What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm Saturday 9am - 5pm Sunday 9am - 5pm

Sarasota Bay Explorers

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Sarasota, FL
Sarasota Bay Explorers

Looking for an exciting, hands-on, educational experience on the water in Sarasota? Sarasota Bay Expl
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If you’re looking for an exciting, hands-on, educational experience on the water in Sarasota, Sarasota Bay Explorers is the crew for you. Our passionate, fun-loving team works in conjunction with Mote Marine Laboratory to provide interactive marine science boat trips for both public and private parties. From our renowned Sea Life Encounter Cruise to our Spectacular Sunset Cruise we offer an experi

ence for everyone. There is absolutely nothing we love more than sharing the wonders and magic of marine life with others -- we can’t wait to set sail for adventure with all of you!

11/01/2024

The original snow bird!

As fall migration continues, we are seeing more and more flocks of White Pelicans flying south!

10/31/2024

Happy Halloween! Not quite the same as sticking your hand in a bag full of candy, but just as exciting!

10/30/2024

Always have your head on a swivel! Dorsal fins are the most common way to spot our dolfriends!

10/29/2024

Probably one of the scariest fish we’ll come across - just in time for Halloween!

Scorpionfish are camouflaged ambush predators found in shallow coral reefs or rocky areas. They are also known for their venomous spines used for protection against predators like snapper or sharks.

10/18/2024

We are OPEN and ready for your next adventure! We are currently operating from a temporary location. We depart from Bayfront Park/ Marina Jack (Ringling BLVD entrance). Book through our website and let the good times begin!

10/13/2024

Fantastic news: We will REOPEN tomorrow!!!

The first Sea Life Encounter Cruise will depart at 1:30pm from marinajacksarasota. Please visit our website for reservations!

10/11/2024

All of our staff is safe and accounted for. We will assess our operations this weekend and will hopefully have an update for you by early next week. Thank you for everyone’s well wishes and kind thoughts. We will see you soon!

10/09/2024

Though we are preparing for the coming storm, we’d thought we’d brighten up your day with the ever colourful Roseste Spoonbill 🩷

10/08/2024

We caught Squidward!

Both squids and octopus are part of the cephalopod family and very closely related to octopus, but, one big difference is that squids have 10 limbs versus 8 on an octopus!

10/07/2024

We love seeing our ‘dolphriends’ 😍🐬

Dolphins regularly patrol mangrove shorelines using their echolocation to find their next meal!

10/06/2024

Though we depart from a different location - marinajacksarasota - we still got the same views!

10/05/2024

Catch the sunset with us before another system brings the rain next week ☔️

10/04/2024

We REOPEN tomorrow at our new, temporary location: Marina Jacks.

Marina Jacks is located in downtown Sarasota. Explorer V will be docked right next to our sister company, LeBarge Tropical Cruises (the one with the palm trees on it). Reservations can still be made online through our website. We hope to see you soon!

10/01/2024

Have you wished upon a star that you were back on vacation?

sarasotabayexplorers

09/30/2024

Due to Damage sustained by Hurricane Helene, we will be closed until further notice. We hope to reopen mid-later in the week. Our phone lines are also down. If you have any inquries, concerns or need further information, please email us at [email protected]. We are sorry for inconvenience, but hope to get back to our regular scheduled tours!

09/27/2024

😎☀️

09/26/2024

Closed Today - Stay Tuned for further Updates as the storm progresses. Best of luck to everyone and stay safe!

09/26/2024

Meet our Biologist!

Meet Molly! Molly is originally from a small town in central Indiana, but has been a Marine Biologist for SBE for over a year now. Molly moved down to Florida to pursue her passion for marine sciences. Molly attended Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers and earn a Bachelors degree in Marine Sciences. After graduating, Molly found a perfect position at SBE where she could flex her marine knowledge. Molly thoroughly enjoys sharing all the information about the 'bay' and the animals who live in it with the passengers, as well as inspiring the younger kiddos who want to pursue a career like hers. Molly is well known around the office for her attempts at jokes and for her love of marine mollusks, especially the Atlantic Black Sea Hare. When Molly isn't dropping knowledge, she enjoys hobbies such as sowing, crocheting and drawing. Welcome Molly the next time your see her on a Cruise and maybe help her out with a joke or two 😜

09/25/2024

Mangrove Appreciation Post!

With Hurricane Helene knocking on Florida’s door step, we have to thank mangroves for being on the frontline combating wind and storm surge! A mangrove shoreline can reduce wind speeds up to 50% 🤯 We hope everyone stay safe during the storm!

09/24/2024

We don’t horse around when it comes to conservation!

Sea Horses are ‘indicator species’ meaning that their presence in the bay is a good sign of the bay’s health and water quality!

09/21/2024

If this sunset doesn’t say Fall, we don’t know what does!

We had a great trip tonight and have another Sunset Cruise tomorrow. Don’t miss out!

09/18/2024

Hump Day in HD!

We have Sea Life Encounter Cruises all week!
⏱️ 11am, 1:30pm & 4pm book now at www.sarasotabayexplorers.com

09/17/2024

Don’t founder around! Join us on a Sea Life Nature Cruise during your vacation!

