Experience one of Tarpon Springs' most beloved traditions aboard the historic St. Nicholas III or VII. This half-hour cruise departing from the world-famous Sponge Docks takes you along the scenic Anclote River as the captain shares stories of the area's Greek sponge-diving heritage.
The highlight is watching a diver suit up in a traditional, 170-pound sponge-diving suit before descending into the water to demonstrate techniques that helped make Tarpon Springs the Sponge Capital of the World.
This attraction is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places: Since 1924, St. Nicholas Boat Lines has welcomed visitors from around the world and has long been a favorite student field trip. It's also unique because it is a pet-friendly attraction, so guests traveling with their pets are welcome aboard!
No reservations are needed—simply stop by the ticket booth on the day of your visit for this unforgettable journey into Florida's history.
Hours
Monday 10:30 AM–4:30 PM
Tuesday 10:30 AM–4:30 PM
Wednesday 10:30 AM–4:30 PM
Thursday 10:30 AM–4:30 PM
Friday 10:30 AM–4:30 PM
Saturday 10:30 AM–4:30 PM
Sunday 10:30 AM–4:30 PM
Guest Reviews
Our tour was great! We thoroughly enjoyed it, and we learned a lot! Captain George gave us lessons in both history and marine science! This commercial sponge boat line has been in his family for over 100 years. The tour lasted about an hour. We felt it was a good value for the price. We did have a diver on board, so we were able to witness that process. Very cool! Seeing dolphins along the way was a bonus. I highly recommend this tour but you might want to call first and ask if there will be a diver on board that day!
We toured today with the St Nicholas crew and we had an amazing time. Our son is on the spectrum and they were super adaptive. There was no loud music and party. Peaceful and very instructive tours. The captain and crew are from Greek heritage and their families dive and built boats. We could see the love and passion carrying the tradition. We were able to touch the sponges and understand the differences! I would give 10 starts if I could.
Really enjoyed our time with Captain George. He was very knowledgeable and had great interaction with our group. There was no diver that day but they did a great job of making sure we had a good feel for the process. We were fortunate enough to have dolphins tagging along for a good part of the trip. Would highly recommend.
We brought a group of 52 and had a great time. Captain George and his crew were awesome. It’s a beautiful boat. We saw dolphins and someone from the group got to try on the dive suit. We learned so much! Bridget Travel By Bridget, LLC
We had a great time! I love that it’s family owned and operated and always has been. I called the day before to ask about the tour, they were extremely friendly and kind AND they called me back just to let me know they’d secured a diver for the followed day, they didn’t need to do that, but we appreciated it so much. The boat ride was excellent, the tour was excellent, diver was awesome, everyone we encountered with St. Nicholas was great. They were beyond welcoming of my toddler. My family loved it. A must do if you’re spending the day in Tarpon Springs!
General Information
- Hours: 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Rates & Times
- Time to Experience Activity: Less than 1 hour
Accessible Features
- Wheelchair Accessible Parking
- Wheelchair Accessible Restroom