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    Reef Ocean Exploration Center

    5.0 (10 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    10 months ago

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    Jill K.

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    5 months ago

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    Jill K.

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    6 months ago

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    Jill K.

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    2 months ago

    Definitely worth the stop! Informative volunteers and exhibits! If you love fish you will love REEF!

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    Jill K.

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    10 months ago

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    Jill K.

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    11 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    9 months ago

    Epic learning spot! I love coming here for fish and friends every month! The space is new and very cool!

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    11 months ago

    so much fun! nice science museum, free and a great first stop in the keys. Lots of community programs for all ages

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    11 months ago

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    Ask the Community - Reef Ocean Exploration Center

    Glass Bottom Boat - Pennekamp Park

    Glass Bottom Boat - Pennekamp Park

    4.4(38 reviews)
    4.2 mi

    We purchased our tickets online for the Glass Bottom Boat Tour which allowed us to pick the day and…read moretime and avoid the check-in lines at the park once we arrived, we also have our Florida State Park annual pass which allows easy entry into Pennekamp Park. We found a seat under the blue tent next to the dock which is used to stage the guess, they start boarding 15 minutes before the departure time and it's really a simple task even though they still manually check-in each guest as you board the vessel verses simply scanning the QR Code on the ticket or app. The 65' Catamaran is clean and spacious and the crew is extremely friendly, the tour guides are very knowledgeable and bubbly so they make every effort to make it fun. You can bring your non-alcoholic beverages on board since they no longer operate the snack bar, they do have (2) heads at the rear of the boat (restrooms). Once the boat leaves the dock it's a slow ride through the mangrove lined canal to the open water, the no wake zone continues until you pass the last navigational buoys, then he kick it up to about 18 knots until he approaches the reef I think that ride was about 25 minutes, it a nice relaxing ride, the interior cabin is air conditioned but the real adventure is on the open air top deck where the breeze is refreshing and you get the real outdoorsy experience. Once the boat arrives at the reef the captain brings the vessel to an idle and the viewing wells turn crystal clear exposing another world, the water depth over the coral reef is between 10' - 25' and the tour guide explains the viewing well numbering system so you know where to look while she explains what the boat is crossing over - she is very knowledgeable and explains everything you see - all the colorful fish and sea-life which is abundant as well as the coral types and objects that rest on the bottom. The tour runs about 2.5 hours and they take no short cuts so you get the total experience. They allow just enough time to get you back to the dock on time and honestly as much as I enjoyed it I was ready for it to be over, the ride back was not as exciting as the ride out and I found myself looking at my watch often - I thought it was a good value and worth the time but once is probably enough for me - the boat was about half filled so it wasn't crowded with about a third being kids and there's no doubt they loved it...

    What a nice ride! We were afraid the weather wouldn't let us go! Thanks Mother Nature!…read moreEverything was on time. Clean boat, pleasant guides! In fact, the guide who described the plants & aquatic life while we were cruising over the reef was amazing! Knowledgeable & quick to identify what she saw & its location. They gave lots of info on avoiding seasickness & I didn't see anyone suffering. We took a camera but there wasn't a need. Cell phones are enough. I used my binoculars & only used them a bit to see birds in the mangroves. You can take plastic bottled drinks on board. You might not want to wear a hat. We stood on the front deck & it was perfect. It's with the $36 ticket for a 2.5 hr. excursion. Masks required inside.

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    Glass Bottom Boat - Pennekamp Park - Coral and fish in the reef below

    Coral and fish in the reef below

    Glass Bottom Boat - Pennekamp Park - WAKE SIGN

    WAKE SIGN

    Glass Bottom Boat - Pennekamp Park - Beautiful reef

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    Beautiful reef

    Reef Ocean Exploration Center - visitorcenters - Updated May 2026

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