About Us

The team at the Glass Bottom Boat strive to provide an unforgetable experience with top customer service, passenger safety and environmental practices.

We offer a one of a kind experience that is a must to while in the Coromandel. The glass panels in our custom built vessels allow us to take you below the surface and explore the underwater world. This feature makes our tour unique, as we are the only tour to offer this amazing view. Our professional and friendly team have many qualifications including marine biology, environmental science and tourism degrees. With extensive knowledge of the area and history, we will provide you with a fun, factual, exhilarating Cathedral Cove tour.

The Glass Bottom Boat is run by an experienced, passionate, energetic yet professional team. With years of experience on the water, working with wildlife and within the tourism industry, everyone works hard to ensure every trip is one to remember.

Owners, Mark and Hayley Jones

Mark and Hayley Jones have been working in eco-tourism since their early 20’s and have been lucky enough to work together diving with whale sharks in Western Australia, guiding humpback whale swims in Tonga, guiding dive tours in Canada and sustainable lobster farming in the Caribbean. With a passion for the ocean and marine life, they knew they wanted to run their own tourism business and so moved to Whitianga and took over the reins of the Glass Bottom Boat. They love taking guests out to see their back yard, snorkel for the first time and to share their message on conservation and sustainability.

Since then the family has grown and 2 mini skippers or guides have joined the team. Their two girls love the ocean and enjoy coming out on the boats and are excellent at spotting marine life through the glass! If you lucky enough to share a tour with them, you will enjoy their delightful commentary.

Mark and Hayley Jones have been working in eco-tourism since their early 20’s and have been lucky enough to work together diving with whale sharks in Western Australia, guiding humpback whale swims in Tonga, guiding dive tours in Canada and sustainable lobster farming in the Caribbean. With a passion for the ocean and marine life, they knew they wanted to run their own tourism business and so moved to Whitianga and took over the reins of the Glass Bottom Boat. They love taking guests out to see their back yard, snorkel for the first time and to share their message on conservation and sustainability. Since then the family has grown and 2 mini skippers or guides have joined the team. Their two girls love the ocean and enjoy coming out on the boats and are excellent at spotting marine life through the glass! If you lucky enough to share a tour with them, you will enjoy their delightful commentary. Steve has been skippering boats tours in Mercury Bay for over 13 years and has a wealth of knowledge on many different subjects. Lucky for us, he has been apart of the team for the last few years as our senior skipper. Steve says his favourite part of the job are the people he meets and the wildlife encounters he has had. Caitie is a coromandel local who joined the team back in 2015, and has since then has become a dive instructor and skipper. She has a passion for the ocean and loves to spread our message of conservation. Caitie’s favourite thing to spot on tour are our marine mammals, she still gets very excited when there are dolphins and orca in the area! Every summer the team grows to include some amazing crew, skippers and sales team. We have a highly experienced team who bring a large list of qualifications from the tourism industry, maritime industry and also academically. The team who consists of dive instructors, dive masters and adventure tourism guides are all passionate conservationists who enjoy being able to spread our message of sustainability. The team also have a large community involvement with Coastguard, the Marine Reserve Committee, volunteering at community and activity groups.

The Team

Caitie is a coromandel local who joined the team back in 2015, and has since then has become a dive instructor and skipper. She has a passion for the ocean and loves to spread our message of conservation. Caitie’s favourite thing to spot on tour are our marine mammals, her favourites are Orca and Humpback Whales!

Jorja, who we think is actually part mermaid, is a marine biologist, ocean educator and conservationist. Since joining the team  in 2023 Jorja has become a valued team member, skipper and ambassador for our marine education program. She has a passion for the big blue which shines through on all her tours.

Brian has grown up boating and spent his life on the water, he has a great passion for geology and history - if you have any questions fire them his way!

Every summer the team grows to include some amazing crew, skippers and sales team members. Our highly experienced staff bring a large list of qualifications from the tourism industry, maritime industry and also academically. Our crew who consists of dive instructors, dive masters and adventure tourism guides are all passionate conservationists who enjoy being able to spread our message of sustainability.

The team also have a large community involvement with Coastguard, the Marine Reserve Committee, volunteering at community and activity groups.

Caitie Since then the family has grown and 2 mini skippers or guides have joined the team. Their two girls love the ocean and enjoy coming out on the boats and are excellent at spotting marine life through the glass! If you lucky enough to share a tour with them, you will enjoy their delightful commentary. Steve has been skippering boats tours in Mercury Bay for over 13 years and has a wealth of knowledge on many different subjects. Lucky for us, he has been apart of the team for the last few years as our senior skipper. Steve says his favourite part of the job are the people he meets and the wildlife encounters he has had. Caitie is a coromandel local who joined the team back in 2015, and has since then has become a dive instructor and skipper. She has a passion for the ocean and loves to spread our message of conservation. Caitie’s favourite thing to spot on tour are our marine mammals, she still gets very excited when there are dolphins and orca in the area! Every summer the team grows to include some amazing crew, skippers and sales team. We have a highly experienced team who bring a large list of qualifications from the tourism industry, maritime industry and also academically. The team who consists of dive instructors, dive masters and adventure tourism guides are all passionate conservationists who enjoy being able to spread our message of sustainability. The team also have a large community involvement with Coastguard, the Marine Reserve Committee, volunteering at community and activity groups.

Seafari Fleet - Whitianga Glass Bottom Boat

Expand for details

Our custom built vessels are spacious, comfortable and packed with many up to to date safety features. Built by Stabi-Craft, who have a reputation for building safe vessel with great stability and are great in all conditions. The pontoon hulls are an extensive safety feature making the vessel virtually unsinkable and a leading design in boat building, which is why it is widely used by Coast Guard.
The glass panels are fitted into our v shaped hull allowing the ride to be smooth, stable and fast when travelling distances. Both vessels are equipped with ladders to make getting on and off the vessel when swimming or snorkeling nice and easy.

The comfortable panel seats are along the side of the vessel making the deck nice and spacious, plus allows for passengers to move around the vessel to get the ultimate view and photos.

The cabin is there to protect you from the New Zealand sun and any other weather conditions that we may face. The back of the vessel is open and the large viewing windows make taking photos or enjoying the amazing Coromandel scenery very easy.

All vessels are safe ship certified and carry all safety equipment required.