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Bamboo Charters
Captain

Bamboo Charters

Islamorada, United States
50+ reviews
I first experienced the Florida Keys up close in 1981 during my SCUBA certification dives. Over three days, I made eight dives and was instantly hooked! I worked as a Divemaster and later as a PADI SCUBA Instructor during my summer breaks from college. In 1989, I moved to Islamorada and began teaching SCUBA full-time. Two years later, I bought the dive operation from my boss. We had two boats for diving and snorkeling, and I used a skiff to explore Florida Bay and Everglades National Park. In 1998, I sold the dive operation to my staff and started an adventure charter service. We offered private charters featuring fishing, snorkeling, sandbar trips, and sunset cruises. Today, I operate four boats providing private adventures ranging from 2 to 8 hours, with many activities to choose from. All trips are run by myself and my team of professional captains. My favorite adventure combines eco-touring and snorkeling. We start by exploring mangrove islands in Florida Bay, learning about this fascinating ecosystem. Then, we head to a nearby shallow reef or Alligator Reef Lighthouse for snorkeling. With many shallow reefs close to our marina in Islamorada, there's plenty to see. We can also visit the Islamorada Sandbar for a swim or stop at one of the excellent waterfront bars for fresh seafood and drinks. To cap off the trip, we can catch the stunning sunset over Florida Bay. For fishing, whether in the bay or on the reef, there's a wide variety of fish to catch. My favorite moments are teaching kids to reel in snappers, jacks, groupers, and other reef fish. When they're ready for a challenge, we can target barracudas weighing up to 20 pounds.

Charter

Bamboo Charters

Bamboo Charters

Islamorada
Instant Confirmation
Trips from
US $300

Rating

5.0
68 reviews
5.0
Boat & Equipment
5.0
Captain & Crew
5.0
Experience

All reviews (68)

Showing 41 – 45 of 68 reviews
  • Christina Nobile
    Christina Nobile
    us
    Idaho, US
    •
    Member since 2025
    5.0
    Verified

    Great snorkeling trip

    2 Hour - Private Charter (PM) • 5 adults • 1 child

    Matt was a great captain, allowed us to go to a quieter spot for snorkeling as it was a busy holiday weekend. He had everything we needed to snorkeling including towels and drinks. He even provided recommendations for places to check out around the area we were visiting, highly recommend!

    Response from Captain

    Thank you for coming out with us. I’m glad you enjoyed the snorkeling! Coming back anytime let’s go explore some of the Oceanside reefs next time

  • William Mowery
    William Mowery
    us
    North Carolina, US
    •
    Member since 2025
    5.0
    Verified

    Bamboo charters

    Private Snorkel Charter (3hr / PM) • 4 adults

    Matthew was very accommodating in adjusting our schedule for a possible storm coming. He is full of information on various subjects related to the keys. Very experienced and professional with 35 years boating in the area. I would definitely use bamboo charters again.

    Response from Captain

    Thank you for your business. We hit the weather perfectly and conditions were great for your day.

  • Amber Goodwin
    Amber Goodwin
    us
    Maryland, US
    •
    Member since 2025
    5.0
    Verified

    Great snorkeling trip with Captain Matt!

    Private Snorkel Charter (3hr / AM) • 4 adults

    We thoroughly enjoyed our boat trip with Captain Matt. He was very knowledgable, sharing interesting facts with us along the way. Accommodations were great and he made our trip a lot of fun! We would definitely book another trip with him.

    Response from Captain

    Thank you for coming out on the water for a bit of snorkeling. I’m glad you enjoyed the experience. All three locations offer different views of our unique ecosystem here in the Islamorada area. PS don’t forget to pick up some Nellie and Joe’s Key Lime juice to make your own Pies back in Maryland Capt Matt Bellinger Bamboo Charters

  • Melanie Bryant
    Melanie Bryant
    us
    Mississippi, US
    •
    Member since 2025
    5.0
    Verified

    Great Trip Catered to Us

    Private Snorkel Charter (4hr / PM) • 2 adults

    We had a great time! We did a variety of things - swam at the lighthouse, snorkeled in a different area, and enjoyed a more private and secluded sandbar. Captain Matthew was a joy to spend the day with and gave us the outing we had hoped for.

    Response from Captain

    Melanie Thank you very much for the compliments and for your business. The water colors and wildlife scenery made it easy to put together a great experience on the water that day come back anytime we’ve got much more to show you here at Bamboo Charters. Capt Matthew

  • Robert Votruba
    Robert Votruba
    us
    New York, US
    •
    Member since 2025
    5.0
    Verified

    Wow! Captain Matt delivered the perfect day!

    6 Hour - Customer's Adventure (AM) • 4 adults

    Fishing - check! Snorkeling - check! Mangroves - check! Sunset - check! And, a bunch of learning! If you want some local historic Restaraunt recommendations and to spend time with an all around cool dude Captain Matt is your man!

    Response from Captain

    Robert , thanks for coming out. I’m glad we were able to do a little bit of everything even catch some fish. The next time you’re down, we’ll have to go back into the back country and Everglades and show you that as well again thank you for booking with us. Capt. Matt Bellinger