Our History

The Bruce Anchor company started in 1989 with the Bruce Anchor Motel, which initially only had 16 rooms. We have proudly served the community for thirty-four rooms and watched our company grow with the local community. In the years that have passed, we have expanded to three motel locations with 65 rooms, 2 suites and 8 cottages. In 2011, we embarked on a new journey and expanded our business to Bruce Anchor Cruises. We wanted to provide our guests a new way to experience the Fathom Five National Park and all it offers. Our first vessel, the Crusader, was a glass-bottomed zodiac with a capacity of 38 passengers. We have grown to a fleet with 5 vessels, 2 being over 145 passengers, and all Featuring glass bottoms. Over the years, we have brought business, service, and charity to our community, which we love and look forward to doing for many years. 

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Tobermory glass bottom boat tours, tours Tobermory, cruise Tobermory, Bruce Peninsula National Park

Our Values

Bruce Anchor Cruises is proud to operate in a pristine national park. We are fortunate to live and work in a preserved environment that attracts so many people from around the globe each year. We diligently work to protect the lands and waters we operate in by making green decisions and minimizing our impact on the local environment.

We kept these values of environmental stewardship in mind when designing our newest vessel, the Tobermory Eclipse. The Eclipse was the first vessel in Canada approved for the IMO-3 designation, producing four times less emissions than the current standard. All Bruce Anchor boats are designed to be efficient, have a shallow draft, and cause a minimal wake.

On shore, we are committed to using sustainable products and reducing our consumption wherever possible. For example, when designing our ticket booths, we focused on maximizing natural light to minimize our need for heat and artificial light. Our commitment to preserving the area’s natural beauty will ensure it can be enjoyed for future generations.

Our Acknowledgement

I want to acknowledge the Territory of the Anishinabek Nation: The People of the Three Fires, known as Ojibway, Odawa, and Pottawatomie Nations. And further give thanks to the Chippewas of Saugeen, and the Chippewas of Nawash, known collectively as the Saugeen Ojibway Nation, as the traditional keepers of this land.

The region that is now the Fathom Five National Marine Park was once home to the Saugeen Ojibway nation peoples, thousands of years ago. The abundance of wildlife and plant life on their traditional land supported their communities and people. Fathom Five contains several important archaeological sites dating back thousands of years and continues to be an important place for local indigenous communities today. Members of the SON contribute their local expertise on Lake Huron’s biological importance to the reserve, park and their entire way of life.

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Tobermory glass bottom boat tours, tours Tobermory, cruise Tobermory, Bruce Peninsula National Park, Bruce Anchor Cruises

Our Cruises

Bruce Anchor Cruises operates boat cruises within Fathom Five National Marine Park which occupies some of the most pristine waters in the Great Lakes. Fathom Five is home to numerous historic light stations, over twenty known shipwrecks, and Flowerpot Island.

Our extremely unique and modern glass bottom vessels depart Tobermory on a regular schedule.  Our boat cruises operate during the spring, summer, and fall! Within 5 minutes of departing our dock passengers are given an opportunity to view two 19th century shipwrecks, The Sweepstakes and The City of Grand Rapids, resting just a few feet below the surface. Following the shipwreck viewing, we pass by Big Tub Light House (1885).  From there we continue on our way to Flowerpot Island. As we cruise around Flowerpot Island passengers will view magical scenery.  This scenery includes the historic Flowerpot Light station, the light keeper’s homes, the Flowerpot rock formations and more. If you are planning to hike the island, we dock at Beachy Cove to allow passengers to disembark and explore the island on foot for a couple of hours. The return trip from Flowerpot Island to our dock in Tobermory is about 15 minutes.

Book A Cruise

Getting your day trip or vacation started can be really exciting!  We totally  understand because we can’t wait to host you on your glass bottom boat tour to Flowerpot Island!

Here on the Bruce Peninsula our roads are very busy.  Please be aware that during the summer season there is an increased presence of vacation traffic, slow moving vehicles and construction, with no passing lanes.

Please allow lots of extra travel time and please drive safely!

Thank you!

Bruce Anchor Cruises

View our Schedule and Prices