09/15/2024

We always try not to be salty that the weekend is coming to end 🤣

Did you know mangroves have different methods to get rid of the salt from the water they drink? Black Mangroves excrete salt through their leaves as can be seen below 👇

09/14/2024

Hopefully your weekend is off to a smooth start! Come out and enjoy some water time with us ⚓️

Address

1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy
Sarasota, FL
34236

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm
Saturday	9am - 5pm
Sunday	9am - 5pm

Website

http://www.SarasotaBayExplorers.com/

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Videos

Caution: Video contains footage that viewers may find overly cute, adorable or heartwarming. View discretion advised. #thesweetestthing #manateemonday #viewerdiscretionadvised #sealifeencountercruise #sarasotabayexplorers #sbe #motemarine #visitsarasota #sarasotachamber #visitflorida #lovefl

Who knows what this whispy, wavy, weird critter is? #wildlifewednesday #anyguesses #alliteration #sealifeencountercruise #sarasotabayexplorers #sbe #visitsarasota #motemarine #sarasotachamber #visitflorida #lovefl Answer: Sea Hare!

A couple of speed demons these two💨 Actually, a snails average cruising speed is comparable to a human’s walking pace: 2mi/hr.. #tanktuesday #needforspeed #gastropod #seasnail sealifeencountercruise #ecotour #sarasotabayexplorers #sbe #visitsarasota #motemarine #motemarine #sarasotachamber #visitflorida #lovefl

How flippin’ wild is this!? Captain Billy was able to capture the first few moments of this baby dolphins life including mom assisting its first few breaths 🥹🐬 Gestation for dolphins is 12-13 months and calves stay with their mother and other females for 3-6 years #behindthescenes #babydolphin #dolphins #wildlifesightings #wildlifewednesday #sealifeencountercruise #sarasotabayexplorers #sbe #mote #motemarine #visitsarasota #sarasotachamber #visitflorida #lovefl

Does anyone know the behavior being displayed in this video??? PG answers only please 🤣 #manateemonday #tistheseason #loveisintheair #manatee #sarasotabayexplorers #sbe #mote #motemarine #visitsarasota #sarasotachamber #visitflorida #lovefl

It’s getting a little toasty down here in Sarasota! Did you know when Cormorants vibrate their throat pouch (aka gular), that helps them regulate body temperature and keep cool? #themoreyouknow #hotinhere #cormorant #sarasotabayexplorers #sbe #mote #motemarine #visitsarasota #sarasotachamber #visitflorida #lovefl

You never know what we may pull up in our net! Juvenile sea turtles utilize back bay waters like Sarasota Bay for food, safety and time to grow until they are adults able to pass their genes down to the next generation! #surprisesurprise #greenseaturtle #wildlifewednesday #juvenile #sealifeencountercruise #sarasotabayexplorers #sbe #mote #motemarine #visitsarasota #sarasotachamber #visitflorida #lovefl

Jump for joy, it’s Friday! #dolphins #jumpforjoy #tgif #sealifeencountercruise #sarasotabayexplorers #sbe #visitsarasota #mote #motemarine #sarasotachamber #visitflorida #lovefl

Happy Hump Day! Though dolphins don’t have humps, they do have dorsal fins that are unique to each individual just like a human’s fingerprint! #humpday #dolphins #funfact #wildlifewednesday #sealifeencountercruise #visitsarasota #sarasotabayexplorers #sbe #sarasotachamber #mote #motemarine #visitflorida #lovefl

Sometimes the work weeks moves as slow as a sea slug 🐌 Nudibranchs are soft-bodied marine gastropod mollusks that are often found on the ocean floor slowly searching for their next meal #tanktuesday #isittheweekendyet #seaslug #nudibranch #sarasotabayexplorers #sbe #visitsarasota #motemarine #mote #sarasotachamber #visitflorida #lovefl

Did someone say Wildlife? Boat ride? Aquarium? You have my attention! Though Green Herons are the smallest heron specie in the states, their necks account for 2/3 the length of their entire body! #youhavemyattention #trifecta #greenheron #longneck #sarasotabayexplorers #sbe #visitsarasota #motemarine #mote #sarasotachamber #visitflorida #lovefl

Roseate Spoonbills are such a treat to see on our cruises. During the plumage trade, spoonbills, along with many other wading birds, were almost hunted to extinction 😢 #roseatespoonbill #protectwhatyoulove #wildlifewednesday #rookery #sealifeencountercruise #ecotour #sarasotabayexplorers #sbe #visitsarasota #motemarine #mote #sarasotachamber #visitflorida #lovefl

What do you think this crab is so ashamed of? This Flamed Box Crab is also known as the Shamed-faced crab as they hold their claws in front of their face, as if hiding it in shame. #tanktuesday #boxcrab #shame #sealifeencountercruise #ecotour #sarasotabayexplorers #sbe #visitsarasota #mote #motemarine #sarasotachamber #visitflorida #lovefl

Do your children ever drive you nuts? Bird chicks aren’t much different 😂 Unlike human children, Spoonbill chicks leave the nest after 4-5 weeks. #feedme #parenting #roseatespoonbill #sarasotabayexplorers #sbe #visitsarasota #sarasotachamber #motemarine #mote #visitflorida #lovefl

Dolphins love cruising too! Join our Sea Life Encounter Cruise; you never know what you’ll see! #justkeepswimming #cruising #wildlifewednesday #sarasotabayexplorers #sbe #visitsarasota #sarasotachamber #mite #motemarine #visitflorida #lovefl