Shell Key Preserve: Shelling Cruise & Wildlife from John's Pass

4.86

(333 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

First thing I noticed stepping onto the HUB Cat 49 was how the air smelled—salty, but softer than at the main beach, mixed with sunscreen and a little engine oil. We set off from John’s Pass, and our guide, Mike, waved at someone fishing off the dock. He told us about the “Pass” being carved out by a hurricane back in 1848—honestly, I’d never thought about how these places get their names. The water in the back bay was glassy and calm, pelicans gliding low enough that you could hear their wings slice through the air if you listened close.

I kept scanning for dolphins (everyone does), and sure enough, we spotted a couple before we even hit open water—one of them popped up right next to us, so close I could hear its breath. There was this moment where everyone just went quiet for a second. Mike grinned and said it happens more often than people think on this shelling cruise. The ride itself is slow enough that you actually notice things: sea breeze getting cooler as we moved away from shore, sunlight flickering on the wake behind us.

On Shell Key itself, there’s this crunch underfoot—shells everywhere, not just the pretty ones but tiny broken bits too. I tried to say “Mad Beach” like a local (Li laughed at my attempt), and we wandered along the white sand for an hour or so. Found a weird spiral shell I still have in my bag. It’s quieter than I expected out there; sometimes you just stand still and let the sound of water do its thing. On the way back, Mike pointed out some manatees near the mangroves—hard to see at first until one lifted its nose. We cruised along the gulf beaches when weather allowed; otherwise stayed tucked in those protected waters. Honestly? I didn’t want to leave yet.