwater lake in America, open for visitors to explore and glimpse the unusual caverns. 

 

Catalina Island Glass Bottom Boat Tour, California

 

The history of Glass Bottom trips offered in Catalina Islands, will take you back to the 19th century, when the concept of a glass-surfaced boat was either new or unknown to humans. Nevertheless, this tour is still operating successfully, in the waters off the coast of California near Los Angeles. Besides being a popular getaway for southern Californians, this underwater cruise is high in talks amongst the tourists too. Beginning from the coast, this tour heads to the Lover’s Cove Marine Preserve, which allows the passengers to admire the thriving marine life inhabited around the island. Moreover, the duration of the tour will last for 40 minutes and will cost $19.9 per person.

 

Sharkey’s Glass Bottom Tour, Florida

 

The Sharkey’s Glass Bottom Tours offers a unique experience to its passengers. In this tour, you will get an illuminated night time ride on a glass-surfaced kayak, packed with LED lights.  As you move forward paddling the offshore waters of Florida’s west coast, you can observe a wide variety of fishes roaming here and there. So, you can feed them along the way, and also have a glance at other marine animals, such as crabs and shrimps, found in adequate amounts in the waters near Tampa and St. Petersburg. Furthermore, the duration of the tour will be 1-1.5 hour with a tour price of $50 per person. This paddling tour gets you into a bit of exercise, while allowing you to have the best night time underwater tour of your life.

 

Kona Glass Bottom Boat, Hawaii

 

Hand-built by Captain Ralph Jewell, this glass bottom sail is pretty popular in Hawaii, and offers a satisfying experience to all the passengers. In addition, he named this boat as “The Marian,'' and has hired local botanists to guide the passengers and make them understand about the coral reefs as the boat cruises around Kona. With this Kona glass boat, you can witness the magnificent marine life inhabited in the biggest Hawaiian island. This tour will let you have a closer look at the stingrays, dolphins, sharks, and many other colorful fishes scattered off in the turquoise colored water off the coast of Hawaii.

 

Meadows Center Glass Bottom Tours, Texas 

 

Fortunately, the Meadows Center for Water and Environment of Texas has organized a glass bottom tour for the visitors traveling to the lone star state. Additionally, this tour runs on a daily basis; however, availability depends upon the first come-first service. Besides, if you’re worried about the prices, then good for you, this tour is pretty affordable for each human. The tickets range according to the age group such as: $9 for adults, $8 for senior citizens, $6 for children, and free ride for kids below the age of 2. Furthermore, the tours are closed for holidays, but you can always enjoy the ride apart from the holiday season.